Vikings Fill Another Huge Void on Saturday
The Minnesota Vikings entered the third day of the draft with only two quarterbacks on the roster, but quickly acted and traded a fifth-rounder for a sixth-rounder and Sam Howell. Barring another surprise addition, the three-year pro will be the primary backup for J.J. McCarthy in the upcoming season.
Vikings Fill Another Huge Void on Saturday
For now, the virtual quarterback depth chart has McCarthy first, Howell second, and Brett Rypien third. Perhaps another passer will join to take some reps and possibly end up on the practice squad, but having three throwing arms in the building is a good baseline.
The other problematic position was tight end. Just like in the quarterback room, the Vikings only had two players in the tight end room entering the draft. Those are pretty good (T.J. Hockenson and Josh Oliver), but the depth was non-existent. A normal number for the offseason workouts would be five or six.
At least the third man arrived on Saturday. Gavin Bartholomew from the University of Pittsburgh was selected with the 202nd pick.
In four years at Pitt, Bartholomew caught 105 passes for 1,257 yards and 11 touchdowns. His consistency was impressive, producing between 283 and 326 yards in each of the four seasons.
The tight end is a fantastic athlete for his position.
In an interview with The Draft Network a few months back, he was asked to self-scout himself, and he said: “I’m big, tall, and physical. I know how to use my hands. I find green grass as a route-runner. I know where to sit in soft zones to make myself available in the passing game. I’m a ball hawk. I also like to think of myself as dominant in the run game. I love being physical at the line of scrimmage by finishing blocks. I create holes for my running backs.”
Here’s a phenomenal highlight that shows some of his skill set.
Now, let’s check the scouting report from a non-biased source. NFL.com’s Lance Zierline wrote: “Tight end prospect with a broad upper body, muscular arms and adequate demeanor to block. Bartholomew will primarily function as an in-line tight end but can be set in action as a move blocker when needed. He’s unspectacular as an athlete with soft hands and an average catch radius. His block aggression is admirable, but Bartholomew will need to get stronger and improve his block sustain to make a roster.”
That sounds like there’s some work to be done. It looks like he’s underselling the athleticism a little, but needing to get stronger is a common problem for college tight ends coming into the big league.
His Role
Hockenson should be fully past his knee injury that cost him the first half of last season. After a full offseason, he will step back into the full-time tight end role and hopefully return to his Pro Bowl-caliber player and production from previous seasons.
Behind him, Oliver will continue to serve as a blocking tight end and occasional pass-catcher. He’s one of the elite blockers from the tight end position. It would be shocking if the rookie could change that status quo.
Bartholomew is currently the only other tight end under contract and should be considered the front-runner for a roster spot, especially if he can show some value on special teams in training camp.
However, adding a veteran tight end or an undrafted rookie seems likely.
Editor’s Note: Information from PFF, Over The Cap, and Sports Reference CFB helped with this article.
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