Vikings Fans Are Falling in Love with One Newbie
Each offseason, Minnesota Vikings fans collectively identify at least one player for under-the-radar upside.
Vikings Fans Are Falling in Love with One Newbie
The man is usually somewhat unsung, with an underdog’s story, from humble origins, or an undrafted free agent.
This go-round, while more than one might come out of the woodwork, University of Texas wide receiver Silas Bolden is that guy.
Fans Begin to Dream Big about WR Silas Bolden
After the draft, Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah embarked on one of his most trusted habits — signing a heap of undrafted free agents on the Saturday night after the draft. He added about 20 this cycle, and Bolden was a part of the class.
The Texas alumnus will vie for a roster spot this summer, but because of his speed and versatility, fans are already high on his potential.
Josiah DeBoer commented on X about Bolden, “Since Minny needs a return specialist, this feels like a UDFA that has a real chance at making the team.”
One commenter, also a Texas loyalist, in addition to Vikings fandom, wrote: “As a Texas fan… he was huge in the playoffs as Bond nose dived and if Golden wasn’t getting the ball. They were manufacturing touches for him.”
Bolden has the speed of a gadget player, and onlookers love that in Kevin O’Connell’s system.
Silas Bolden Scouting Report
Here’s the kicker: Bolden is tiny. He’s 5’8″ and 160 pounds. The small stature likely sank his draft dreams.
NFL Draft Buzz on Bolden’s strengths: “Often used on deep routes, getting separation down the sideline or over the middle on crossing routes by extending his arms rather than pure speed. Has elite balance tight-roping the sideline and in-and-out of his breaks, showing excellent start-stop ability and burst. His long arms allow him to play bigger than his size, and Bolden has a frame that can carry a little more weight.”
“When used downfield, he shows the ball-tracking skills and hand-eye coordination to make the adjustment on underthrown balls and back-shoulder throws. He’s a fluid athlete with excellent short-area quickness; he should be able to create separation, and he has the straight-line speed to threaten down the seam. Bolden tracks the ball well downfield and consistently runs under long throws.”
For now, Bolden lives on a crowded Minnesota WR depth chart, so he must shine at training camp and preseason to make the regular season roster.
NDB on Bolden’s weaknesses: “He’ll have to develop a better feel for sitting down against zone coverage. Bolden also had problems with drops when coming back to the action. Bolden has some issues against press coverage, sometimes spending too much time hand fighting at the line of scrimmage. He’s short and slight, a non-option as a boundary receiver and a non-factor blocking in the run game.”
Bolden to the Active Roster in 2025?
If the Vikings coaching staff takes a liking to Bolden’s speed and special teams acumen, he actually has a puncher’s chance at making the gameday roster in September.
Minnesota has not re-signed punt returner Brandon Powell this offseason, meaning it will need a replacement from the current 90-man roster. Due to Bolden’s punt returning experience at Texas in 2024 — he handled 30 returns for 315 yards and a touchdown — he could be a fringe contender for a WR5 or WR6 assignment.
Vikings Emphasize Speed This Offseason
Bolden wasn’t the only speedster to turn purple this offseason. Minnesota signed cornerback Isaiah Rodgers in March, and he has 4.28 speed.
Receiver Rondale Moore became a Viking, and he’s right there with Rodgers, clocking 4.29 speed during the lead-up to the 2021 NFL Draft.
Meanwhile, Adofo-Mensah drafted Maryland wide receiver Tai Felton in Round 3 last Friday, and he ran a 4.37 at the NFL Combine.
It’s speed, speed, and more speed from the Vikings in the last seven weeks.
Bolden at His Pro Day
Bolden said this at his Pro Day before the draft: “I came here to show everybody who I was. When I got that exposure in the playoffs, I made some plays, and that’s really what put me out there for those scouts, that I can play football. I came here to succeed. It doesn’t matter how big you are. When you go out there and play hard, you gonna make some plays.”
Texas teammate Isaiah Bond added about Bolden: “Just off the sheer fact of his athleticism. He’s an extremely explosive guy, let alone on offense. He’s a special teams threat, taking kick returns back. So he definitely deserves to get drafted.”
Indeed, Minnesota might’ve unearthed a gem — probably why fans are dreaming big.
Janik Eckardt on Bolden
Janik Eckardt of PurplePTSD.com, an affiliate of VikingsTerritory, noted on Bolden this week: “The Vikings have lacked an explosive element in the returning phase throughout the last couple of seasons. Powell is a safe returner; he doesn’t drop the ball, but lacks the playmaking ability for big gains. If special teams coordinator Matt Daniels and the remaining decision-makers were happy with him, he would probably still be under contract.”
“His path for a roster spot is simple: usually, early in training camp, a dozen guys try out for the punt return job, but Bolden’s experience will give him the edge over most of them. If he can beat the remaining candidates, there’s definitely a place on the 53-man roster. A competitive guy who’s playing with energy and is a playmaker at a position of need. Bolden has a chance.”
Eckardt doesn’t often miss with his prognostications.
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