In recent years, the Minnesota Vikings have created an environment in which undrafted players have a real shot at the roster. It probably helps the recruiting process as the players now know they aren’t just a number when they come to Minnesota. This year, the Vikings signed 20 players that weren’t selected in the 2025 NFL Draft. That robust number was partly necessary because the team only made five selections in the draft. The Vikings signed another two undrafted free agents following their tryouts at rookie minicamp. As it stands now, the Minnesota Vikings will bring 22 undrafted free agents to this summer’s training camp.
Minnesota Vikings Undrafted Free Agents
Tyler Batty, OLB, BYU
Silas Bolden, WR, Texas
Max Brosmer, QB, Minnesota
Logan Brown, OT, Kansas
Chaz Chambliss, OLB, Georgia
Oscar Chapman, P, Auburn
Zeke Correll, OL, NC State
Dontae Fleming, WR, Tulane
Keenan Garber, CB, Kansas State
Matt Harmon, OLB, Kent State
Joe Huber, OL, Wisconsin
Austin Keys, LB, Auburn
Robert Lewis, WR, Auburn
Dorian Mausi, LB, Auburn
Bryson Nesbit, TE, North Carolina
Myles Price, WR, Indiana
Mishael Powell, S, Miami
Tre Stewart, RB, Jacksonville State
Zemaiah Vaughn, CB, Utah
Alex Williams, DL, Middle Tennessee State
Elijiah Williams, DL, Morgan State
Ben Yurosek, TE, Georgia
So, who has the best shot at the roster? Seeing as none of the above have spent significant time in a Vikings uniform, it’s foolish to think about this now. It’s the offseason. From mock drafts, to draft grades, to record predictions, foolish things are routinely done in the offseason. Judging the roster possibilities of the undrafted is one of them. Here’s a look at the longshots.
Special Teams
Since earning a role on special teams is the roster route for many young players, it’s easy to start there. Australian punter Oscar Chapman definitely has a shot at unseating incumbent Ryan Wright. After a very good rookie season, Wright has had a couple modest seasons. My gut tells me that he’ll manage to fend off the rookie but Chapman will a get a shot.
Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell has stressed the need to improve the team’s return game. All of the undrafted receivers that were signed were probably done so with returns in mind.
Silas Bolden
Dontae Fleming
Robert Lewis
Myles Price
If third round receiver Tai Felton is in the mix for return roles, it might derail the roster possibilities of the above. Felton is sure to make the roster. He will have a role on offense. That role might even be as high as WR3. If he also earns a return role in addition to his offensive duties, it could save a roster spot. If the Vikings want Felton to concentrate on those offensive duties, the return jobs will be wide open and any of the above four could grab it. This will be a fun competition.
Defensive Line
Harrison Phillips, Jonathan Allen, and Jovan Hargrave are the clear starters on a much improved defensive line. As much as I like the unheralded trio of Jalen Redmond, Taki Taimani, and Levi Drake Rodriguez that backed the defensive line last season, the backup spots are wide open. Redmond, in particular flashed potential late last season. All offseason, I’ve penciled him as a roster lock simply because of those late season flashes. Then, I’m reminded of recently thinking the same thing with Esezi Otomewo and Jaquelin Roy. Both of those players failed to make the roster in their second season after flashing their first season. Fifth-round rookie Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins should be a roster lock. He’s a raw player now but has the talent and potential to be a difference-maker. If things fall into place for him, that could be as soon as this season. Phillips, Allen, Hargrave, and Ingram-Dawkins are pretty much roster locks on the defensive line. That might leave as few as two open spots within the position group. Redmond, Taimani, and Drake Rodriguez will be seriously challenged by the undrafted Williams duo. Alex Williams and Elijah Williams are two of the most intriguing players among the 22 undrafted free agents. Elijah Williams has already emerged as my longshot favorite. I can not believe he wasn’t drafted. I can not believe that it took a rookie minicamp tryout to even make an NFL offseason roster. About 2880 players are on NFL rosters right now and Elijah Williams was one of the very last to be added to one. It just goes to show that scouting of the HBCUs still has a long way to go. If it wasn’t for this Williams, I’d be giving Alex Williams much more roster love. As an Ohio State recruit, he has some natural traits that aren’t usually found at itty bitty Middle Tennessee State. His 6’7” size make him an intriguing player in the middle of the Vikings defense. The competition on the defensive line will be fun to watch.
Outside Linebacker
No offense to Chaz Chambliss and Matt Harmon but the longshot at outside linebacker for me is Tyler Batty. He was a player I thought could be a Day 3 target for the Vikings. With his 6’5” and 275 size, he could provide outside-inside versatility much like Jihad Ward did last season.
Linebacker
Blake Cashman and Ivan Pace Jr. are roster fixtures. Sixth-round Kobe King probably joins them. After that it’s competition between Eric Wilson, Brian Asamoah and longshots Austin Keys and Dorian Mausi. My guess is that Wilson wins out but Keys and Mausi have an opportunity. Keys, in particular, is probably competing for a spot on the practice squad.
Cornerback
I believe that the Vikings cornerback group is very much underrated by the national talking heads. I also believe that the group is pretty much set with Byron Murphy Jr., Isaiah Rodgers, Mekhi Blackmon, Jeff Okudah, and Dwight McGlothern. The first four should be roster locks. I really like McGlothern. I want to put him as a lock but he hasn’t played enough. I think that he belongs but he still has to prove it. Former San Francisco 49ers third-round pick Ambry Thomas will challenge him. So will undrafted rookie Zemaiah Vaughn. At 6’3”, he has the size that none of the Vikings other corners have. Elijah Williams, Tyler Batty, and Vaughn have already emerged as the longshot rookies I’m most excited to watch.
Offensive Line
Logan Brown is the most heralded of the Vikings undrafted free agents. He was considered by many to be the best available players after the close of the draft. The Vikings starting offensive line is set and should finally be a team strength rather than a serious weakness. The depth looks improved as well. If the Vikings keep 10 offensive linemen, Brown should have a clear path to the roster. If they keep nine, Brown will be in the thick of the competition.
Running Back
Undrafted Tre Stewart will compete with Ty Chandler and Zavier Scott for RB3. Chandler has the lead as a roster fixture for a couple seasons. Making it to a third season is in serious question. Tre Stewart has his shot.
Tight End
After an aggressive offseason, the Vikings entered the draft with few roster holes. One of those was TE3. Sixth-round pick Gavin Bartholemew has the edge. Undrafted Ben Yurosek and Bryson Nesbit will compete with him.
My too-early favorites among the Vikings longshots to make the roster:
Logan Brown
Elijah Williams
Tyler Batty
Zemaiah Vaughn
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