Purple Q&A: Levi Drake’s Roster Spot, Stephon Gilmore’s Job, Undrafted Rookies
Today, on August 19th, PurplePTSD’s Janik Eckardt answers a trio of questions about the current Minnesota Vikings. If you have questions for future editions of the Purple Q&A, please email them to [email protected].
Purple Q&A: Levi Drake’s Roster Spot, Stephon Gilmore Starting, Undrafted Rookies
Let’s get into it.
Q: Has Levi Drake Rodriguez Done Enough for a Roster Spot?
A: Yes. Seventh-rounders aren’t guaranteed to make the 53-man roster in their rookie season, unlike early draft choices, but when they show promise in training camp and in the preseason, they will stick around.
Rodriguez plays with heart and motor, possesses impressive quickness, and will be part of the team’s defensive line group in the upcoming season. The Texas A&M Commerce prospect is part of a DL room that currently includes ten players.
- Harrison Phillips
- Jerry Tillery
- Jonathan Bullard
- Jonah Williams
- Jaquelin Roy
- Levi Drake Rodriguez
- Tyler Manoa
- Taki Taimani
- James Lynch
- Jalen Redmond
Phillips, Tillery, and Bullard should be considered the top three players across the line. Veteran Jonah Williams and last year’s fifth-rounder Jaquelin Roy are Rodriguez’s primary competition for a roster spot. Still, he has shown enough to be included when general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah will trim the roster to 53 players.
Q: Is Stephon Gilmore A Guaranteed Starter?
A: Yes. Veteran cornerback Gilmore signed a contract worth up to $10 million, and the Vikings wouldn’t have handed a soon-to-be 34-year-old cornerback that much money if they thought he was a backup.
Byron Murphy and Gilmore are set in the starting unit. When defensive coordinator Brian Flores deploys three CBs, one of the trio of Griffin, Evans, and Moreau will take over the outside responsibilities, allowing Murphy to move into the slot.
Gilmore is no longer the elite All-Pro cornerback from 2018 and 2019, but he is still a reliable player at his position. His veteran experience and ability to play man coverage will give the entire defense a boost.
Q: Which Undrafted Rookie Is Most Likely to Make the Team?
A: Dwight McGlothern.
There is a long history of undrafted players starring in the Twin Cities; Ivan Pace was just the latest example. John Randle and Mick Tingelhoff are enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio.
Dwight McGlothern has a long way to go to replicate their success, but making the 53-man roster is achievable after two wonderful preseason contests and many victorious matchups in training camp.
The former Arkansas and LSU player possesses the length and the ball skills to excel at the cornerback spot. His film from the two outings showed a lot to like, and projecting a bright future for the 22-year-old isn’t too crazy. The Vikings can’t risk losing him on waivers, so stashing him on the practice squad isn’t an option.
One Position Group Has Suddenly Created a Roster Problem
Janik Eckardt is a football fan who likes numbers and stats. The Vikings became his favorite team despite their quarterback at the time, Christian Ponder. He is a walking soccer encyclopedia, loves watching sitcoms, and prefers Classic rock over other genres. Follow him on Twitter if you like the Vikings: @JanikEckardt