Many roster moves are straightforward. Training camp bodies are brought in to compete during the preseason, but there is no real path to a roster spot. Not all of the moves work that way though, and sometimes players earn a surprising spot.

On the flip side, when someone takes a spot out of nowhere, it has a trickle down effect. The Vikings rostered a whopping seven undrafted free agents. These are the four most shocking names to miss the cut.

Gabriel Murphy, OLB

There are four players on this list, but none compare to the surprise cut that was Gabriel Murphy. He was a standout during training camp and the preseason last year. The undrafted free agent out of UCLA earned his way onto the field for a pair of games during the regular season as well.

This preseason Murphy racked up 1.5 sacks in limited action. He seemed like an edge rusher with the arrow pointing straight up. Then again, it’s a tough group to crack when Brian Flores boasts the best front seven in the league.

Gabriel Murphy (@GabrielMurphy_) with the cross chop/club. Clears the blocker & gets the sack. If you beat the hands, you beat the man! #PassRush #Skol pic.twitter.com/bHRuca0WBU

— DLineVids (@dlinevids1) August 9, 2025

Ultimately the Vikings opted to carry undrafted free agent Chaz Chambliss instead. The Georgia product probably has more impact on special teams and that could be the difference. Murphy won’t be unemployed long, and it would hardly be shocking if he put up some good starting numbers.

It wasn’t even as though Murphy was next in line either. Austin Keys, another undrafted rookie, made the time as a linebacker also.

Taki Taimani, DL

An undrafted rookie last season, Taimani saw time on defense for Minnesota. He played in seven games and recorded three tackles on 70 defensive snaps. It’s not that he was a fixture or even a rotational player, but development would have suggested another step forward this season.

Of course that interior line is not the same group this team employs. Harrison Phillips and those patchwork pieces behind him are gone. Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave are here to wreak havoc. Taimani found himself bested by the competition and now he’ll look to stick elsewhere.

Nick Vannett, TE

It’s not so much that Vannett wasn’t kept for Minnesota. He was a late training camp addition and came about because the tight end depth had hit a snag. Rookie Gavin Bartholomew is going to miss the season, and he was set to be the third option behind T.J. Hockenson and Josh Oliver.

Rather than just go with Vannett, who has nine years of experience under his belt, Minnesota opted for undrafted free agent Benjamin Yurosek. Last season Vannett was active for all 17 games with the Tennessee Titans and drew 10 starts. He’s had more than 200 yards receiving in a season just once during his career, but he keeps seeing opportunities.

#Vikings TE Ben Yurosek has been impressing so far 👀

(@Dust_Vikings)pic.twitter.com/f39X8sda8R

— VikingzFanPage (@vikingzfanpage) August 5, 2025

Yurosek, a Georgia product, had only 15 receptions for the Bulldogs last season. He turned them into 185 yards, but had just five career touchdowns in 48 collegiate games. This could be more of a special teams play as well.

Lucky Jackson, WR

When you have just five wide receivers make a roster, and only two of them are worthy of a starting role, it’s worth scrutinizing the position. Lucky Jackson wasn’t a surprise cut if you watched him fumble away the opportunity during the preseason. He was a surprise cut because a roster spot was his for the taking and he flopped.

Instead of Jackson, the Vikings will roll with undrafted free agent Myles Price, and uninspiring veteran Tim Jones. Price has utility as a returner and showed some nice chemistry with third string quarterback Max Brosmer. Jones played all 17 games each of the past three seasons for the Jaguars, but he has just 17 receptions to his credit.

Today's bad drop… Lucky Jackson with a perfectly thrown ball by J.J. McCarthy.pic.twitter.com/VQ9Bsyvu2L

— The Purple Persuasion (@TPPSkol) August 14, 2025

Jackson could have been in line to push Jalen Nailor for reps at some point this season. Instead his untimely drops and uninspiring play left him on the unemployment line.

The Minnesota Vikings kick off their season on September 8 against the Chicago Bears. These surprise cuts will be looking to land deals elsewhere before then.

There isn’t a set way in which teams go about making their cuts or how they let players/media know who’s been waived and who is making the roster. Throughout the past few days, the MN Vikings have started making their moves, and the cuts have been kicked into overdrive today.

While we won’t know what the Vikings’ initial 53-man roster will look like quite yet, it is starting to take shape right before our eyes.

