Oct 9, 2022; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Detailed view of a Philadelphia Eagles helmet at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
The Minnesota Vikings, like 31 other NFL teams, continue roster fluctuation as preseason’s second week gets underway.
Minnesota lost its first exhibition game, 24-13, to the Seattle Seahawks last Thursday night at Lumen Field.
And on Monday, the club tweaked its offensive line depth chart, adding OT Chim Okorafor, formerly of the Philadelphia Eagles.
Undrafted free-agent rookie lineman Jacky Chen was waived to make room for Okorafor.
Okorafor was undrafted in April, hitting free agency after the event, and was eventually scooped by the Eagles. The relationship didn’t last long, though, as the lineman was released on August 8th.
Like most free agents at this point on the calendar, especially undrafted rookies, Okorafor faces a longshot bid to make the Vikings regular season roster. Minnesota has until August 29th to trim the depth chart from 91 names to 53, and Okorafor is probably vying for a practice squad assignment unless he has something magical up his sleeve for training camp’s remainder or the final two preseason games.
The Vikings offensive line struggled mightily in Preseason Game No. 1 at the Seahawks last week, although no starters besides Ed Ingram saw the field. Okorafor should experience preseason action this Saturday night when Minnesota hosts the Tennessee Titans at U.S. Bank Stadium.
This is the Vikings OL depth chart with the new addition:
LT1: Christian Darrisaw
LT2: Vederian Lowe
LT3: Jarrid Williams
LT4: Chim Okorafor
RT1: Brian O’Neill
RT2: Oli Udoh
RT3: Christian DiLauro
Okorafor was an NAIA All-American at Benedictine College in Kansas in 2022. He’s 6’6″ and 320 pounds, so a mountain of a man. The new Viking told NFL Draft Diamonds during the lead-up to the 2023 NFL Draft that he idolized San Francisco 49ers offensive tackle Trent Williams.
“Trent Williams because he was the first offensive lineman that I watched when I started playing the position. He has great footwork and is very dominant. I would use the time to absorb knowledge of the game from him and learn his techniques,” Okoafor opined.
Okoafor is 24 years old.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sal Spice. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band).
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.