Vikings Have Some Players “On Notice” after Draft
The Minnesota Vikings haven’t been shy about adding new players in the last week.
Vikings Have Some Players “On Notice” after Draft
The club drafted five rookies from Thursday to Saturday and signed 19 undrafted free agents (UDFAs) to round out the weekend.
The depth chart will undergo evaluation by coaches in the next four months, but from an immediate glance, five players were put “on notice” after the draft and UDFA. These are those men, ranked in ascending order (No. 1 = on notice to the utmost).
5. Gabriel Murphy (OLB)
Who Might Take His Job?
Tyler Batty
Why Murphy’s on Notice:
General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah found Murphy in undrafted free agency one year ago. After battling lingering injuries in the summer, he later climbed to the active roster, where Murphy played 35 defensive snaps while tabulating one tackle in the regular season.
He’s not a shoo-in to depart the franchise or anything of the sort, but a practice squad fate may await him if another UDFA newcomer, BYU’s Tyler Batty, executes a strong training camp and preseason.
4. Rondale Moore (WR)
Who Might Take His Job?
Tai Felton
Why Moore’s on Notice:
Yes, the Vikings just signed Moore. That isn’t debatable.
However, Adofo-Mensah used 3rd-Round draft capital on Felton, a speedster from Maryland, and onboarded Texas’ Silas Bolden after the event. Both men have “Moore” written all over them per skill set, and perhaps the Moore signing occurred without Minnesota’s knowledge that it could land Felton and Bolden in April.
Moreover, Moore is battling an injury recovery that will bleed into the summer. “Can’t make the club in the tub” may adversely affect Moore, a former 2nd-Rounder.
3. Brian Asamoah (LB)
Who Might Take His Job?
Kobe King
Why Asamoah’s on Notice:
Asamoah is always on notice because the Vikings don’t play him on defense. His contract is scheduled to run out after the 2025 campaign, and truth be told, he might not make it to the regular season.
Minnesota drafted King on Saturday, and he profiles as a man who can impact special teams, like Asamoah, and maybe even serve as the third or fourth linebacker. For the last three seasons, the Vikings have gone out of their way not to play Asamoah on defense, and King probably won’t encounter a similar fate.
Bleacher Report‘s Matt Holder on King: “Kobe King is a solid run defender and has the potential to make it as a ‘Mike’ linebacker. He’s a good downhill player who has some force when taking on blocks to knock back offensive linemen occasionally and hold his ground. He also has solid instincts to consistently be around the ball against inside runs.”
“However, King doesn’t show good athleticism and struggles in coverage, making him a two-down player. Additionally, his athletic and speed limitations negatively impact him against outside runs and could make it difficult for him to contribute on special teams in the NFL.”
Minnesota also welcomed a reunion with veteran linebacker Eric Wilson in March.
Holder added on King, “Overall, the Penn State product is a decent late-round prospect for a team looking to add depth to its linebacker room.”
2. Brett Rypien (QB)
Who Might Take His Job?
Sam Howell
Why Rypien’s on Notice:
Indeed, purple coaches and front office executives spoke highly of Rypien from March through April, but when the rubber hit the road, they traded for Sam Howell, a volume passer from the Seattle Seahawks.
Howell has a full season’s experience with the 2023 Washington Commanders, whereas Rypien has started just a few games in his career. Adofo-Mensah didn’t trade for Howell as a QB3 option. Howell is the QB2.
Rypien will hope to remain on the active roster as the QB3 and stave off UDFA newcomer quarterback Max Brosmer, a Minnesota Golden Gopher.
1. Blake Brandel (G)
Who Might Take His Job?
Donovan Jackson
Why Brandel’s on Notice:
The most emphatic demotion on the way, Jackson will seize Brandel’s starting left guard post this summer and never look back. If he does not, well, Adofo-Mensah will have some “splainin” to do.
The Vikings resisted the urge to trade down on draft night, sticking-and-picking Jackson, which means he’s on tap to start at left guard as early as September.
Brandel will return to his backup OL roots and be the next man up if injuries rattle Minnesota’s trenches.
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