Five of the Vikings’ UDFA Players and Minnesota’s 53-Man Roster
Every year, several UDFAs make the final roster. Will any of these five of the Vikings’ UDFA players get onto the 2024 roster?
Since Kwesi Adofo-Mensah took over, we’ve seen Minnesota welcome UDFAs like punter Ryan Wright, edge rusher Luiji Vilain, edge rusher Andre Carter II, linebacker Ivan Pace, and special teams ace NaJee Thompson. Who is going to be this year’s version of those players? Helping us to answer that question has been some recent work on PurplePTSD. Consider some of the pieces that have been written by reading a key quote as an appetizer before jumping in for the full meal by following the provided link.
Five of The Vikings’ UDFA Players
UDFA #1 — WR Jeshaun Jones (LINK)
Quote: “Add it all together and one wonders if the Vikings are betting on versatility. After all, it’s one of their most prized abilities. Jones’ stats point toward a player with the potential to help at several different areas, which can often be the difference when it comes to a UDFA sticking around.”
UDFA #2 — EDGE Bo Richter (LINK)
Quote: “The NFL blurb mentions special teams, which is undoubtedly a crucial piece of the puzzle for any depth player. But then Richter will need to show some front-seven versatility, as well. Any chance he can add a bit of weight and kick inside to 3T/5T on passing downs? Or could he be an off-ball linebacker? These are questions he’ll look to answer during the summer.”
UDFA #3 — LB K.J. Cloyd (LINK)
Quote: “K.J. Cloyd won’t be leapfrogging all of those names. Success for the UDFA LB may simply involve getting a spot on the practice squad so he can continue developing. One day, he may be able to leverage his initial opportunity into a shot to help on specials and then keep building from there.”
UDFA #4 — EDGE Gabriel Murphy (LINK)
Quote: “Along with his aforementioned athleticism and agility, he possesses the central flexibility to gain leverage with his body against pass protectors at a high rate. His high motor and relentlessness leads to more production where some edge rushers might give up on the play, but Murphy isn’t that type of player. He has never been one to give up on the play and pushes through no matter the situation.”
UDFA #5 — CB Dwight McGlothern (LINK)
Quote: “PFF gave him a sizzling 91.3 grade for his on-field efforts. There were 25 targets into his coverage, leading to just 12 receptions, 132 yards, and a pair of touchdowns. QBs had a paltry 51.2 passer rating when going after him.”
As June Slips Away, the Vikings’ Top Draft Picks Remain Unsigned
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.