Failed Vikings UDFA Heads to Houston
Vikings GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has specialized in finding undrafted rookie gems. This year’s roster features seven undrafted rookies, in addition to Ivan Pace Jr., Bo Richter, Ryan Wright, and Dwight McGlothern, who also made the cut.
Failed Vikings UDFA Heads to Houston
However, it’s still hard to turn an undrafted rookie contract into a long career. Just ask the nine UDFAs Adofo-Mensah had to let go over the last few days and months (and some others are stashed on the practice squad).
Among those departed players is Silas Bolden. He was axed ahead of cutdown day and has now found a new home with the Houston Texans.
Houston Chronicle’s Jonathan Alexander reported, “The #Texans have signed WR Silas Bolden to their practice squad, his father, Victor Bolden told the Chronicle. He arrived on Sunday. Bolden played with Stroud in youth football and in high school at Rancho Cucamonga.”
It’s the practice squad for the return specialist. Bolden starred at the University of Texas last year, playing punt returner and a rotational role as a wide receiver.
Click2Houston’s Aaron Wilson emphasized the history with quarterback C.J Stroud, “Bolden, 23, is one of Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud’s best friends. They grew up together in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., playing basketball and youth football together and then as teammates in high school.”
Now they are reunited. While Stroud went to Ohio State, Bolden headed to Oregon State.
When Brandon Powell was let go and no other experienced NFL punt returner was added, Vikings fans skimmed the undrafted rookie class and found Mr. Bolden. He had a big punt return on national TV in the college football playoffs, and therefore, folks thought he was the man. In the preseason, Bolden returned three kicks for 76 yards and a punt for eight yards.
Fellow undrafted rookie Myles Price looked more dynamic with the ball in his hands and just snatched the gig en route to the 53-man roster. Bolden, meanwhile, will start fresh in Houston.
Bolden started his career at Oregon State for four years but played his last collegiate season at Texas, where he became the team’s top punt returner, returning 30 punts for 315 yards and a touchdown. On offense, he added 23 catches for 267 yards and one score, and he rushed for another touchdown.
In search of a new return specialist, the Vikings handed Bolden $205,000 in guarantees after the draft.
With the Texans, his role is obvious. He’ll try to turn some heads in practice and hope to get a gameday call-up at some point. The Texans will lean on experienced specialist Braxton Berrios to return punts, and their receiver depth is one of the better groups in the NFL. Injuries, however, always strike in the NFL.
Editor’s Note: Information from PFF, Over The Cap, and Sports Reference helped with this article.