6 Winners of the Vikings’ 2024 Preseason
The Minnesota Vikings 2024 preseason is over, a three-game slate that went markedly better than years past.
6 Winners of the Vikings’ 2024 Preseason
Minnesota starts the regular season in two weeks at MetLife Stadium versus the New York Giants.
These players’ stock rose during the preseason — winners of standing on the depth chart — with roster cuts two days away. They’re listed alphabetically.
1. Levi Drake Rodriguez (DT)
Drake Rodriguez has been accountable for items like this all summer:
He’s on the cusp of making the Vikings’ 53-man roster as a 7th-Round draft pick, and his motor is undeniable. The Athletic bragged about Drake Rodriguez as “Prospect X” before the draft, and its hype was justified.
2. Trishton Jackson (WR)
Jackson has turned heads in the preseason, tabulating 100 receiving yards in limited playing time against the Las Vegas Raiders two weeks ago. He also performed wonderfully at training camp. He’s just plain good and even has the backing of Justin Jefferson.
Following Minnesota’s joint practices with the Cleveland Browns last week, Jefferson pounded the table for his 27-year-old teammate: “He’s a dog. He’s from Detroit. He has that Detroit mindset. Just the way he comes to work every single day — he’s a hooper, so he knows how to move and how to get open.”
“The catch point of the ball, he’s definitely making plays out there. He’s showing up every time on the film, so the more he shows up, the more has a chance to be out there on the field on Sundays,” Jefferson added.
In his fourth year with the Vikings — yes, that is a true statement — Jackson seems like he’s on the verge of breaking out, at least to a degree.
3. Dwight McGlothern (CB)
It’s not quite a lock, but McGlothern is in a commanding position to make the active roster. He’d almost certainly get swiped from the practice squad if he ended up there.
Plus, there are no gangbuster cornerbacks after Stephon Gilmore and Byron Murphy on the Vikings’ depth chart. Plenty of corners are hoping for a roster spot, but none really have a stranglehold.
He looked great, in particular, during the second preseason game:
4. Kene Nwangwu (RB)
Nwangwu has been utilized as a ball carrier this preseason, so much so that he looks the part of more than “just a kick returner.” He even broke off this touchdown at the Las Vegas Raiders in the first preseason game.
A week later, Nwangwu dialed up 45 rushing yards on 7 carries over the Cleveland Browns’ reservist defense, an impressive mark netting 6.4 yards per carry.
The guy must just be Minnesota’s RB3 in 2024.
5. Bo Richter (OLB)
With promising UDFA Gabriel Murphy hobbled by injury and making little impact the summer, Air Force’s Bo Richter has grabbed headlines — enough that he could be trending toward a roster spot when the regular season depth chart is released in two days.
Richter has played like a madman in the preseason, and it might seem like an injustice to let him hit the practice squad. Another team could easily steal him. Many believed Murphy would land a roster spot, but Richter appears to have stolen the show on the UDFA front.
The new Viking has logged a couple of sacks in preseason games versus the Las Vegas Raiders and Cleveland Browns, splash plays that stood off the page. Before the showdown with the Raiders, most of the casual Vikings fanbase had no idea what a “Bo Richter” was — until he tabulated 6 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, a QB hit, and a sack against Las Vegas.
6. Taki Taimani (DT)
Taimani checked in at No. 10 on Bleacher Report’s list of Week 2 preseason performances by rookies.
That site noticed him this week, adding Taimani to the list when most of the NFL fan population has no idea who he is. “Nose tackle isn’t a glamorous position. Those interior defenders are asked to do the dirty work while everyone around them makes plays,” BR’s Brent Sobleski wrote. “Taki Taimani didn’t hear his name called during the NFL draft. Lane-cloggers are still necessary in today’s game, though their value has drastically decreased with the proliferation of potent passing attacks.”
“Taimani turns 25 in October and provides little-to-nothing in regards to sack production. But he’s a grown man when asked to defend the run, hold the point of attack and eat double-teams. As such, he’s been a handful throughout the preseason,” Sobleski continued. “Plus, Taimani has showed some ability to collapse the pocket. He’s not a strong interior pass-rusher by any means, but he can walk some blockers back to muddy the pocket.”
Due to a lack of nose tackle depth, Taimani could turn heads and steal a spot on the 53-man roster. The University of Oregon listed Taimani at 330 pounds last year, and if that were 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 advantageous in certain situations to stifle the run.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The show features guests, analysis, and opinion on all things related to the purple team, with 4-7 episodes per week. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band). He follows the NBA as closely as the NFL.
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
You must be logged in to post a comment.