3 Kwesi Draft Choices at Risk of Missing the Vikings’ Roster
The Minnesota Vikings have acquired some intriguing players in free agency, and more will arrive in the 2025 NFL Draft, which will take place from April 24th to April 26th. All newcomers threaten incumbent players, and three recent Vikings picks could be on the roster bubble.
3 Kwesi Draft Choices at Risk of Missing the Vikings’ Roster
Kwesi Adofo-Mensah was hired in 2022, and three draft classes have arrived on his watch.
1. Ty Chandler
Ty Chandler was part of the dreadful 2022 class, and he has stuck with the Vikings for longer than most. However, his tenure could end soon. Aaron Jones was re-signed, and he will keep his RB1 role, and Jordan Mason was a trade acquisition, providing the much-needed alternative.
Chandler entered each of the last two seasons as the RB2 but was replaced each time by Cam Akers, and it has become quite obvious that the coaching staff doesn’t really trust him. Reasons for that could be the lack of pass protection or an inability to read the plays correctly because he undoubtedly has the burst.
At this point, Chandler is the third runner on the depth chart, and he is the incumbent kick returner, but Kene Nwangwu’s dismissal last year shows that a change is possible. If the Vikings use a draft pick to lure another back to the Twin Cities, a goodbye might even be likely.
2. Levi Drake Rodriguez
Levi Drake Rodriguez was just drafted a year ago, but the influx of talent along the defensive line and the competition of some younger guys could make it challenging for him to spend a second year with the team.
Javon Hargrave, Harrison Phillips, and Jonathan Allen are safe. Rodriguez will compete with Taki Taimani and Jalen Redmond for rotational roles. He was behind both last season, and another rookie could be selected in 19 days.
Rodriguez needs to show some real growth this offseason and perform well in training camp and the preseason. Adofo-Mensah spent a seventh-rounder, and that shouldn’t prevent him from moving on if other guys are better.
3. Brian Asamoah
Brian Asamoah, another player from the 2022 class, was a significant loser of Brian Flores’ becoming the new defensive coordinator in 2023. The linebacker was picked with Ed Donatell coordinating the defense and showed promise in his debut season.
Flores, however, hasn’t played the speedy defender on defense, demoting him to the LB4 position. Asamoah has been exclusively a special teamer for two seasons, and a change is not in sight with Ivan Pace, Blake Cashman, and Eric Wilson ahead of him.
Joshua Metellus has also played some linebacker in the past, and keeping only three linebackers is just as possible as another (possibly rookie) linebacker usurping Asamoah.
Editor’s Note: Information from PFF, Over The Cap, and Pro Football Reference helped with this article.