Vikings’ Breakout Candidate to Get “Premium Chances” at Training Camp
Someone along the defensive line needs to step up to form a gruesome twosome with Harrison Phillips. Why not soon-to-be sophomore Jaquelin Roy?
The Vikings’ breakout candidate showed some good moments as a rookie. Going into Year 2, Roy appears ready to build off of a rookie season with just 96 snaps on defense. The word from Alec Lewis of The Athletic is that the LSU alumnus is going to be given an opportunity: “Further along than Esezi Otomewo was after one season. Flores will give him premium chances in training camp.”
Jaquelin Roy is Among the Vikings’ Breakout Candidates
First up, a note about Otomewo, the player whom Lewis mentions in the quote above.
The 3-4 defensive end got scooped up in Kwesi Adofo-Mensah’s debut draft. The hope was that he could be a 3T/5T in the switch over to the new scheme, providing some sturdiness and sizzle from the overlooked position. He played sparingly as a rookie, though, and has since been cut. So, doing better than Otomewo is a good thing.
Now, it’s worth noting that Roy’s role will be different. The player we’re considering is built differently. At 6’3″, 305, Roy is more of a 1T/3T, meaning he’ll be closer to the role that Kevin Williams had as a defensive tackle who can live nearer to the middle of the defensive line (though Williams did a lot at a really high level).
The key for Mr. Roy is going to involve capitalizing on the “premium chances” given to him. Don’t forget: Minnesota traded up to pick Roy in the 5th, a sign of how much they like the young defender.
A few months ago, Kevin O’Connell uplifted his young defensive tackle as someone who had room to grow: “J Roy still coming off of what I thought was a productive rookie year, real flashes of production. But we’re going to need see him kind of take that next step.”
What are the flashes that O’Connell is referencing? Consider Exhibit A as you watch #93:
And Exhibit B:
When one watches Jaquelin Roy, the viewer sees power and potential. Seeing the clips of his slick swim move is a good reminder that there’s some agility in the DT who tossed up 30 reps on the bench press. Can he diversify his repertoire, allowing him to more consistently defeat the blocker in front of him?
Harrison Phillips is locking down a single starting spot. At the very least, the Vikings need one more player to step up. Jerry Tillery has a shot at exploding since he has always offered so much promise, but what about Mr. Roy? Can the young guy get worked into the rotation for a larger role in Year 2 in the NFL?
The opportunity is going to be there for him.
As a rookie, Jaquelin Roy finished with 8 tackles, 1 TFL, and 1 QB hit. He’ll be carrying a modest cap charge coming in just a hair below $1 million ($999,943). He is still only 23.
Editor’s Note: Information from Pro Football Reference, PFF, and Over the Cap helped with this piece.
K. Joudry is the Senior Editor for Vikings Territory and PurplePTSD. He has been covering the Vikings full time since the summer of 2021. He can be found on Twitter and as a co-host for Notes from the North, a humble Vikings podcast.
