Bleacher Report Pounds the Table for Vikings Newcomer
The Minnesota Vikings have earned quite the reputation for unearthing undrafted free agents in late April.
Bleacher Report Pounds the Table for Vikings Newcomer
The team has a process that allows them to sign the cream of the crop from the UDFA wire, and the 2025 class may be no different.
And this week, Bleacher Report predicted an undrafted free agent per team most likely to make the 53-man roster later this summer, and for the Vikings, Kansas offensive tackle Logan Brown got the nod.
Logan Brown Endorsement from Bleacher Report
Minnesota added approximately 20 undrafted free agents after the draft, but according to BR’s Brent Sobleski, Brown stood off the page and has the likeliest path to a roster spot.
“The Minnesota Vikings are set at offensive tackle with Christian Darrisaw and Brian O’Neill for at least the next two seasons. However, the team’s depth at the position is concerning. The front office signed Justin Skule to serve as swing tackle, while Walter Rouse continues to develop after being a sixth-round pick last year,” Sobleski opined.
“A lane exists for someone else to jump in and become the squad’s third or fourth tackle option. Kansas’ Logan Brown has the ability to secure that role early in his career.”
Some fans have already circled Brown for the “Oli Udoh role” in Minnesota, a man who thrived as a reserve tackle for the Vikings from 2019 to 2023.
Brandon Thorn of Bleacher Report added, “Brown has the size, play strength and power to develop into a swing tackle within his rookie contract and with added refinement to his technique, use of leverage and overall consistency could become a long-term spot starter.”
A Pathway to the 53-Man Roster
The Vikings have not re-signed last year’s primary backup offensive tackle, David Quessenberry. He remains a free agent on the open market.
The franchise onboarded Justin Skule, mentioned by BR, but after that, it might be considered slim pickings at offensive tackle, especially if the aforementioned Rouse switches positions to guard, a rumor that has circulated this offseason.
After Skule and Rouse on the spring depth chart, that’s essentially it, enhancing the theory of a roster spot for Brown.
Vikings Have Done This Before with UDFAs
General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah tends to find the league’s hottest undrafted free agents. It’s his modus operandi.
In 2022, Michigan/Wake Forest EDGE rusher Luiji Vilain signed with the Vikings. Ivan Pace Jr. followed suit in 2023 and became a starter three months later. Minnesota headlined the UDFA festivities last year with cornerback Dwight McGlothern, and two EDGE rushers, Gabriel Murphy and Bo Richter.
This go-round, Brown somehow fell into Minnesota’s lap.
The Curious Case of Brown Falling Off the Draftboard
Brown has a little bit of an injury history from college, mixed with a questionable transfer from Wisconsin to Kansas. His technique might need some refinement, and he didn’t totally dominate the competition at Kansas.
Those are the “grasping at straws” reasons to explain his undrafted status. He probably should’ve been selected between Rounds 4 and 7 last month.
Unlike some undrafted gems for Minnesota, size is not Brown’s malfunction. He’s 6’6″ and 315 pounds.
PurplePTSD on Logan Brown
Janik Eckardt noted Brown to the Vikings last month: “The Minnesota Vikings have a pretty strong roster on paper and even improved the unit in the draft, especially by selecting first-rounder Donovan Jackson, who has 55 games and 40 starts for Ohio State on his resume. Most of that came at left guard, which will be his position in Minnesota, and some at left tackle as an injury replacement.”
“As a top pick, he is envisioned to make some noise sooner rather than later and steal the starting spot in training camp or shortly thereafter. Other rookies don’t arrive at TCO Performance Center with expectations like that. Undrafted rookie Logan Brown, however, has some fans.”
Brown is also 24 — a smidgen old for a rookie.
Eckardt added, “Many people were surprised to see Brown drop into the UDFA pool. He was 143rd on Arif Hasan’s consensus big board and therefore should’ve been a fourth or fifth-round selection.”
“One reason for his fall, perhaps even the major reason, is his incident at Wisconsin. He allegedly hit a teammate, which is obviously a no-go, and he was dismissed. Subsequently, he transferred to Kansas.”
Brown will attend Vikings rookie minicamp on Friday in Eagan.
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