Vikings Axe Safety for New Offensive Lineman
The Minnesota Vikings have advanced past their annual mandatory minicamp. Following the event, the franchise has made some roster adjustments. One guy is out, another guy is in.
Vikings Make a Roster Change
On the team’s official website, they announced: “After wrapping up its mandatory minicamp, Minnesota added to its offensive line. The Vikings on Friday announced the signing of former South Carolina Gamecocks o-lineman Vershon Lee. To make room for Lee, the Vikings released S Bubba Bolden.”
Sometimes those moves happen because the decision-makers realized they needed another body at another position, or they realized the axed player isn’t good enough to make noise, and the new guy might be.
Vershon Lee
Let’s start with the newcomer.
The Vikings wrote: “Lee started 40 games in college (18 at center, 16 at left guard and six at right tackle) and appeared in 51 contests overall. He participated in a tryout with the Vikings on Thursday after going unselected in the 2025 NFL Draft and was hosted by Minnesota during a Top 30 visit. In 2024, Lee started all 13 games at center for South Carolina and was tabbed a Rex Enright permanent team captain after the season. He also was named to the SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll and was a co-recipient of the program’s Community Service Award.”
His flexibility to play center, guard, and tackle could give him a chance at the next level. Teams always look for versatile backups because they can only keep so many players on the roster and dress even fewer on gameday.
“Lee earned solid run-blocking grades from Pro Football Focus in 2024 (71.4) and 2023 (72.0). At the Gamecocks Pro Day in March, he measured in a smidge taller than 6-foot-3 and weighed 304 pounds; Lee lifted 28 reps of 225 pounds on the bench press and ran the 40-yard dash in 5.12 seconds. A native of Woodbridge, Virginia, Lee initially garnered rookie minicamp invites from Kansas City and Chicago.”
After the draft, Minnesota signed three undrafted offensive linemen. They did not select one in the draft.
It hasn’t been announced where the Vikings want to use the blocker, so it’s hard to predict his exact competition.
Considering his 2024 position was center, that could be a decent guess. The Vikes have hired new starter Ryan Kelly and still have Michael Jurgens under contract, a 2024 seventh-rounder. He could also be in line for a move to guard. Zeke Correll, an undrafted rookie, would be the next in line.
Bubba Bolden
Safety Bubba Bolden was an early signing in this year’s free agency. Bolden went undrafted in 2022, but the Miami (FL) product was snatched by the Seattle Seahawks as a UDFA. He then had a stint with the Browns and went the UFL route with the San Antonio Brahmas and the Birmingham Stallions.
He just turned 26 and must now hope for an audition at someone’s OTAs or training camp.
Editor’s Note: Information from PFF, Over The Cap, and Sports Reference helped with this article.
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