The Vikings wrapped up their preseason schedule with a road trip to Nashville for a game against the Tennessee Titans. They made their first round of cuts on Sunday, which set their quarterback room for week one, before ending their punting competition on Monday.

With 26 moves left to make entering Tuesday, it’s certain to be a wild day in Eagan.

Minnesota Vikings 2025 Training Camp Cuts

Related: MN Vikings Make Shocking Cut on Defense

The most surprising early news is that Minnesota plans to release edge rusher Gabriel Murphy. It’s possible someone jumps up as a trade partner in order to beat the waiver line. Murphy was a standout last training camp and tallied 1.5 sacks this preseason.

Realistically though, the Vikings defensive front seven is beyond impressive and he was going to struggle to carve a path. On the flip side, offensive lineman Joe Huber (an undrafted free agent) is going to make the 53-man roster. That could spell trouble for veteran guard Blake Brandel.

In total Minnesota has four undrafted free agents on the 53-man roster. Max Brosmer and Huber are joined by Chaz Chambliss and Elijah Williams. While general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has missed in the draft, he’s found some great talent afterwards. Although not a member of the Vikings, Minnesota Gophers undrafted pass rusher Danny Striggow made the Jacksonville Jaguars roster.

Stay tuned throughout the afternoon as the Minnesota Vikings continue to work their roster into compliance for the 2025 NFL regular season.

Brosmer stepped up in collegiate competition last year, joining the Minnesota Gophers. He did so again this spring, when he signed as an undrafted free agent with the Minnesota Vikings. But one of the most difficult positions to claim a Vikings roster spot this summer, especially as a rookie, is on the defensive front seven.

That’s because Minnesota has spent the past two years injecting the group with an extreme amount of talent. This year, they added top free agents, (DL) Javon Hargrave and (DL) Jonathan Allen. Last year, they did the same thing at linebacker, and it couldn’t have worked out any better.

The additions of OLB Andrew Van Ginkel, ILB Blake Cashman, OLB Jonathan Greenard and OLB Dallas Turner almost immediately fixed most of the Vikings’ defensive problems from 2023. And now, entering 2025, the LB and DL rooms are far and away the MN Vikings’ most talented on that side of the ball.

Gabriel Murphy becomes a surprise Vikings roster casualty

All that talent is also why general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and defensive coordinator Brian Flores felt comfortable trading Harrison Phillips, over the weekend, before waiving UDFA standout Gabriel Murphy from the active roster on Tuesday, in shocking fashion.

The #Vikings plan to waive OLB Gabriel Murphy barring a trade before today's cutdown deadline, per source. Murphy had 1.5 sacks in the preseason.

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) August 26, 2025

Related: Vikings’ Perfect Fit WRs Hit Open Market

Gabriel Murphy entered 2024 Vikings training camp undrafted out of UCLA, where he signed on as one of the most expensive UDFA’s of the class and quickly rose to Mr. Mankato type hype, after standing out early in camp and jumping off the screen during preseason games.

Unfortunately, Murphy injured himself before 2024 camp closed, so he started the regular season Minnesota’s injured reserve. The former South Carolina State star was activated later in the year, and even got some game action as a rookie UDFA.

When the dust settled on his first NFL regular season, Murphy finished with two NFL games under his belt, recording 1 solo tackle and 1 QB hit. During his 15 months in purple, though, it was the preseason where Gabe Murphy shined.

Gabriel Murphy has legit bend and pursuit speed to be a high end DPR in year two:

▪️ 1.5 sacks
▪️ 3 QB hits
▪️ 85.3 PFF pass rush grade

Still 24 years old. Can’t believe he was a UDFA in 2024. Vikings have upside here! pic.twitter.com/FtFUThNteK

— NFL Draft Files (@NFL_DF) August 11, 2025

Why did the Minnesota Vikings cut Murphy; Will he land elsewhere?

Murphy, 24, was battling for playing time behind an EDGE group led by Van Ginkel and Greenard. There have been plenty of voices suggesting concern towards 2024 first round pick, Dallas Turner. This may be a sign that the Minnesota Vikings do not share that concern.

Despite his preseason performances, Murphy will now look for a job elsewhere, and you have to think there will be interested parties, given he was very much expected to make the Vikings’ final 53-man roster.

As noted by Pelissero, it’s possible Kwesi could even find a trade partner, due to the expected interest around the league in Murphy, who has shown real burst off the edge, along with a propensity to find the quarterback.

