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New York Times
3 days ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Ahead of training camp, 46 thoughts on the Minnesota Vikings' defensive players
The Vikings players and coaches will be back on the grass in two weeks. Training camp is coming. Last week, as part of the preparations, we compiled 45 thoughts on the 45 offensive players. This week, we decided to take on the rest of the roster. Below are 46 thoughts on the defenders and special teams players with insights on the 53-man outlook. Note: These thoughts are ordered by player number. Advertisement Ivan Pace Jr., LB: He is the American football version of the Tasmanian Devil. A complete wrecking ball. Pace is a menace as a pass rusher; coverage remains a work in progress, to put it nicely. He'll be needed in 2025 for run-stopping. Isaiah Rodgers, CB: Maybe the most slept-on Vikings defender. He's athletic. He's tough. He has ball skills. Rodgers and Byron Murphy Jr. is an underrated cornerback tandem. The question with the room is the depth behind them. Mekhi Blackmon, CB: This is a massive training camp for him. Last year's torn ACL impeded his arc, and Blackmon's size will always make it more difficult. He's aware and tough. Never forget the 2023 game where he talked trash to fellow East Palo Alto native Davante Adams. Brian Asamoah II, LB: Special teams has become his sanctuary, and Asamoah has done commendable work off the field in growing his game. Can he beat out Kobe King, Austin Keys and Chaz Chambliss for backend spots? We'll find out. Byron Murphy Jr., CB: Last year, Murphy kept all six of his interceptions. The footballs cluttered in his locker. Replicate anything close to last year's level of production, and Minnesota will be in fine shape at corner. Dallas Turner, Edge: Is there a more interesting player on this list? Where defensive coordinator Brian Flores deploys Turner is one of the early storylines of the Vikings' season. Expect off-ball snaps, expect the unexpected. Will Reichard, K: Can he kick it? Yes. Reichard didn't miss the first seven weeks. A quad injury slowed his roll in Week 8. He'll be motivated to return to the initial form, you just may not hear a peep about it. Ryan Wright, P: It's now or never for Wright. This has never been about distance but, rather, accuracy. A team with as high of expectations as this one cannot afford to lose games in this phase. Advertisement Reddy Steward, CB: Steward hails from Alabama, so you know there's something here. The former Troy State standout will have to fight to make the 53-man. Jeff Okudah, CB: Is Okudah perfect? No, not at all. Can he stay healthy? We'll see. If he does, can he contribute meaningfully? The Vikings believe he can, and many of the team's offensive talents who matched up against him this spring would agree. Harrison Smith, S: Legend. Ambry Thomas, CB: He's a former third-round pick, which was not something I knew before writing this. Thomas is only 25 years old, still young enough to keep eyes on. Jay Ward, S: Ward impressed in the offseason program with Josh Metellus not fully participating. He's a key cog for depth at safety. Kahlef Hailassie, CB: Steward, Thomas and Hailassie all reside in the same category. Training camp will give them the chance to break from the pack. Theo Jackson, S: Behind the scenes, all of the Vikings coaches and players believed him to be a starter. Now's the time. Jackson will be an every-down player in Flores' defense and deservedly so. Dwight McGlothern, CB: Nothing will be given to the undrafted corner who shined last fall. Training camp will provide him another chance to take a roster spot. Zemaiah Vaughn, CB: This spring, he looked like a guy who could make a roster. He's tall and slim, but that has never stopped Flores before. Landing on the practice squad may be most likely, but he's one to watch. Keenan Garber, CB: Garber, who played his college ball at Kansas State, has only been a cornerback for two seasons. He has a mountain to climb. Tavierre Thomas, S: Minnesota targeted Thomas for his abilities as a gunner. It's not a sexy spot, but it is an important one. Mishael Powell, S: Perennially overlooked, Powell is a former Washington walk-on who became a key contributor last year for Miami. His arc wouldn't have happened if not for some special traits under the hood. We'll be monitoring his progress. Advertisement Kobe King, LB: He looks the part. King can be a battering ram on special teams in the short term. Whether he's capable of more may depend on the mind. Andrew DePaola, LS: His bagel shop in Maryland is still thriving. He's been an All-Pro twice in the last three seasons. A phenomenal time