4 Under-the-Radar Players at Vikings Training Camp
Today, the Minnesota Vikings begin training camp, and the franchise’s 64th season will be underway.
4 Under-the-Radar Players at Vikings Training Camp
Ninety-one players live on the summer roster before a 42% trimdown in late August.
And among those 91 players, these are the four under-the-radar players to monitor, mainly because they’re not known to most fans or have some optimism entering a new season. They’re ranked in ascending order (No. 1 = stealthiest under-the-radar player).
4. Mailk Knowles (WR)
Head coach Kevin O’Connell spoke highly of Knowles in May at organized team activities (OTAs). “Malik Knowles is a guy we were really excited about and really knew kind of what we were looking at from the standpoint of a medical redshirt-type year coming off of that Bowl game injury he had,” O’Connell said via Vikings.com. “And he gets, whatever it’s gonna be, 15, 20, 25 extra reps before we get out there with the main group in a few days, and I think that’s exciting.”
Minnesota initially had big plans for Knowles, and in a season now where the WR3 is up for grabs, fans should monitor his development. He could snag a roster spot.
3. Taki Taimani (DT)
The University of Oregon listed Taimani at 330 pounds last year, and if that was accurate, he’d be the heaviest player on Minnesota’s defense. Why does that matter? Well, Brian Flores’ defense has no true nose tackle(s), and one would think such a player would be nice in certain situations to stuff the run.
Due to a lack of nose tackle depth, Taimani could turn heads and steal a spot on the 53-man roster.
2. Michael Jurgens (C)
This could be the Vikings’ center of the future. No joke.
It isn’t normal for a team to spend a 1st-Round draft pick on a center, but that’s what Minnesota did with Garrett Bradbury five years ago. He’s a decent lineman but has not lived up to his draft stock. First-round centers should be shoo-in Pro Bowlers. Bradbury isn’t.
So, if the franchise parts ways with Bradbury next year — the team has a makeshift evaluation clause built into his deal next offseason — Jurgens could be the heir apparent. It wouldn’t be weird at all for a late-round center to develop into a starter.
Therefore, keep an eye on Jurgens and his 2024 roster placement.
1. James Lynch (DT)
Lynch re-signed in Minnesota this offseason after a season-ending ACL tear during training camp last summer. Here’s the thing about Lynch: he performs really well when he’s on the field. But injuries have peppered his career.
If 2024 becomes the year of good health for Lynch, he could win a starter’s job. Otherwise, his DT spot on the roster is crowded, so he could be a starter or a free agent at the end of the summer. Intriguing stakes.
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.
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