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The Minnesota Vikings signed 15 undrafted free agents with seven of them having a decent shot to make the final 53-man roster.
The Minnesota Vikings added six draft picks in the 2023 NFL draft with the expectation that they all make the final 53-man roster. They also signed 15 undrafted free agents, but what are the odds that they make the roster?
With multiple holes on the roster, what odds do the undrafted free agents the Vikings signed have to make the roster? I believe that seven of them have a good chance to make it.
Here are the undrafted free agents with the best chance to make the roster and why.
The Minnesota Vikings signed 15 undrafted free agents and a few of them could make a major impact on this team.
The Minnesota Vikings did a lot of work in bringing in undrafted free agents this cycle. After only signing seven in 2022, they signed 15 in 2023, including guaranteeing the second-most money ever for an undrafted free agent to edge rusher Andre Carter II.
What does this undrafted free agent class have? Will any of them make the roster? What about potentially contributing? On the latest episode of Purple Daily on Draft, Tyler Forness and Thor Nystrom discussed just that. They focused on:
You can watch the full episode here.
The Minnesota Vikings have three rookies that were highlighted in the latest article from ESPN, including first-round pick Jordan Addison.
The 2023 NFL draft has come and gone with the Minnesota Vikings adding 22 rookies, including SMU DL Junior Aho from the International Pathway Program.
The players that the Vikings added to the roster are set to help both the 2023 season and beyond. Drafting for both current needs and projecting forward is something that general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has done very well over his two drafts.
When looking at the players added, ESPN’s Jordan Reid and Matt Miller highlighted three Vikings in three different categories.
On the latest episode of The Real Forno Show, Tyler and Dave talk about the Minnesota Vikings UDFA class and phase 2 of OTAs.
The Minnesota Vikings have started phase two of their organized team activities. Players hit the practice field for the first time this offseason and got a chance to do some drills. What can we take from these workouts?
Also, we go through a quick synopsis of the UDFA class, which features two of the top players available per Pro Football Focus in Ivan Pace Jr. and Andre Carter II. Who are they and are there any standouts who project well to make the roster?
All of that and more live at 6 pm central or on demand on The Real Forno Show on the Vikings 1st & SKOL YouTube channel.
Pro Football Focus ranked the top 10 UDFA signings and the Minnesota Vikings signed the top two on their board.
The Minnesota Vikings only signed seven undrafted free agents last year. With a larger draft class, they weren’t that aggressive in the UDFA market. With only six draft picks this year, they were more aggressive and signed 15 players after the draft.
In an article for Pro Football Focus ranking the top undrafted free agents, the Vikings had the top two signings in Cincinnati LB Ivan Pace Jr. and Army edge Andre Carter II.
Pace was the highest-graded linebacker in the FBS last season, earning a 93.2 overall grade, which included a 90.7 run-defense grade (third) and a 93.3 pass-rush grade (first) that led to 55 pressures and 12 sacks — both the most among linebackers. Pace was one of the smaller linebackers in the draft at 5-foot-10 and 231 pounds and only scored a 5.71 relative athletic score (RAS), but his on-field quickness and blitzing ability should allow for a perfect fit in Brian Flores’ defense.
The Vikings strike again, grabbing the 6-foot-7 and 260-pound Carter, who earned a 93.4 pass-rush grade in 2021 with Army, which tied Aidan Hutchinson for the best in the FBS among edge defenders. In 2022, Carter could not build on his elite 2021 season, which also saw him post 59 pressures and 15 sacks, but he still earned strong pass-rush marks (82.1) and has the size and length to make him worth investing in as a project edge rusher.
Pace Jr. was 113th on PFF’s draft board and Carter II was 121st. They theoretically have a great chance to make the roster, especially Carter II who got $340k guaranteed.
The Minnesota Vikings gave UDFA EDGE Andre Carter II a massive amount of guarantees, which signals that they believe he makes the team.
When you call a UDFA to bring them into the fold, you sometimes need to entice them with a large signing bonus and guaranteed money. The Minnesota Vikings did so with one from their undrafted free agent class.
According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the Vikings guaranteed $300k in salary and a $40k signing bonus to Army edge rusher Andre Carter II, which is one of the biggest commitments ever to an undrafted free agent.