to be a DePaola. Andrew Van Ginkel, Edge: He may intercept these words and take them to the house. We'll see. He is a magician masquerading as a 'Game of Thrones' character. The look may fool opponents, but it won't fool us. Josh Metellus, S: Metellus observed Cam Bynum's contract situation last year. Bynum bet on himself, reached the open market and got paid. Metellus could mirror that approach, but it comes with no guarantees. Max Tooley, LB: Sporting a mustache and a mullet, Tooley at least has the look. Levi Drake Rodriguez, DL: It's tempting to say something fun about Rodriguez, but the glut of defensive linemen leaves no room to be lighthearted. He'll be in the thick of a serious competition this fall. Blake Cashman, LB: Did Cashman receive enough credit for his role in what the Vikings accomplished last season? Probably not. He was exceptional in every defensive phase and he was healthy more often than not. Duplicate both, and Minnesota will be in good shape. Dorian Mausi, LB: There might not be a more competitive position group in training camp than off-ball linebacker. Mausi will push King, who will push Pace and so on. Bo Richter, Edge: The vying for roster spots continues at edge rusher. Can Richter maintain his role? Will Chaz Chambliss challenge him? What about Tyler Batty? We're in the weeds, but these margins matter. Eric Wilson, LB: Plucking Wilson from the Packers is one of the sneakier Vikings moves of the offseason. He's a trusty backup in the event of a Cashman injury. He's also a special-teams star. Welcome back, Mr. Wilson. .@EWIL23 nabbed it‼️ — Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) June 13, 2025 Austin Keys, LB: Asamoah might see him in his rearview. Any emergence from Keys will complicate decisions. Chaz Chambliss, Edge: He's the type of versatile edge rusher Flores seeks. Chambliss can rush and drop. He's played on special teams. A long shot to make the roster, but the odds aren't zero. Jonathan Greenard, Edge: Saw a video July 4 weekend of Greenard practicing pass-rush moves with a helmet. The NFL media apparatus still doesn't understand how special a talent he is. Advertisement Gabriel Murphy, Edge: Murphy played 35 defensive snaps last year. He didn't make a major impact, but athletically, he pops. It's just a matter of consistency. Jalen Redmond, DL: Redmond's already surpassed expectations, but what if he improves as a pass rusher? You don't find defensive linemen with a first step like his on the street. The Vikings did. Elijah Williams, DL: He was a dominant 6-foot-3, 270-pound edge rusher at Morgan State. His size and quickness earned him an opportunity. His vying for a roster spot would not be shocking. Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins, DL: Had Ingram-Dawkins stayed at Georgia and developed, he could have become a first- or second-round pick. Instead, the Vikings snagged him. His participation will depend on how quickly he grasps things. Oscar Chapman, P: He was born in Adelaide, Australia, a beach town on the southern tip of the continent. Chapman is in for a rude awakening this winter. It'll be easier to navigate if he can press Wright for the punter job. Jonathan Harris, DL: A journeyman who was on the Vikings' practice squad last year. Jonathan Allen, DL: Meet him, and you'll understand why he's been as good as he has. There's no messing around. It's all business. Health-permitting, Allen will allow Flores' defense to evolve. #️⃣9️⃣3️⃣ @jonallen93_ — Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) May 28, 2025 Taki Taimani, DL: An ankle injury torpedoed his progress in 2024. Is there a spot for him if the Vikings rejigger the types of bodies they want on their front? It's worth asking. Travis Bell, DL: Another dude born and raised in Alabama. Like Taimani, he is more in the nose tackle mode. Tyler Batty, Edge: There might not be an easier undrafted player to root for. Batty, who can play all along the defensive line, has a shot, too. Advertisement Harrison Phillips, DL: The Vikings extended Phillips last year. He's been as effective a run-stopper as there is in the NFL. The question is: With Allen and Javon Hargrave now in the fold, how much will he play and in what role? Javon Hargrave, DL: Men of his size shouldn't move like he does. It's like an illusion. How'd Hargrave go from there to there? Sometimes it doesn't have to make sense. Alexander Musch Williams, DL: He's 6-foot-7. At minimum, not a guy you'd want to mess with. (Top photo of Andrew Van Ginkel, Jonathan Greenard and Dallas Turner: Matt Krohn / Imagn Images)
USA Today
4 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
What is the Minnesota Vikings worst case scenario on defense in 2025?