Related: Rookie Punter Could Still Land Back with MN Vikings

By making the decision to waive Murphy, this likely goes beyond the Vikings’ belief in Turner. It means they must feel good about the health of Andrew Van Ginkel too, who hasn’t practiced in weeks.

There are a lot more roster moves to be had over the next 24 hours. We will have all of the Minnesota Vikings’ roster cuts for you HERE and the initial 53-man roster HERE. The Vikings kickoff their 2025 regular season schedule September 8 on Monday Night Football in Chicago against the Bears.

Daniel Jones + Minnesota Vikings is official

Sam Darnold has looked great, through 11 games of his fresh start, but more depth talent is never a bad thing. That’s why more than six teams were trying to sign Daniel Jones, after he cleared waivers. In the end, the 27-year-old former No. 9 overall pick chose the Vikings, in a wallet-friendly practice squad deal that became official on Black Friday.

The team also signed (OLB) Gabe Murphy to the practice squad, after he was cut on Wednesday and cleared waivers. To make room for both Jones and Murphy, the released (T) Julian Pearl and (TE) Robert Tonyan.

The #Vikings have signed QB Daniel Jones and OLB Gabriel Murphy to the practice squad.

T Julian Pearl and TE Robert Tonyan have been released from the practice squad. pic.twitter.com/xQclyz7eCT

— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) November 29, 2024

Understandably, Jones wanted to go somewhere with a great situation. He could have opted to play right away for the San Francisco 49ers, but further development and a possible future opportunity in Minnesota won out.

Related: Sam Darnold Too Expensive for Vikings? Daniel Jones Might be the Better Option Anyway…

Jones started ten games for the New York Giants this season. He has 2,070 yards, eight touchdowns, and seven interceptions. His 63.3% completion rate was the lowest of any season for him since 2020.

The Vikings hope to convince Jones that a 2025 season alongside rookie J.J. McCarthy in the Land of 10,000 Lakes, is the best place for him to begin his NFL comeback story. O’Connell is THE quarterback whisperer of the National Football League, right now, and Jones is banking on him for a chance to revive a floundering QB career.

Gabriel Murphy lands on Vikings practice squad

One of the most highly-anticipated signings from Minnesota’s undrafted free agent class was Gabriel Murphy. The edge rusher wowed in early action, and there’s definitely a level of excitement regarding his development. Unfortunately he has been working his way back from injured reserve, and was a roster casualty amid a plethora of moves this week.

Gabriel Murphy's quickness leads to some extremely impressive plays against the run. In the compilation below he makes a ton of great plays. pic.twitter.com/Ws3LAZ7eqV

— Matt Fries (@FriesFootball) June 23, 2024

Related: Vikings HC Kevin O’Connell Gives Update on Ivan Pace Jr Injury Timeline

Thankfully, Murphy was not claimed on waivers, and the Vikings were able to secure him back on the practice squad, tho he can still be plucked at any time. Murphy has yet to be active for the Minnesota Vikings this season. Gabe Murphy is definitely a long-term play prospect, and a good one to keep in your organization.

But that won’t be the case during week 11, not for the away team at Nissan Stadium in Nashville. This week, everyone from the Vikings’ 53-man roster is available. That includes a healthy TJ Hockenson, Jordan Addison, Blake Cashman and Dalton Risner.

Related: What’s the Cheapest Way to Watch NFL Games?

Final Minnesota Vikings injury report vs Titans is clean

On Friday, the team released a squeaky clean final injury report, leading into the weekend. The only player listed was undrafted rookie EDGE Gabriel Murphy. He is listed as OUT, while continuing to work through his 21-day PUP practice window.

Final #MINvsTEN injury report

OUT: Gabe Murphy*

*Currently in 21-day practice window pic.twitter.com/sa6RERpvGY

— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) November 15, 2024

Kevin O’Connell told media moments ago that Murphy is on track to be activated sometime during or immediately after his 3-week practice window. That means, if they can get through the game Sunday, without any more devastating injuries, this team could get even healthier in the coming weeks. But that’s a big “if”.

Related: 4 Bold Predictions for Minnesota Vikings’ Week 11 Matchup vs Titans

Earlier this week, Sam Darnold and Aaron Jones, among others, were listed as limited participants, thanks to some bumps and bruises suffered in week 10 vs the Jacksonville Jaguars. Those injury concerns were lifted, as the week wore on, and now everyone is a full-go.

