Every year, some underdogs face an uphill battle to make the Vikings roster, especially with the roster as deep and talented as Kwesi Adofo-Mensah’s.
The team’s top-level talent is essentially set in stone. Players on defense across the board, the players that Brian Flores has shown to trust with a lot of reps or that have high draft or capital investment, have nothing to worry about at the moment. On offense, Kevin O’Connell and Wes Phillips use many of their weapons to make sure opposing defenses remain on their toes.
Despite all those seeming guarantees, some players are still fighting for their place, and we have three in mind to watch during camp.
Bo Richter, Linebacker/Edge Rusher
The Vikings have made a knack for hitting homeruns with their undrafted free agent signings. Bo Richter was one of those undrafted free agents they attempted to take a swing at last season, and he showed late in the year he was earning more reps and work within the defense and special teams. The defense brought in some more defenders this offseason, and fellow UDFA Gabriel Murphy is expected to be healthy and competing for reps, but do not count out Richter to keep his spot.
Blake Brandel, Guard
The Vikings saw last year just how important depth at the offensive line is for their group. They were banged up down the stretch, and it affected their entire offense and contributed to their early playoff exit. The team signed swing tackle Justin Skule, but they could also keep versatile guard Blake Brandel. He is here for one more year on a cheap deal and has proven he is more than serviceable over his tenure with the team. Despite him being a popular cut or trade candidate, I wouldn’t be surprised to see him stick around.
Take Taimani, Defensive Lineman
The team added Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave during the offseason as they look to beef up their defensive front. There will not be many reps left for players like Taki Taimani or Levi Drake Rodriguez, but on special teams and certain packages, there may be. Taimani played a decent amount as a rookie, doing so under the leadership of Brian Flores, which is no small task, and it speaks to Flores’s trust in him. Because of that, look for him to have a better chance of sticking around than most.