The massive commitment to Carter II says a couple of things. He was both in massive demand after the draft and the Vikings believe he will make the active roster.
There is a long way to go for Carter II, mainly due to his frame. Playing football at Westpoint is tough because you are training for both football and military service. Not a great thing when it comes to strength at the point of attack, something that is necessary when setting the edge.
What Carter II does have is elite movement skills for someone his size. His 10-yard split is good, but elite scores in the three-cone and short shuttle is even better. If they can get his body right and improve his core strength, maybe the Vikings have something down the line.
The Minnesota Vikings brought in 15 UDFA signings. @TheKevinFielder provides an introduction with a brief synopsis of all 15.
While hearing their name called during the NFL Draft is the dream of every college prospect, some don’t get that luxury.
With just 259 draft picks, more players find themselves waiting after Saturday’s conclusion to find their chance. Often forgotten, these undrafted free agents come into the NFL with limited expectations but high hopes.
Over the years, a laundry list of undrafted free agents have carved out long careers, including former Minnesota Vikings Hall of Fame defensive tackle, John Randle.
This season, the Vikings signed 15 players to an undrafted free-agent deal. These players will go through the off-season program, hoping to make the team’s 53-man roster before the regular season begins.
Here are each of those signings.
As we enter Day 3 of the 2023 NFL draft, here are some of the best available prospects for the New York Giants (who will have four picks).
The New York Giants were very active over the first two days of the 2023 NFL draft, making a pair of trades and acquiring three top players and potential starters.
Because of general manager Joe Schoen’s wheeling and dealing, the Giants have just four picks remaining over the final four rounds. Their next pick does not come until No. 172 overall (Round 5). However, don’t rule out another trade up.
Here are some of the best available prospects for Big Blue on Day 3.
In the latest mock draft from Touchdown Wire, the New York Giants find their WR1 and later make an intriguing pick in Round 3.
With just days remaining until the 2023 NFL draft, last-second mocks are being released at a furious pace. One of the most recent came by way of Doug Farrar at Touchdown Wire.
Like many, Farrar looks at the Giants and believes they need a big-bodied wide receiver. Luckily enough for Big Blue, one was available to them at No. 25 overall.
25. New York Giants: Quentin Johnston, WR, TCU
Giants GM Joe Schoen started the mandatory process of giving Daniel Jones more and better weapons with the additions of Darren Waller and Parris Campbell this offseason, but as receiver-depleted as Big Blue was before, there’s room for more in the receiver room. Johnson is a big, fast, yards-after-catch monster with some hands issues (eight drops in 2022, mostly of the focus variety), but for Jones, who needs that first-read open thing on lock, Johnston would be a highly valuable asset in the quick game, barreling over defenders on his way to the end zone.
In Round 2, Farrar had the Giants shift gears and add Illinois safety Sydney Brown with the 59th overall pick.
NFL Network’s Lance Zierlein views Brown as a player with many flaws. Among the criticism is Brown’s limited “fluidity in space” and poor tackling ability.
Finally, in Round 3, Farrar has the Giants making one of the more interesting selections in the entire draft: Army edge rusher Andre Carter II.
The Giants don’t necessarily have a dire need along the edge but, as the saying goes, “you can never have too many pass rushers.” It’s a recipe the team has won with before and Carter has a ton of potential but will need a few years of development.
Zierlein concurs, saying, “Carter might need a longer runway to meet his potential, but if does his pass-rush homework, he could take a substantial leap forward as an odd or even front edge rusher by Year 3.”
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The NFL Draft is less than two weeks away and @MattAnderson_8 highlighted one edge rusher the Minnesota Vikings could target from each round
The Minnesota Vikings face an intriguing decision in the upcoming NFL draft regarding their edge position. They signed Marcus Davenport in free agency with Danielle Hunter and Za’Darius Smith still on the roster.
However, the decision becomes intriguing when considering the team’s confidence in this group beyond the 2023 season. Hunter and Davenport are slated to be free agents in 2024 and Smith requested his release earlier this offseason.
While it feels unlikely for the Vikings to select an edge rusher early, they could take one with the position having question marks in the future. Here is a list of one potential edge rusher in each round of the 2023 Draft for the Vikings.