But beyond trade talks with other teams, the Vikings had a lot going on yesterday. For example, kicker Will Reichard was moved to injured reserve, after suffering a quad injury vs the Colts. He wasn’t the only special teams player to find the IR, though. Pro Bowl long snapper Andrew DePaola got the same designation, after he too suffered an injury Sunday night.

Minnesota Vikings shuffle roster on Wednesday

In corresponding moves, the Minnesota Vikings signed familiar kicker, John Parker Romo, who lost a very short training camp battle vs Reichard this summer. Shortly after, DePaola’s replacement was announced with the signing of veteran Jake McQuaide.

So, roster moves on Wednesday weren’t surprising. But when the official news broke this afternoon, those roster transactions looked a bit different than what most expected. The only new guy at TCO Performance Center to be signed to the active roster was kicker John Parker Romo. LS Jake McQuaide was signed to the practice squad.

That left one 53-man roster spot still open. The Vikings filled it with defensive lineman, Jalen Redmond, who had been on the practice squad. To fill his spot down there, general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah signed 26-year-old former Atlanta Falcon defensive tackle, Travis Bell.

Related: Patriots Signing Offensive Lineman Off Minnesota Vikings Practice Squad

Bell totaled 34 tackles, 5.5 TFLs, 1.5 sacks and 3 QB hurries as a senior at Kennisaw State University. He has played in two regular season NFL games, both for the 2023 Atlanta Falcons. The Minnesota Vikings are the third roster Travis Bell has been on this year. He was cut by the Bengals in late August, then signed to the Bears practice squad a month later, before he was cut on October 15.

Vikings also designate Gabriel Murphy to return to practice

The last roster move announced by the Minnesota Vikings on Wednesday was the designation of UDFA Gabriel Murphy to return to practice. Kwesi and Co now have 21 days to activate Murphy, or he will go on season-ending injured reserve.

The #Vikings have announced the following roster moves

– Signed DL Jalen Redmond to the 53-man roster

– Signed K John Parker Romo

– Signed LS Jake McQuaide and DL Travis Bell to the practice squad

– Designated OLB Gabriel Murphy to return to practice

📰:… pic.twitter.com/xvoA5POy4M

— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) November 6, 2024

Gabriel Murphy to land on Minnesota Vikings injured reserve

This morning, we found out who will occupy the Vikings’ second short-term IR designation. According to Ian Rapoport (NFL Network), it will be undrafted free agent EDGE rusher, Gabriel Murphy.

The #Vikings will place promising UDFA LB Gabriel Murphy on short-term IR to begin the season, source said. The former UCLA standout flashed early in camp.

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 27, 2024

The UCLA alum wasn’t just an early camp favorite to land a roster spot. All eyes were on him, even before he hit the practice fields at TCO Performance Center. Don’t believe me? Fine, money talks.

Many NFL Draft experts couldn’t believe Murphy was passed on over 250 times back in April. That’s why the 23-year-old demanded a whopping $245,000 guaranteed, to sign with the Vikings as an undrafted free agent.

Related: Minnesota Vikings Complete First Round of 2024 Roster Cuts

Gabe quickly lived up to his UDFA hype (if that can be a thing) during rookie mini camp and once Training Camp started. Unfortunately, an injury has kept him on the sideline for weeks. Still, the Vikings clearly believe in his future, because these short-term IR designations are very limited.

TJ Hockenson hits Vikings PUP List

Last week, it was believed that TJ Hockenson would occupy one of two short term IL designations for the Minnesota Vikings, coming out of training camp. More recently, that proved not to be the case.

Instead, the pro bowl tight end will begin the season on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list, which is a different injury designation, and one that requires Hockenson to miss at least four weeks, before returning to action.

Not a surprise but Vikings T.J. Hockenson will start the season on the PUP, per sources. That means he will miss the first 4 games. @AdamSchefter on it first.

— Dianna Russini (@DMRussini) August 27, 2024

There was some early signs that TJ might be able to return from his injury a bit sooner than expected. Then, last week per reports, he suddenly appeared to be moving slower than he had been during prior practices.

Related: Cowboys Hosting Another Mike Zimmer Era Vikings Player on Visit

Should the former Iowa Hawkeye return immediately, when eligible in week five, it’s possible he’d still be ahead of schedule. According to The Athletic, the Vikings are optimistic that will be the case. That TJ Hockenson will be ready to go in London, vs the New York Jets.

