Minnesota Vikings Undrafted Free Agents

After the completion of the NFL Draft, a race to sign players that weren’t drafted begins. Undrafted Free Agents. UDFAs. It’s a race spiced with the hope that the next John Randle or Adam Thielen might be found. Saturday night, as fans were scrambling to piece together a list of signed players from scattered reports, the Minnesota Vikings released a list of 15 undrafted players that will join their 6 drafted players to make up a 21-member rookie class. 

Minnesota Vikings Undrafted Free Agents

Alan Ali, OL, TCU

Calvin Avery, DT, Illinois

Abraham Beauplan, ILB, Marshall

Andre Carter II, OLB, Army

Jacky Chen, OL, Pace

C.J. Coldon, CB, Oklahoma

Wilson Huber, ILB, Cincinnati

Cephus Johnson, WR, Southeastern Louisiana

Malik Knowles, WR, Kansas State

Ivan Pace Jr., ILB, Cincinnati

Jack Podlesny, K, Georgia

Ben Sims, TE, Baylor

Thayer Thomas, WR, North Carolina State

NaJee Thompson, CB, Georgia Southern

Jaylin Williams, CB, Indiana

This undrafted group has Vikings fans excited. In particular, Andre Carter II and Ivan Pace Jr. has fans excited. Carter likely topped undrafted “want lists” across the league. There was a time when the freakishly sized and freakishly gifted edge rusher was considered a candidate to be drafted in the first or second round. Nothing’s changed since those lofty expectations. There’s really no explaining why a team didn’t draft Carter. The draft is all about potential and he’s loaded with potential. He’s a raw player. There’s a lot of coaching, teaching, and refining in front of him before he can become the impact pass rusher that he has the talent to be. He went to Army. He’s used to round-the-clock demands. In some respects, he might be the defensive version of quarterback Anthony Richardson. The Indianapolis Colts selected Richardson with the fourth pick of the draft. Carter went undrafted. The expectations aren’t as high but the Vikings might’ve added a player that could develop into an elite pass rusher. 

The Vikings addressed most of their defensive needs in the draft. They didn’t address their need at linebacker. It’s tough to address every need when a team makes only six picks. Ivan Pace Jr was one of my favorite linebackers in the draft. In mocks, he was often my go-to linebacker, if I didn’t address the position in the first three rounds. I was stunned that he wasn’t drafted. Teams likely passed on him because he lacks ideal size. He’s a couple ticks under six-foot. Teams are so obsessed with ideals that they often skip over terrific football players. In this case, it’s the Vikings gain. I’m hoping/expecting that Pace pairs with Brian Asamoah in the middle of the defense as early as 2024. If Pace truly surprises in training camp, perhaps he even unseats Jordan Hicks this season. 

It’s all guesses right now but I like Andre Carter II and Ivan Pace Jr. as the most likely of the 15 UDFAs to make the 53-man roster. 

Calvin Avery moves surprisingly well for a player that’s 6’1” and 343 lbs. Khyiris Tonga is the only player on the roster with true nose tackle size. Maybe there’s room for a second. 

Greg Joseph made some big kicks last season. That was the good part. He also missed a very frustrating number of extra points. The Vikings had an unprecedented number of one-score games. Every point mattered. Those missed extra points mattered. Jack Podlesny consistently made his extra points attempts at Georgia. The Vikings will have a kicking competition. 

A couple of the most intriguing players among the 15 UDFAs are Cephus Johnson and NaJee Thompson. If either makes the team, it will be for their special teams ability. Johnson is particularly intriguing as he played quarterback. He was signed as a receiver. His 6’5” and 220 lb size makes him unique among the team’s receivers. His versatility as a passer and a runner makes him even more unique. 

The 15 UDFAs have their NFL opportunity.