Vikings Opened the Checkbook for 3 UDFAs
The Minnesota Vikings take undrafted free agents, or priority free agents, seriously, especially with Kwesi Adofo-Mensah calling the shots. His UDFA resume features Ivan Pace Jr., a starting linebacker. Additionally, the Vikes have gotten some contributions from Taki Taimani and Bo Richter last year, and Gabriel Murphy and Dwight McGlothern have shown some potential.
Vikings Opened the Checkbook for 3 UDFAs
As always, he acquired a bunch of undrafted rookies this year, among whom were some promising players. It’s always worth a look at the guaranteed salary to figure out who the top guys are. Three Vikings are among the league leaders. KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson released the numbers of the 24 players with the highest guaranteed salary.
3. Max Brosmer
Brosmer makes $246,000 in guaranteed money.
The quarterback started his college career at New Hampshire and transferred to Minnesota for his final college year, becoming a solid signal-caller for the Golden Gophers, completing 66.5% of his passes and scoring 23 total touchdowns (18 passing, 5 rushing).
He does not possess a rocket arm, nor is he a dangerous running threat, which severely limits his ceiling, but he is a smart player and good decision-maker from the pocket, and he could develop into a solid QB2 or QB3 over time.
His competition for a roster spot is Brett Rypien, the incumbent third quarterback behind J.J. McCarthy and Sam Howell. Showing enough to earn a spot on the practice squad isn’t a bad result either.
2. Ben Yurosek
Yurosek received $256,000 in guaranteed money from the Vikings.
The tight end depth chart was alarmingly thin entering the draft, with only T.J. Hockenson and Josh Oliver under contract. Johnny Mundt left for Jacksonville, and Nick Muse was snatched by the Eagles in January.
In the draft, the club added Gavin Bartholomew in the sixth round but doubled down (tripled if you include North Carolina’s Bryson Nesbit) shortly thereafter by signing Georgia’s Yurosek. He’s a capable blocker with 1,527 receiving yards and five touchdowns on his college resume (four years at Stanford, one at Georgia).
It remains to be seen whether there will really be an open competition between Bartholomew and Yurosek for the TE3 gig because teams are usually hesitant to move on from draft picks, but this could be a spot to watch in training camp and the preseason.
1. Tyler Batty
BYU’s Batty is Minnesota’s top earner among UDFAs with $259,000 guaranteed.
Like many BYU players, he is one of the oldest rookies. The pass rusher will turn 26 in May. On the plus side, however, is his phenomenal motor, which never seems to stop. In five college seasons, he produced 16.5 sacks, 224 tackles, 34 tackles for loss, and two interceptions. Batty led the Big 12 in QB hurries with 29.
The path to the roster will likely be a battle between three undrafted players. Dallas Turner and the two starters, Jonathan Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel, are set. Behind them, last year’s UDFAs Murphy and Richter made their NFL debuts last season, but they need to defend their spots against the productive newcomer. Special teams contributions will be crucial for him.
Editor’s Note: Information from PFF, Over The Cap, and Sports Reference CFB helped with this article.
Vikings Miss Out on “The Mangler”