Multiple Analysts Praise a Vikings Rookie for His 2nd Preseason Game
The Minnesota Vikings have completed two of the three annual preseason contests, escaping with victories over the Las Vegas Raiders and the Cleveland Browns. Various depth players have shown their value, making a strong case for the 53-man roster.
Those guys include wideout Trishton Jackson who spent the majority of the last three seasons on the practice squad, or undrafted rookie cornerback Dwight McGlothern. His ball skills were on full display on Saturday.
Vikings Rookie Draws Praise
On the defensive line, a pair of interior defenders stood out, and they might challenge some established players for significant snaps in the regular season.
Undrafted rookie nose tackle Taki Taimani single-handedly ruined various run plays. He might be the top backup for Harrison Phillips as the big run-stuffer in the middle when it is all said and done.
Seventh-rounder Levi Drake Rodriguez, the defensive tackle out of Texas A&M Commerce, played well, too.
Rodriguez scored two tackles in preseason game number two, but he did more than his stat line would suggest. Mike Renner (CBS Sports) praised him on Sunday, posting a clip of his highlights.
After three years playing at SAGU (Southwestern Assemblies of God) in the NAIA’s Sooner Athletic Conference in Texas, he spent the last two seasons at Texas A&M Commerce in the FCS, where he was named FCS All-American in 2023. The program had just been elevated from D2 to D1 FCS when he got there in 2022.
Rodriguez didn’t face the highest level of opponents in his college career, but he made the best out of it and became one of the draft’s small school gems.
ESPN’s Field Yates wrote right after the draft about the defender: “One of the draft’s hidden gems, Rodriguez finished his college career at Texas A&M-Commerce and just destroyed opposing interior offensive lines during his time there. He has great burst that caught the eyes of scouts this past season, and Minnesota landed a potential sleeper here. He had 5.5 sacks and 7.5 tackles for loss in 2023.”
Doug Farrar, who is writing for various outlets, also spotted Rodriguez on Sunday.
Rodriguez shines as an interior pass-rusher, something the Vikings desperately need. He plays with the heart required to make a splash as a late-round pick who has only played at lower-level competition. Pro Football Focus ranked him third among all FCS interior defenders in defensive grade and first in pass-rush grade.
The Vikings employ the aforementioned Phillips as one starting lineman. Next to him, veterans Jerry Tillery and Jonathan Bullard are underwhelming but functional solutions. Jonah Williams, James Lynch, and Jalen Redmond are other players competing for roster spots and a roles in Brian Flores’ defense.
In his post-draft media availability, Vikings Senior Vice President of Player Personnel Ryan Grigson said about the rookie: “He’s quick, he can get underneath the pads of the offensive lineman. He can yank him, throw him; there’s just a lot in his body and I feel like once our coaches get their hands on him, I think Kwesi would even tell you he has a lot of savvy already as a pass rusher. That’s not very common from where he’s been.”
Perhaps the best aspect of his first two preseason contests has been his ability to stop the run. He wants to show that he’s more than just an interior pass-rusher but a three-down player, which would go a long way in earning snaps early in his career.
Seventh-rounders aren’t guaranteed a spot on the 53-man roster like early-round players surely are, but Rodriguez has certainly made a strong case to be part of the team in the upcoming season.
The Vikings part ways from 38 players on August 27.
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