2 Newcomers Are the Early Winners of Vikings Training Camp
The first days of the 2025 iteration of Minnesota Vikings training camp are in the books. Of course, all eyes are on quarterback J.J. McCarthy, as he continues to be the franchise’s main storyline. The other 90 players on the team, excluding the few injured players, are competing for the coveted roster spots.
The 2 Winners of Vikings Camp
We have some early camp winners. Those pair of veterans signed cheap deals in free agency, but could easily outplay their salaries.
Rondale Moore
At wide receiver, the Vikings have an obvious top three with Justin Jefferson leading the charge. The standout pass-catcher is flanked by his top wingman Jordan Addison and last year’s emerging weapon Jalen Nailor.
Behind that trio, however, there’s a void, and Rondale Moore, once a promising second-rounder, is primed to snatch that spot. He missed last season due to a knee injury and was in danger of missing this year’s training camp. Surprisingly, though, when training camp opened, Moore was on the field.
Mark Craig of the Star Tribune wrote this week, “One of my top observations from the Vikings’ first training camp practice on Wednesday: Rondale Moore looks good.
During his presser, offensive coordinator Wes Phillips said Friday: “You see the explosion. He’s obviously not a tall guy, but he’s very explosive, very strong, and you see some of that quickness on his releases already. The thing for Rondale is, he was very attentive in the spring, but these are really some of his first reps. So just getting used to some of the splits, some of the little details of the plays when you’re actually in there doing it, it’s a little different from the meeting room.”
Sure, he’s not a tall guy, standing 5’7″, but he’s quick and shifty like few others. Moore possesses the speed to win deep, but his specialty is to be a short-yardage receiver, especially in the slot, and make defenders miss after the catch, which makes him the perfect complement to the top trio.
He’s healthy and has shown some flashes already. Because of Jefferson’s absence, he could get some extra looks in the upcoming practice sessions.
Jeff Okudah
Unlike at wide receiver, the Vikings made moves at cornerback. Stephon Gilmore and Shaq Griffin are gone, and so is backup Fabian Moreau. Only Byron Murphy Jr. returned, and he will be one of the three cornerbacks in nickel. Isaiah Rodgers is expected to be another, and the third is up for grabs.
Mekhi Blackmon was assumed to be the first choice, but so far, it’s been Jeff Okudah, the 2020 third-overall pick. Injuries slowed him down in his career, and when healthy, he couldn’t reach the potential he was expected to have when the Lions pulled the trigger five years ago.
Let’s throw it back to Craig, who reported from camp: “The top three cornerbacks look good. On paper, at least. When the Vikings used their nickel package Wednesday, rising star Byron Murphy Jr. was in the slot, while Rodgers and former No. 3 overall draft pick Jeff Okudah lined up outside. Mekhi Blackmon, who missed all last season with a torn ACL, worked with the second team.”
Okudah has gotten praise from various people in recent months.
Perhaps the top endorsement was given to him by Jefferson, who had his struggles with the physical corner before. He said about his new teammate: “He has that speed … and he has that ability to really play-make and just be an annoying cornerback. That’s what I like to call those types of corners, ‘annoying cornerbacks,’ because they know how to be physical. They know how to get you off your route and not be able to have free access.”
A little comparable to Sam Darnold’s situation a year ago, it might just be Okudah’s last chance to prove that he can be a starter in the NFL. Defending one of the three CB jobs under Brian Flores is the first step to reviving his career.
Editor’s Note: Information from PFF, Over The Cap, and Pro Football Reference helped with this article.
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