The Vikings’ Roster Quirk is Yet Again Being Put to the Test
The Vikings’ roster offers a unique detail since Minnesota hired a new GM in 2022: there’s always at least a single undrafted edge rusher who makes the team.
Go back to 2022 and the example is Luiji Vilain. Fast forward into 2023 and it’s Andre Carter II who gets onto the team. Things were a bit slower in 2024 since the initial 53-man roster didn’t have any UDFA edge rushers. But then Bo Richter and Gabriel Murphy eventually forced their way onto the team, preserving the streak for another year.
The Vikings’ Roster Quirk: Annual UDFA Edge Rusher
Taking a large swing on edge rushers among undrafted free agents makes a ton of sense.
In the past, Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has described developing into a top-tier edge rusher as being akin to mastering “dark arts.” The GM’s point is that work, practice, and growth is often needed. Not too many players can jump right into the NFL while having things totally figured out. Most need some time to refine their technique from within a league where every offensive tackle is athletic, physical, and well coached.
Consider, then, a particular strategy that appears to have taken hold in the Twin Cities.
After the draft concludes, identify at least one or two edge rushers who probably should have been drafted. Ideally, the player(s) in question is going to have some sort of extreme trait or quality. Think someone who is unusually tall or hard working. Someone who is particularly aggressive or has off-the-charts intelligence.
Next, outbid opponents to land that player.
For Vilain, that meant shipping over $227,000. Carter earned $340,000. Murphy snagged $245,000 and Richter snagged a modest $15,000. Most recently, Tyler Batty (someone who is huge) earned $259,000 guaranteed while Chaz Chambliss (someone who gets credit for being very aggressive) earned $220,000 guaranteed.
If, for some reason, an onlooker was hoping for the Vikings’ roster quirk to continue, then there’s an issue that’s present. Chambliss is hurt, thereby lessening his chances of getting onto the roster. The roster battle for an undrafted player is always an uphill journey, so missing time makes things even worse.
Shrink things down to Tyler Batty. Could the BYU alumnus be the one who cracks the code in 2025?
Working against him is the basic fact that he’s already quite old since he’s 26, meaning he’s the same age as Justin Jefferson. Keep in mind, folks, that we’re talking about a receiver going into his sixth NFL season and an edge rusher going into his first. So, yes, Tyler Batty is quite old.
The young edge rusher has excellent size at 6’6″ and 271 pounds. Any chance he could be an early-down run defender? Or, perhaps, does he get shuffled inside on passing downs to boost the pass rush? His final season in college involved just 1.5 sacks, so one wonders if he’ll have the ability to get after the QB in the NFL.
Minnesota’s first preseason game is going to take place on Saturday, August 9th. Look for Mr. Batty — someone who is wearing #96 for the Vikings — to see if he could end up sneaking onto the roster.
Editor’s Note: Information from Over the Cap helped with this piece.
