Minnesota Vikings Officially Employ the Fastest Player in NFL
Fast players in purple uniforms are nothing new. Randy Moss left folks in awe in his 1998 rookie season, as he was able to turn on the afterburners on any given play. In the last few years, kick returner Kene Nwangwu has probably taken the cake as the fastest Viking (at least many fans would give him the nod). Well, consider throwing Isaiah Rodgers into that mix.
Minnesota Vikings Officially Employ the Fastest Player in NFL
Mr. Rodgers signed in March to become the CB2 in Brian Flores’ defense, and the handpicked corner has been a fantastic get for the Minnesota squad.
In Sunday’s disappointing defeat in Dublin, Ireland, the defender still managed to turn some heads, and he did it on the team’s worst play of the day. When DK Metcalf took a slant to the house, Rodgers was lined up on the left side of the Vikings’ defense, too far away to hunt down Metcalf.
But one thing is sure, he certainly tried. According to NFL Next Gen Stats, he logged the fastest speed ever tracked in the Next Gen era (since 2017).
Rodgers having elite speed is nothing new. He recorded a 4.28 40-yard dash prior to his draft, and that high-end speed hasn’t vanished by any means.
Just seven days before his Week 4 sprint, he returned two defensive touchdowns in Minnesota’s triumph over the Cincinnati Bengals, en route to securing the Defensive Player of the Week trophy.
In those two plays, he showcased his speed and even his return ability, something that has made him a popular player for special teams coordinator Matt Daniels. The coach has tried to make the case to use Rodgers as a returner, but as a starting defender, he is deemed too important for that role. Myles Price is at least a solid consolation prize.
Daniels might be a fan of Rodgers, but the defender has been a Flores special. In April, ESPN’s Kevin Seifert wrote, “O’Connell said that Flores identified Rodgers as a possible target early in free agent evaluations and that Flores’ success rate on other suggestions in the past — including linebackers Van Ginkel and Blake Cashman — spurred action.”
Rodgers spent his first four seasons in the NFL in a rotational role, but the coordinator viewed him as a full-time starter. Just like he was right about Blake Cashman or Andrew Van Ginkel, he nailed his Rodgers evaluation.
In June, Flores spoke to the media and he said about his new defender.
“He’s been on my radar since he was at UMass, a fast playmaker,” Flores emphasised. “I think he’s one of these kind of late-round guys who found his way in the league in the kicking game. And got in some games and made some plays. I’ve always thought he was a good player and was ascending. And the opportunity presented itself that we could maybe acquire him, I was all in, and I’m happy we got him. He’s been a great addition. He’s got a great kind of football IQ and acumen. That’s something that we stressed, really, throughout the group, at all levels, secondary, second level, and obviously D line.”
In his four games with the Vikings, Rodgers has made 14 tackles, one interception, two forced fumbles, and he scored twice. According to PFF, Rodgers has been targeted 16 times, allowing nine receptions for 41 yards, zero touchdowns, and one interception, resulting in a passer rating of 42.2. He’s also gotten a Minnesota Vikings team-high defensive grade of 85.9.
So far, Rodgers has been a bargain. His contract is worth up to $15 million for two seasons, and not only has he been a superstar for the Vikings, but he’s also been the fastest player in nearly a decade.
Editor’s Note: Information from PFF, Over The Cap, and Pro Football Reference helped with this article.