Vikings Fire Undrafted Rookie After Only 3 Weeks
The Vikings have brought in an extensive rookie class, built around nine draft picks as well as 19 initial undrafted rookies. Since signing them three weeks ago, the franchise has already parted ways with two of them.
The latest victim of an offseason release was Jordan Botelho, a pass-rusher out of Notre Dame.
Minnesota announced on Thursday that Botelho won’t return for offseason workouts.
Wideout Davis will bolster the depth of the receiving corps, instead.
Botelho, from Honolulu, joined Notre Dame in 2020 as a four-star recruit. He immediately carved out a role on special teams and climbed the depth chart on defense in his long career. Throughout his career, Botelho played in a whopping 62 games, registering 12.5 sacks, 97 tackles, and 16.5 tackles for loss.
Though he never fully clinched a starting spot outside of 2024, a season he got hurt in after only three games, he started several games in his six years in college.
As an undrafted rookie, he was always a long shot to stick around. Still, he could’ve been one of the players who earn a roster spot or qualify for the practice squad, especially at the alarmingly thin depth chart at outside linebacker following Jonathan Greenard’s trade to Philadelphia.
Without the 2024 Pro Bowler in the mix, the Vikings will deploy fellow former Pro Bowler Andrew Van Ginkel and Dallas Turner in the starting lineup. First-rounder Turner will be a crucial player in replacing Greenard.
The organization spent a ton of draft capital to lure him to the Twin Cities in the 2024 draft and it’s time for him to become a full-time starter in his third NFL season under Brian Flores’ watch. He secured eight QB takedowns last season and figuratively exploded when he had to replace Greenard due to a shoulder injury.
Van Ginkel was once again fantastic when he was available, but he missed a handful of contests in his second season with the Vikings. In his 12 games, he still tabulated 7 sacks, 11 tackles for loss, and 54 tackles, as well as one of his signature interceptions.
The duo should be solid even without Greenard anchoring the defensive front. Behind them, however, the cupboard is bare, as the Vikings didn’t acquire any notable rushers and the depth wasn’t particularly impressive to begin with, even before the Greenard trade.
Bo Richter, a freak athlete who spent his college time at Air Force, is the most accomplished on paper. The 2024 undrafted rookie has appeared in 31 career games, mostly starring on special teams. His defensive resume is limited to 81 defensive snaps, but he showed some promise in the preseason.
Tyler Batty and Chaz Chambliss can also be classified as special-teamers after barely playing on defense in their undrafted rookie seasons in 2025. This year’s UDFAs, Cam’Ron Stewart and Arden Walker, complete the group in theory.
There’s one more idea floating around in the Vikings universe, though. Rookie second-round linebacker Jake Golday is viewed as a versatile player who could get reps at off-ball linebacker and on the edge, which might be a tall task for a rookie.
The most likely outcome will be that another pass-rusher will join the franchise at some point within the next few months. There are a few experienced rushers at the tail end of their careers on the market. Jadeveon Clowney has picked his next employers in the summer for years; maybe Minnesota is his next stop.
Either way, Botelho is no longer under contract with the Vikings. He joins Scooby Williams as undrafted rookies that didn’t last long.
Editor’s Note: Information from PFF, Over The Cap, and Sports Reference helped with this article.
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