Let the UDFA rain down for the Minnesota Vikings

Say what you want about Kwesi Adofo-Mensah’s draft prowess. He has missed in some big spots there. Undrafted free agents have become a focal point for the Minnesota Vikings since Ivan Pace Jr. became a star last season. The 2024 roster could certainly include another UDFA or two that turn heads. The Athletic’s Alec Lewis sees a few making the cut. The names Lewis has making the team are intriguing, and each has a well-reasoned explanation as to why.

• Tyrese Robinson (OL) – “How about Robinson, whom coaches have liked watching this preseason? Robinson is a bold pick here, but why not be bold?”
• Taki Taimani (IDL) – “If Robinson is the first bold pick of the projection, Taimani is the second. Last year, fifth-round pick Jaquelin Roy occupied the backup nose tackle spot. He has had a ho-hum camp this year, potentially opening a spot for Taimani”
• Gabriel Murphy (Edge) – “The Vikings can place two players on IR and designate them to where they don’t count against the 53-man roster. Murphy might be a candidate for this. The undrafted edge rusher from UCLA wowed coaches in the first few weeks of camp, then suffered an undisclosed injury and has not been present since. Cutting him could risk losing him, so this is the sensible approach.”
• Dwight McGlothern (CB) – “Parting with Evans also opens the door for McGlothern, who has displayed a knack for the ball all camp.”

If all four undrafted free agents make the Minnesota Vikings 53-man roster, that would be even with the amount of drafted rookies to be included. Adofo-Mensah has done a great job of identifying talent on the fringes, and each of these talents could make noise.

Related: New Name Emerging in Minnesota Vikings RG Battle?

Should any of the 2024 UDFA work out like Pace Jr. did, the Vikings will be ecstatic.

Which UDFA could contribute most for Minnesota Vikings?

The Minnesota Vikings will have plenty of opportunity for talent to step up. It’s not a surprise that three of the four aforementioned names play on the defensive side of the ball. Defensive coordinator Brian Flores needs his group to take another step forward this season and there are positions that present openings.

Tyrese Robinson and Michael Jurgens create a wide hole for Myles Gaskin to run through, and he hits it hard, well before the LB is able to get to him and into the second level of the defense. pic.twitter.com/b4oa1gtMAi

— Matt Fries (@FriesFootball) August 21, 2024

Blake Brandel is starting at guard for the first time in his career. Dalton Risner signed to challenge both Brandel and Ed Ingram, but he hasn’t been healthy. Ingram has remained a problem, and the guard spot could need a jolt. If that winds up being the case, Robinson may force his way into actions.

Tragedy took away Khyree Jackson before his career could get started. His physical traits were something that excited coaches, and that remains true for Dwight McGlothern. He’s currently deep on the depth chart out of the gate. He can definitely factor in down the stretch. Taimani plays a spot that Minnesota needs to be better at as well, so showing out will get him noticed.

Dwight McGlothern's INT against the Browns. Ball was overthrown to the TE and McGlothern was able to recognize that, and go down and catch the ball. pic.twitter.com/OmlKR4S0gu

— Matt Fries (@FriesFootball) August 19, 2024

Minnesota’s edge rushing group has been turned over since last season. Murphy is an exciting prospect, but he hasn’t been healthy. A late start behind Johnathan Greenard, Andrew Van Ginkel, and Dallas Turner makes his chances a serious uphill battle.

Related: Another UDFA Could Reportedly Sneak onto Minnesota Vikings’ Final Roster

No matter what, the Vikings getting contributions from UDFA’s again this year would be great to see.

Then, on Tuesday, it’s cutdown day. By 3 PM CT, every team in the NFL needs to slice their rosters essentially in-half. 32 teams will drop from 90-some players, down to 53. The Vikings also have a much larger than it used to be practice squad, but they have to cut a young intriguing player, before they can sign on for PS duties.

That’s why cutting young, talented players is risky business. Which is why, every year, big NFL names are cut loose in favor of more youthful, cheaper options. For the Minnesota Vikings, many expect one of those veteran cut victims to be offensive guard, Dalton Risner.

Minnesota Vikings Injured Reserve Battle: Dalton Risner vs Gabe Murphy

Nobody was interested in signing the former Denver Broncos during the offseason. That’s why he signed a super-cheap deal to return to TCO Performance Center. But he has been out with a back injury for weeks, leaving him vulnerable on cut day.

