Young Vikings Who Must Step Up in 2025
The Minnesota Vikings are getting close to kicking off their regular season against the Chicago Bears on Monday, September 8.
Heading into that game, the Vikings have trimmed their roster down to 53 players, as has the rest of the NFL, and we know who Minnesota is expecting to hold down crucial roles with the team. A number of these players who the Vikings are expecting to step up are young, and in some cases, inexperienced.
Obviously, the Vikings will need big showings from names like J.J. McCarthy and Donovan Jackson, but here are a few other young players who will be filling crucial roles in Minnesota this year.
CB Dwight McGlothern
The Minnesota Vikings made a trade to bring WR Adam Thielen back to the team, but no such move has been made at the cornerback position to this point, nor have their been any types of rumors surrounding such a signing or trade.
As a result, the Vikings seem to be rolling the dice with their current CB room of Byron Murphy, Isaiah Rodgers, Jeff Okudah, and Dwight McGlothern before they make another addition to the group. McGlothern played just 19 snaps on defense last season after being picked up by the Vikings as an undrafted free agent.
If the depth chart stays how it is currently constructed, McGlothern’s defensive snaps have to rise significantly this year.
WR Myles Price
The Vikings’ wide receiver room has a bit more clarity now that cutdowns are official, and the team has acquired Thielen, bringing the Minnesota native back to Eagan. One piece of clarity came at the punt returner spot when Myles Price was chosen for the 53-man roster.
Price, a 2025 UDFA, was a big punt returner for the Indiana Hoosiers last year during this final collegiate season. He totaled 23 returns for 289 yards (12.6 yards per return). Given the Vikings’ struggles in the punt returning department over the past couple seasons, Price will have some major pressure on his shoulders to turn things around.
Additionally, Price could play a role in Minnesota’s offense, especially early in the season while Jordan Addison is serving a three-game suspension.
DT Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins
The Minnesota Vikings completely revamped their defensive line this offseason, bringing in free agent names like Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave.
However, the Vikings will also be expecting some big things from fifth-round pick Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins. Minnesota opted to trade away Harrison Phillips, who was a starter on the Vikings’ defensive line for the past three years.
Ingram-Dawkins’ collegiate stats at Georgia did not pop off the screen, but after he received plenty of first-team reps during training camp, he should be firmly in the defensive line rotation, particularly in a Brian Flores system that rotates players in and out frequently.
Editor’s Note: Statistics for this article were found via Sports Reference CFB.
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