The Minnesota Vikings aggressively bolstered their defensive line in free agency. They are hoping that the improved interior pass rush can give them a well-rounded line that can generate pressure without always having to send blitzers. But what happens if the group doesn't meet expectations? Minnesota's first move in free agency was signing cornerback Isaiah Rodgers, who spent the 2024 season with the Philadelphia Eagles. He only has 13 career starts since being drafted in 2020, but the Vikings are banking on the 27-year-old to reach his potential in Brian Flores' defense. On top of that, the Vikings brought back Byron Murphy, Jr., and signed former top-five pick Jeff Okudah at cornerback. The safety room has some questions after Cam Bynum left for Indianapolis this offseason. Could the unproven secondary hold the Vikings' defensive potential back? Alex Ballentine of Bleacher Report believes the uncertainty in the secondary could be the Vikings' defense's downfall in 2025. Worst-Case Scenario: New-Look Secondary Can't Hold Up Its End of the Bargain It's hard to imagine a Flores-led defense not getting consistent pressure on the quarterback. The biggest question is whether the Vikings will have the secondary to take advantage of that pressure. The options outside of Murphy have questions. Rodgers had limited opportunities in Philadelphia, Okudah has bounced around since being a top-five pick in the draft and Mekhi Blackmon is coming off an ACL injury. Cam Bynum's departure gives pause in the safety room as well. Harrison Smith is 36 years old and Theo Jackson is unproven. If things go south, the secondary could drag this defense into a much worse unit than last year. It's a fair assessment, as the Vikings' EDGE room and linebackers return reliable starters. But the Vikings had questions in their secondary going into last season, too, and the unit finished seventh in the league in EPA per pass play. If the Vikings' secondary struggles, it could be due to the lack of availability of the newly acquired defensive linemen, Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave, who both missed significant time in 2024 due to injury. Missing time could force the Vikings to again bring extra pressure, once again stressing their secondary.
USA Today
5 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Minnesota Vikings free agent signing labeled 'biggest surprise' of offseason
The first free-agent signing by the Minnesota Vikings caught fans and media members by surprise. After mini-camps and OTAs, it looks like that signing could be a pleasant surprise. Cornerback Isaiah Rodgers signed a two-year, $15 million deal in March after winning the Super Bowl with the Philadelphia Eagles. The move surprised some fans, as Rodgers has only started 13 games since being drafted in the second round of the 2020 draft by the Indianapolis Colts. But he stood out in offseason activities, according to ESPN's Kevin Seifert, providing a glimpse of what the Vikings expect Rodgers to be in their defensive system. Rodgers demonstrated why the Vikings pegged him as a likely starter despite a relatively obscure career since the Colts selected him in the sixth round of the 2020 draft. Rodgers displayed playmaking ability, jumping an out route and intercepting quarterback J.J. McCarthy, while also showing speed as a kickoff returner. It's not clear whether the Vikings will use him as a returner, given the heavy workload he's expected to face as a cornerback. But he has a big fan in defensive coordinator Brian Flores, who said he has been tracking Rodgers since he played at the University of Massachusetts. "He's been a great addition," Flores said. "He's got great football IQ and acumen." Rodgers isn't a big corner, standing 5-foot-10, 176 pounds. However, he's only 27 years old and hasn't experienced much wear and tear on his body. The Vikings are expecting him to maximize his potential as a starter, paying off their investment and becoming a reliable cornerback on a defense that needs long-term solutions at the position.
Yahoo
01-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Vikings Miss Out on Trade for Elite $72 Million Cornerback
Vikings Miss Out on Trade for Elite $72 Million Cornerback originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Minnesota Vikings were never closely linked to Miami Dolphins cornerback Jalen Ramsey, but he always appeared the kind of player their defense could use. Advertisement Minnesota lost two of its three starting cornerbacks (Stephon Gilmore, Shaq Griffin) in free agency this offseason after bringing back Pro Bowler Byron Murphy Jr. on a three-year, $54 million contract. After leading the league with 24 interceptions last season and entering 2025 with a boatload of salary cap space, it seemed logical the Vikings would at least consider a splashy move in the secondary. Instead the team focused on the trenches, adding two starting offensive linemen (Will Fries, Ryan Kelly) and two starting defensive linemen (Jonathan Allen, Javon Hargrave) in free agency before selecting offensive guard Donovan Jackson out of Ohio State in the first round of the NFL draft. Former Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Isaiah Burke-Imagn Images To replace Gilmore and Griffin, the Vikings brought in free agent Isaiah Rodgers and are banking on former third-round pick Mekhi Blackmon bouncing back from an ACL injury he suffered on the first day of training camp in July 2024. Advertisement Rodgers won a championship ring with the Philadelphia Eagles in February, but he started just three games in 15 appearances for the Eagles last season. Rodgers has played in 60 total games in his career across a three-year stint with the Indianapolis Colts and one season in Philadelphia, starting just 13 of those contests. Rodgers has amassed 14 pass breakups, three interceptions and two forced fumbles over his four-year NFL career. His professional tenure should be a season longer, though the NFL suspended the defensive back for the entirety of the 2023 campaign for violation of the league's gambling policies. Former Miami Dolphins cornerback Jalen Navarro-Imagn Images Considering Rodgers' moderate production, minimal starting experience and serious lapse in judgement, Minnesota seemed primed to at least explore a deal for a player like Ramsey, as the team has north of $23.5 million in cap space currently available. Advertisement Whether the Vikings ever actually kicked the tires on Ramsey is unclear, though it doesn't matter now after the Dolphins traded the $72 million cornerback to the Pittsburgh Steelers in exchange for safety Minkah Fitzpatrick and a 2027 pick swap-- the Dolphins get a fifth-rounder from the Steelers and send a seventh-rounder back. Minnesota could still add another cornerback to the roster if the secondary looks shaky during training camp, though it would more likely be a modest move than a blockbuster trade the likes of which Miami and Pittsburgh executed on Monday, June 30. Related: Recent Vikings Starter, Former Defensive Player of the Year Linked to NFC Rival This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 1, 2025, where it first appeared.
