Buy or Sell: Vikings’ Sophomore Jumps
Kwesi Adofo-Mensah delivered a disappointing 2022 draft, the first in his tenure. The highest-drafted players from that group might be off the team by September. The infamous trade with the Lions felt forced, although the rationale behind it made sense. Regardless of the approach, the draft is a failure if the players don’t deliver.
Buy or Sell: Vikings’ Sophomore Jumps
One year later, with a new scouting staff, Adofo-Mensah fared much better, and some of his rookies even became vital contributors. Young players often take another step in their second campaign, but how many of the six draft picks and three UDFAs who made the team should we expect to improve?
Jordan Addison
The wideout was the only player taken within the first 100 picks, but he delivered in his first season. After some offseason struggles with the infamous speeding incident and a stint in concussion protocol in the preseason, Jordan Addison registered 70 catches for 911 yards and ten touchdowns. Added as Justin Jefferson’s wingman, he had to replace his teammate as the top weapon on the outside during his seven-game absence.
Addison did a marvelous job, excelling as a deep threat for Kirk Cousins and a reliable weapon for the quarterback carousel. His numbers might not show any progress because Jefferson will steal some targets, the quarterback play is a mystery, and the team might not throw as much as in 2024, but he will be a better football player in his second year in the NFL.
Verdict: Buy
Mekhi Blackmon
Cornerback Mekhi Blackmon was acquired with the last pick of the third round. He had impressive statistics on his resume, but at age 24, he dropped in the draft. The USC product immediately contributed and tabulated 435 defensive snaps through 15 contests. He also started three games and logged over 90% of the snaps in two matchups.
His play on the field was up-and-down, which shouldn’t be surprising for any rookie cornerback. He showed flashes of starting-caliber play but mixed in the usual rookie mistakes.
In the upcoming season, the cornerback spots are up for grabs. He can compete with Akayleb Evans and Shaquill Griffin for an outside cornerback role, and his versatility allows him to play inside, perhaps in a rotation with Byron Murphy and Josh Metellus. It remains to be seen if his role will actually grow, but he has shown enough talent to earn a positive outlook.
Verdict: Buy
Jay Ward
Adofo-Mensah acquired versatile defensive back Jay Ward from LSU in the fourth round. He played cornerback and safety in college, and his toughness and football IQ were viewed as a perfect fit for Brian Flores’ defense.
In his rookie season, Ward was stuck on the depth chart behind the excellent starters Harrison Smith and Camryn Bynum, with Metellus handling the duties as the versatile chess piece. Theo Jackson emerged as the top backup. Ward was primarily asked to play on special teams, where he played 302 snaps in addition to 35 plays on defense.
He is a long shot to earn a larger role in the upcoming season with all four players ahead of him returning, and without him actually getting meaningful snaps on defense, it will be hard to spot any growth as a player.
Verdict: Sell
Jaquelin Roy
The defensive line had been a problem in Minnesota when Adofo-Mensah spent a fifth-rounder on another LSU defender. Jaquelin Roy claimed a roster spot as a depth player on the line but couldn’t overcome the shaky competition. He played 96 snaps on defense in 12 games (one start).
Roy will be joined by some additional veterans (Jerry Tillery and Jonah Williams) as well as rookie Levi Drake Rodriguez. It is relatively easy to see the field on Minnesota’s defensive line. His snap count will expand, and development in the trenches is feasible.
Verdict: Buy
Jaren Hall
Quarterback Jaren Hall was the first quarterback selected by Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, but the fifth-rounder could be in trouble because of the second one, J.J. McCarthy. First-rounder McCarthy and veteran Sam Darnold will surely make the team. One of Hall and last year’s backup, Nick Mullens, will not.
Hall badly struggled in the preseason and in roughly four quarters in three games of play in the regular season. The good news is that a rookie fifth-round passer shouldn’t have any expectations. He will likely look better in his second preseason but will be stuck as QB3 or QB4.
Verdict: Sell
DeWayne McBride
Running back DeWayne McBride was Minnesota’s final draft pick in 2023. As an ultra-productive college running back at UAB, some folks expected him to push Alexander Mattison for carries or at least to be a backup. He failed on both counts and was stashed on the practice squad instead. Despite the struggles in the running game, McBride didn’t appear in a game.
He looked slow in the preseason and failed to get any reps in the dysfunctional running game. It would be a surprise if he suddenly changed that.
Verdict: Sell
Ivan Pace
Besides Addison, undrafted rookie Ivan Pace made the biggest impact in his rookie season. The defender immediately stole the starting job from Brian Asamoah and showed his skills as a pass-rusher from the second level.
When teammate Jordan Hicks missed four games and couldn’t call the plays, Pace took over as Flores’ right-hand man on the field and helped his teammates line up in the right spots. He practically led all rookie linebackers in every aspect and will continue to play a significant role in his second season next to Blake Cashman.
The question is if a jump is even realistic after his impressive debut season. He will rise from a contributor to a true game-changer in 2024.
Verdict: Buy
Andre Carter
Touted as a steal after the draft, the Vikings added the previously expected draft pick from the undrafted rookie pool. Andre Carter made the 53-man roster but has always been a project without much impact early on in his career.
He will face the problem of the Vikings adding Dallas Turner, Jonathan Greenard, and Andrew Van Ginkel in the offseason, so the top three roles are set. Jihad Ward is a veteran backup, and Patrick Jones returns for another year. UCLA pass-rusher Gabriel Murphy entered the draft with expectations similar to Carter a year ago and joined the former Army defender. It seems more likely that Carter will be off the team when the season begins than it is to see him make an impact defensively.
Verdict: Sell
NaJee Thompson
NaJee Thompson was another player in Adofo-Mensah’s undrafted rookie class. While Carter and Pace entered the offseason with high expectations, barely anyone expected him to come close to the 53-man roster.
But he did. Thompson was the team’s special teams ace, and his speed and timing were a nightmare for punt returners. He recently moved from cornerback to safety, though it would be shocking to see him play significant snap numbers on defense. He will continue to dominate the game’s third phase, but a jump in playing time is unlikely.
Verdict: Sell
Editor’s Note: Information from Pro Football Reference helped with this article.
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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