Vikings Rookies

As the roster currently stands, the Minnesota Vikings will head into training camp with 25 rookies.

12 draft picks
13 undrafted free agents

Draft Picks

1. Garrett Bradbury, C, North Carolina State
2. Irv Smith Jr., TE, Alabama
3. Alexander Mattison, RB, Boise State
4. Dru Samia, OG, Oklahoma
5. Cameron Smith, LB, USC
6. Armon Watts, DT, Arkansas
6. Marcus Epps, S, Wyoming
6. Olisaemeka Udoh, OT, Elon
7. Kris Boyd, CB, Texas
7. Dillon Mitchell, WR, Oregon
7. Olabisi Johnson, WR, Colorado State
7. Austin Cutting, LS, Air Force

Undrafted Free Agents

Micah Abernathy, S, Tennessee
Terrence Alexander, CB, LSU
Khari Blasingame, FB, Vanderbilt
Jake Browning, QB, Washington
Davion Davis, WR, Sam Houston State
Brandon Dillon, TE, Marian
Alexander Hollins, WR, Eastern Illinois
Stacy Keely, DE, UAB
John Keenoy, C, Western Michigan
Nate Meadors, CB, UCLA
Tito Odenigbo, DT, Miami
Anree Saint-Amour, DE, Georgia Tech
Isaiah Wharton, CB, Rutgers

The Vikings are a top-heavy team. They have a lot of big contracts. That means that they need several of the lower-paid players to make significant contributions. Garrett Bradbury will do much more than just contribute. He's the starting center. Irv Smith Jr. will be on the field a lot. With his versatility, he'll probably line up all over the offensive formation. Perhaps a little bold for the middle of May, but Smith could develop into one of the team's top offensive threats as early as this season. Alexander Mattison will form a backfield duo with starter Dalvin Cook. The first three draft picks are already expected to make significant contributions. Dru Samia will compete for a starting guard job this summer but might be a year away. Olisaemeka Udoh is an offensive line project that could, with some work and time, develop into one of Vikings' starting offensive tackles. The remainder of the rookies that make the team will provide depth and contribute on special teams. With the receiving positions behind starters Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen up for grabs, Dillon Mitchell and Olabisi Johnson have a real shot at earning playing time beyond special teams duties.

All but three of the undrafted free agents were signed immediately following the draft. DBs Terrence Alexander and Isaiah Wharton and DE Stacy Keely had to impress the coaches at the rookie mini-camp to earn their current place on the roster. The Vikings have a nice recent history of try-out players taking advantage of this rare route to the NFL. Adam Thielen's story is now re-told on a regular basis. Far less told, Marcus Sherels had a very productive run as the Vikings punt returner after taking advantage of his invite to try out for the team.

An NFL roster is a very fluid thing so this little look at the Vikings' rookies could be be trash in a day or two. Well, maybe not trash but a little outdated.