Time of India
29-06-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Isaiah Rodgers thanks his ex-team Philadelphia Eagles for being his backbone through troubled times
(Image via Getty: Isaiah Rodgers) Isaiah Rodgers expresses gratitude towards his former team, the Philadelphia Eagles. Why so? 'Everybody in the building knows that I wouldn't be here today without them.' The Indianapolis Colts gave up on him. But the Philadelphia Eagles? They gave him a chance to prove himself. They became his backbone. They asked him to better himself. And look where it got him? The 27-year-old current cornerback for the Minnesota Vikings was a minor contributor to the Super Bowl LIX win against the Kansas City Chiefs. He defended one pass in the 40-22 win! But what was so scandalous about his past? Let's find out. Indianapolis Colts released Isaiah Rodgers while the Philadelphia Eagles signed him and believed in his potential In June 2023, the Indianapolis Colts suspended their chosen cornerback, Isiah Rodgers. He was caught placing bets at the team facility. He violated the league's policy by getting involved in gambling. In August 2023, the Philadelphia Eagles signed him. But he was still under suspension. So he sat through the entire 2023 NFL season. On June 30, 2025, Rodgers talked about this heartbreaking chapter of his life with Ed Kracz of Sports Illustrated. 'It was hard. But things happen in this business. You never know. It was a smooth process, but at the end of the day, you have to do what's best for your family. Howie knows it's all love. Howie(Roseman), Big Dom(DiSandro), Jeffrey(Lurie), everybody in the building knows that I wouldn't be here today without them. Those are my guys. We're all still good. There's no bad blood.' Super Bowl LIX Champion Isaiah Rodgers said he made a mistake and did his time It was in April 2024 when the NFL revoked the suspension of Isiah Rodgers. He shared with NBC Sports Philadelphia in May 2024, 'Rules are rules, and they are there for a reason. So you break them, you get your consequences. I'd say, just being away from the locker room, that brotherhood feeling, and just understanding that I made a mistake and I did my time. Just being back around a great team and a great culture of guys and just finally getting that locker environment back into my heart feels real good. It brought me closer to my loved ones. It brought me closer to the game. It made me actually not take this game for granted and just understand the league doesn't need anybody. I can do whatever the team needs me. I can play defensive end and come off the edge. I'll do that as well. Whatever coach asks me to do, I'll lock into my playbook and study it.' Rodgers played so well and diligently that he contributed a little to the Super Bowl LIX win for the Eagles! Cornerback Isaiah Rodgers is still in touch with Philadelphia Eagles fans and Indianapolis Colts fans It has only been a few months since Isaiah Rodgers' contract expired with the Philadelphia Eagles. Although he was signed immediately by the Minnesota Vikings, his love for the Philadelphia Eagles fans is boundless. Rodgers shared with Kracz, 'I interact with the Philly fans as much as I can on social media. It's a team that revamped my career, bringing me back to life. So, I'll never look at a situation - That I'm a Minnesota Viking, and I'll never deal with you guys again. I still interact with Colts fans, Eagles fans, and Vikings fans now. I'll still be around as much as I can.' Also Read: Jalin Hyatt, New York Giants wide receiver, attributes his 25-pound weight gain to darkness | NFL News - Times of India Game On Season 1 continues with Mirabai Chanu's inspiring story. Watch Episode 2 here.
