Minnesota Vikings Rookies

The Minnesota Vikings rookies report for their first training camp on Sunday. 19 rookies. Ten of the rookies were drafted. Nine of the rookies were signed after going undrafted. 

2022 Minnesota Vikings Draft Class

1(32).   Lewis Cine, S, Georgia

2(42).   Andrew Booth Jr., CB, Clemson

2(59).   Ed Ingram, OG, LSU

3(66).   Brian Asamoah, LB, Oklahoma

4(118). Akayleb Evans, CB, Missouri

5(165). Esezi Otomewo, DL, Minnesota

5(169). Ty Chandler, RB, North Carolina

6(184). Vederian Lowe, OT, Illinois

6(191). Jalen Nailor, WR, Michigan State

7(227). Nick Muse, TE, South Carolina

2022 Minnesota Vikings Undrafted Free Agents

Luiji Vilain, Edge, Wake Forest

Mike Brown, S, Miami (OH)

Thomas Hennigan, WR, Appalachian State

Bryant Koback, RB, Toledo

Zach McCloud, Edge, Miami

Josh Sokol, C, Sacred Heart

Tyarise Stevenson, DT, Tulsa

Ryan Wright, P, Tulane

William Kwenkeu, LB, Temple

***

All have their NFL shot. 

Vikings rookies by position:

Running Back

Ty Chandler

Bryant Koback

Wide Receiver

Jalen Nailor

Thomas Hennigan

Tight End

Nick Muse

Tackle

Vederian Lowe

Guard

Ed Ingram

Center

Josh Sokol

Defensive Line

Esezi Otomewo

Tyarise Stevenson

Edge

Zach McCloud

Luigi Vilain

Linebacker

Brian Asamoah

William Kwenkeu 

Cornerback

Andrew Booth Jr.

Akayleb Evans

Safety

Lewis Cine

Mike Brown

Punter

Ryan Wright

Whether intentional or not, the Vikings decision-makers really spread their rookie additions across all positions. With the exception of quarterback and kicker, one or two rookies were added to each position. Actually, the Vikings did add a rookie kicker. Oklahoma’s Gabe Brkic was signed after the draft but was released after the offseason workouts. 

The draft picks:

One draft is a tiny sample size but it sure look like the Vikings new decision-makers favor players from big schools. Their first four picks come from annual title contenders. All 10 picks come from big schools from big conferences. 

None of the ten have had a chance to do a thing in the NFL. It’s way too early and not really fair to make career projections for any of these players. I can’t help myself from doing just that. 

I like Lewis Cine, Andrew Booth Jr., and Ed Ingram as immediate starters. Camryn Bynum has spent the offseason as the penciled-in starter at safety next to Harrison Smith. I’ve liked that potential pairing since Bynum was selected in the fourth round of the 2021 NFL Draft. Cine is simply too talented. He and Smith will be an outstanding safety duo. Bynum will still see the field. This new Vikings defense will be versatile. The corners in base should come down to Patrick Peterson, Andrew Booth Jr., and Cameron Dantzler. Free agent addition Chandon Sullivan will see the field as well. I wouldn’t be surprised if fourth-round pick Akayleb Evans gets some playing time on defense as well. The competition for right guard will be wide open. Free agent additions Jesse Davis and Chris Reed as well as second-year Wyatt Davis will be part of that competition. So will second-round pick Ed Ingram. I have him as the favorite for the job. 

I really like Brian Asamoah. With Eric Kendricks and Jordan Hicks, the Vikings linebacker starters are set and very good. Asamoah and/or 2021 third-round pick Chazz Suratt should have a shot to start next to Kendricks in a year or two. Until then, Asamoah should make an immediate impact on special teams. I also believe that he’ll play his way into some situational roles on defense. 

Esezi Otomewo sure looks the part. While he might be considered a developmental player he has some tools that could earn early playing time in a rotational role. 

Ty Chandler has unique speed. If he’s on the 53-man roster in September, the Vikings will probably have four running backs, plus C.J. Ham, on the roster. That’s a lot of backs. Chandler’s selection might’ve been made with 2023 in mind. Alexander Mattison is on the final year of his rookie contract. A potential starting job with another team will probably be his preference. Special teams is probably Chandler’s route to the roster. The same goes for Jalen Nailor. I like him as the punt returner. 

Like Otomewo, Vederian Lowe sure looks the ideal of the position that he plays. 6’6” and 320 lbs. And he looks the right kind of 6’6” 320 lbs. With Christian Darrisaw and Brian O’Neill firmly in place as the starting tackles, Lowe could push Oli Udoh for the swing-tackle role. 

The undrafted free agents:

If for no other reason but his fantastic name, I really hope that Luiji Vilain makes the 53-man roster. The same can be said of Josh Sokol. Great name. Of the undrafted free agents, Tulane punter Ryan Wright probably has the best roster shot. If Jordan Berry had the punting job locked down, Wright probably wouldn’t have been signed. At 6’3” and 365 lbs, defensive tackle Tyarise Stevenson has unique size. The Vikings don’t have a player like that to put over the center. If he can do NFL things at that size, he might have a shot at the roster. 

The folks that manage the Vikings roster on the team’s website do a fine job. That being said, undrafted rookie safety Mike Brown has been listed with the other-worldly height of 6’11”. 

19 rookies have their NFL shot with the Minnesota Vikings. I can’t wait to see what they do with it.