NaJee Thompson Does it Again, Firmly Proves He’s a 53-Man Roster Frontrunner
K. Joudry
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In general, special teams don’t get the attention they deserve. Being a touch overlooked, then, shouldn’t be surprising for NaJee Thompson, an UDFA corner who is fighting for a spot on Minnesota’s roster.
Going into the Seahawks game, a lot of Vikings fans would have been unfamiliar with him. Not anymore. In fact, the rookie even got the attention of the league itself, having clips of his tackles shared on the NFL’s Twitter account (the one that has more than 33 million followers). Not a bad way for the young fella to get his name known.
As an encore, Thompson pulled off a similarly spectacular play against the visiting Titans on Saturday night. He’s a menace as a gunner, a reality that will very likely lead to a spot in the lineup once September hits. Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and Kevin O’Connell may have no choice but to include Thompson on the team. At this point, there’s no way he could be slid onto the practice squad without getting scooped up by someone else.
As the calendar marches toward August 29th – The Great Descent – the Vikings will be hard at work evaluating their talent. For those who won’t be starting on offense or defense, specials teams are the ticket to a full-time job in the NFL. Thompson is pursuing this path, and he has been removing obstacles left and right with his sensational play.
NaJee Thompson and The Quest for the Vikings’ Final Roster
Last Thursday night, Thompson pulled off a remarkable play on special teams. Check out the tackle that the NFL Twitter account was sure to send out:
Put simply, there’s no way he could have played the coverage any better.
Coming off the line of scrimmage, he works his man toward the middle of the field. Like a receiver trying to get separation from a corner, Thompson forces his blocker to flip his shoulders and hips toward the inside. Thompson, though, works back toward the sideline; the blocker is unable to recover in time, meaning Thompson had a free lane.
The wild thing is just how perfect the timing is. Yes, plenty of players have speed and great tackling can be taught, but that timing is next level. It’s a play that should be teaching tape for any young player trying to learn how to be a gunner.
Tennessee tried to mitigate the damage NaJee Thompson could do. Unfortunately for Mike Vrabel, the Titans proved to be no match for the sensational UDFA.
Take a peak:
Once again, we’re seeing a gunner who looks to have perfected his craft (or very close to it). The timing is absolutely perfect, meaning the returner has no chance of picking up any yardage. Brian Flores’ defense thus gets the benefit of being able to have more field to defend.
Do you know who really loves that play (apart from Matt Daniels, that is)? Punter Ryan Wright. We can be certain that Mr. Wright loves having the long & fast Thompson sprinting down the field.
A lot can change between now and August 29th, but NaJee Thompson should be considered a near lock to make the roster. His elite effort as a gunner means the Vikings could consistently deal with better field position since returners will have such a difficult time picking up gains.
