Sneaky Vikings Rookie Could Earn Roster Spot
The Minnesota Vikings won’t formulate a 53-man roster until late August when the NFL mandates a shave from 90 players to 53.
One Vikings rookie could win a roster spot almost out of nowhere.
So, several roster battles will occur at training camp and in the preseason, many in the middle and at the bottom of the depth chart, as starters’ jobs are mostly spoken for, thanks to a robust free agency and promising draft by general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah.
But one hot take to monitor is the QB3 job, which could be won by undrafted free agent Max Brosmer.
Max Brosmer the Only Rookie QB in Vikings’ Orbit
The Vikings drafted J.J. McCarthy from Round 1 in 2024, and four months later, he tore his meniscus during a magnificent preseason showing. Veteran passer Sam Darnold took over, promptly propelling Minnesota to 14 wins, but in the backdrop, fans always bided their time for McCarthy’s return.
Well, he’s back, and the Vikings drafted no quarterbacks last month accordingly. They have their guy.
Still, from undrafted free agency, Adofo-Mensah signed Brosmer, a hometowner from the Minnesota Golden Gophers. If he plays his cards right, Brosmer could steal the QB3 post.
Thor Nystrom’s Take
FantasyLife‘s Thor Nystrom commended the Vikings last week for their UDFA haul.
He wrote, “This is the third consecutive year that the Vikings have finished top 5 in my UDFA rankings. GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has clearly prioritized this phase of the process. Over the past three years, six UDFAs have made the Vikings’ Week 1 roster: Ryan Wright, Ivan Pace Jr., Gabriel Murphy, Taki Taimani, Bo Richter, and Dwight McGlothern.”
“This time around, the Vikings had a built-in advantage to make their argument to agents. Minnesota used a tied-for-league-low five draft picks while spending the second-least draft equity (ahead of only the Rams, who traded their R1 pick).”
He then proclaimed that Brosmer could upset Brett Rypien on the 53-man depth chart: “QB Max Brosmer and RB Tre Stewart, meanwhile, will take on QB3 Brett Rypien and RB3 Ty Chandler, respectively. Each has a legitimate shot. Because of the team’s precarious depth situation at tight end, TEs Benjamin Yurosek and Bryson Nesbit might ultimately be battling with one another for a roster spot.”
“If neither impresses this summer, look for the Vikings to be monitoring August tight end cuts from other rosters.”
Most believe Brosmer will be on his way to the practice squad, but Nystrom’s theory pumps the brakes.
Kevin O’Connell on Max Brosmer
Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell said about Brosmer at rookie minicamp last week: “From the standpoint of fundamentals, techniques, his ability to generate some pretty good revolutions and RPMs on the ball with pretty limited movement in the pocket. From a standpoint of his high football I.Q., I think it shows up when he can really arrive here, spend a couple hours in meetings, and he’s out there making corrections in the middle of a 7-on-7 walk-through.”
“We’re already seeing a lot of things that we really identified in Max to bring him into a quarterbacks room that we’re really excited about, and I think he had a great first day.”
O’Connell is widely renowned as a “quarterback whisperer,” so Brosmer may have the best possible NFL landing spot.
O’Connell concluded, “He got a chance to throw last year and caught my eye then. Anytime that I get to a Pro Day, the same guy two years in a row … I felt pretty good about Max as a thrower.”
Does Brosmer Have the Juice to Dethrone Brett Rypien for QB3?
Until the draft, Rypien was actually on deck to play QB2 for the Vikings. However, the team traded for Sam Howell, a low-risk deal with the Seattle Seahawks, instantly demoting Rypien to QB3.
The team’s leaders have spoken favorably about Rypien all offseason, so Brosmer as the QB3, not Rypien, would be quite the upset.
If it happens, remember Nystrom’s bold take.
Strengths and Weaknesses
Brosmer doesn’t have a powerful arm and lacks modern quarterback mobility.
But he’s accurate, has a quick release, and possesses prototypical quarterback size at 6’2″ and 220 pounds.
Nystrom compared Brosmer to Shane Buechele, a little-known passer who plays for the Buffalo Bills and attended SMU.
Unsung Vikings Rookie Turns Heads
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