According to Alec Lewis (The Athletic), Risner is one of a few candidates who could have his job saved by injured reserve. It’s far from a lock, though. TJ Hockenson already holds one of two spots available, and undrafted rookie free agent EDGE rusher Gabe Murphy could get it ahead of the 29-year-old offensive guard.

After the first couple of weeks of training camp, Murphy was trending toward making the roster. Everyone in the know felt it. Flores and head coach Kevin O’Connell both raved about him... Minnesota has yet to place Murphy on injured reserve, which would allow the team to keep him without him counting against the 53-man limit. Given the upside, that route makes sense.

A few weeks ago, Risner suffered a back injury. He has not practiced since nor has he been present… Like Murphy, he, too, might be a candidate for injured reserve — teams have two spots for players who don’t count against the 53-man, and tight end T.J. Hockenson will likely occupy one of them.

Alec Lewis – The Athletic

Related: Vikings Insider Reveals Why Stephon Gilmore Chose Them Over Other Teams

NFL teams can actually designate as many as ten players to injured reserve, out of training camp. Only two, as Alec notes, are able to have a ‘return to action’ tag assigned to them. Neither Murphy or Risner are believed to have serious injuries, so season-ending IR would not work.

TJ Hockenson injury leaves only one space remaining on Vikings IR

So with TJ already there, what does that mean for Risner and Murphy? Well, a lot of it might have to do with whether or not the Minnesota Vikings think they can sneak Gabe through waivers, in order to put him on their practice squad.

If so, they might hang onto Dalton Risner, knowing how quickly a couple of OL injuries can derail a season. But that doesn’t seem to be their current line of thinking, at least per Alec Lewis. As of now, Murphy’s upside “might warrant the nod” over a veteran backup guard.

A player like Murphy, who is still young and developing, might warrant the nod more than a backup guard, even if Blake Brandel and Ed Ingram are not stalwarts.

Alec Lewis – The Athletic

For now, it seems as though releasing Gabe Murphy, and exposing him to waivers, feels like too risky of a proposition for general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah to roll the dice on.

Related: Another UDFA Could Reportedly Sneak onto Minnesota Vikings’ Final Roster

That wouldn’t surprise me, and shouldn’t shock anyone else. The Minnesota Vikings have proven a clear willingness to go on with life after Risner, even if it means putting their OL depth in jeopardy.

Which UDFA’s can make an impact for the Minnesota Vikings?

Kevin O’Connell has already laid out the plan for his quarterbacks on Saturday. The Minnesota Vikings will start Sam Darnold. Rookie J.J. McCarthy will get a significant amount of run. 2023 draft pick Jaren Hall will see action as well. There are no UDFA’s at quarterback, but a few of them are looking to crack the 53-man roster. The Athletic’s Alec Lewis outlined a group that is definitely worth keeping an eye on.

Last year, the Vikings uncovered an undrafted free-agent gem in linebacker Ivan Pace Jr. This year, four players have impressed in camp. (Gabriel Murphy, edge; Jeshaun Jones, WR; Dwight McGlothern, CB; Owen Porter, edge). Murphy, an edge rusher from UCLA, has not practiced fully in recent days with an undisclosed injury. He has, however, earned rave reviews from Flores. McGlothern’s size and ball skills have excited coaches. Jones snags multiple passes a day and is likely to play major minutes Saturday. And Porter is a potential special teams contributor with defensive versatility. All of these players are vying for roster spots, and there hasn’t been a better opportunity for them to display their worth than Saturday against the Raiders.

Alec Lewis on Vikings UDFA’s to watch

Minnesota would love to unearth another version of Ivan Pace Jr. The crop they have at their disposal this season present a real opportunity to do that. The defense needs an influx of developed talent. Brian Flores will be looking for guys that can immediately step up and make plays.

#Vikings CB Dwight McGlothern with a nice interception here:

🎥: @SeanBormanNFL pic.twitter.com/YUpz4DWDxE

— VikingzFanPage (@vikingzfanpage) August 8, 2024

With the passing of Khyree Jackson, the Minnesota Vikings lost a player that could have factored in at the cornerback position. Dwight McGlothern possesses similar size traits. If he can show a quick learning curve, a position that sorely needs help could find it. The third wide receiver position is largely up in the air. That would present an opening for Jeshaun Jones to work his way up the depth chart as well.

Although preseason action is typically boring, Minnesota brings plenty of storylines to the table this weekend.

Related: Vikings Insider Projects Undrafted Rookie as Surefire 53-Man Roster Candidate