Vikings Rookie Receives High Praise from Brian Flores
Vikings rookie Levi Drake Rodriguez has at least one fan in the building. The seventh-round rookie out of Texas A&M-Commerce has been turning heads in training camp, especially the head of defensive coordinator Brian Flores has been impressed.
On Saturday, Flores spoke highly of Rodriguez and mentioned that he had an “enlightening 10-15 minute conversation” with Rodriguez’s parents on Friday night.
“You can see why Levi has made it up to this juncture,” Flores said. “He’s a hard-working kid. His parents are very supportive.”
The coach also praised the rookie’s performance on the field thus far. Flores mentioned that Rodriguez is picking up the playbook quickly and has shown off his versatility.
“It’s still early, but we’re trying to put him in as many situations as possible to see what roles might fit him best,” said the coach.
Rodriguez has mainly been rotating in with the second defense and even mixed in briefly with the starters on Friday. The seventh-round pick embodies the aggressive, smart, and physical play style that Flores’ defenses embody.
The rookie is grateful to have landed in Minnesota, calling it “a godsend” and saying that Minnesota is where he’s “supposed to be.”
Will the Vikings Rookie Make the Team?
Many would likely point to the defensive line if asked to find the biggest weakness on the Vikings’ roster. Harrison Phillips, Jerry Tillery, and Jonathan Bullard are currently slated to start, with the depth options including Jaquelin Roy, Jonah Williams, James Lynch, and the aforementioned Rodriguez.
Roy is a former fifth-round pick who the team still hopes will grow into a contributor. Lynch has been around for a while now but has never been more than a depth player and is coming off a missed season due to a torn ACL. This means Rodriguez could easily find his way onto the final roster with a strong summer.
With Rodriguez already catching the attention of Flores, one has to think the rookie has his foot in the door already. Seventh-round picks are far from being locks to make the roster, but Rodriguez has as good a shot as any.
This is the same Vikings team that kept three UDFAs in 2023: Andre Carter II, Ivan Pace Jr., and NaJee Thompson. Flores and head coach Kevin O’Connell have shown that impressive camp and preseason performances can win anybody a spot on the team. Expect Rodriguez to continue to impress, and don’t be surprised to see his name on the final roster.
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