Vikings Rookie Looks Like His Predecessor
In the recent NFL draft, the Vikings selected Donovan Jackson in the first round. The 24th overall pick is expected to be a long-term starter at left guard. Vikings fans hope he is better than Blake Brandel and many other guards before him.
Vikings Rookie Looks Like His Predecessor
While it would be a disappointment if the first-round guard resembled an average at best guard, if the sixth-round tight end turns into the “best tight end three in the NFL,” folks would surely be happy.
Gavin Bartholomew was added to a tight end room in April that was relatively empty, with only top players T.J. Hockenson and Josh Oliver. The Pittsburgh alumnus is supposed to take over for departed Johnny Mundt. Kevin O’Connell’s guy left the team after three seasons to join the Jacksonville Jaguars.
The Athletic’s Alec Lewis suggested that Bartholomew looks a lot like Mundt: “He even looks like Johnny Mundt with his long, flowing hair. The Vikings drafted him in the sixth round with a distinct vision, but he’ll have to beat out Yurosek and Nesbit for a roster spot.”
Mundt worked with O’Connell on the Rams’ Super Bowl team, and once the head coach was appointed in the Twin Cities, he brought his tight end with him. Sean McVay’s Rams primarily used Mundt as a blocker, but O’Connell unlocked some pass-catching ability. After snatching only a total of ten catches in five seasons with the Rams, Mundt caught 55 passes in three years with the Vikings.
In 2023, O’Connell said about his student, “I believe Johnny Mundt is the best 3rd TE in the NFL. If there was a category for that, Johnny would certainly get that, in my opinion. So reliable. So trusted. By not only myself but everybody in that huddle with him. The variety of jobs he can do on all three downs. He doesn’t get enough credit for how well he runs — or blocks for that matter — and the physicality,”
Bartholomew is supposed to be the next Mundt.
In his four campaigns at Pittsburgh, the rookie caught 105 passes for 1,257 yards and 11 scores. He has a solid athletic profile, although everyone seems to agree that he needs to add some weight.
In an interview with The Draft Network ahead of the draft, he was asked to self-scout, and he said: “I’m big, tall, and physical. I know how to use my hands. I find green grass as a route-runner. I know where to sit in soft zones to make myself available in the passing game. I’m a ball hawk. I also like to think of myself as dominant in the run game. I love being physical at the line of scrimmage by finishing blocks. I create holes for my running backs.”
A do-it-all tight end who can catch and block? That sounds a lot like Mr. Mundt.
A couple of weeks after the draft when Bartholomew first stepped onto the field, O’Connell said: “Gavin, you know, it’s always a position that sometimes between the film evaluation, the Pro Day, seeing the tape of it, you just hope they show up and look the way you hope they look. And Gavin definitely did.”
Recently, Bartholomew missed some practice time with an injury, which could open the door for fellow rookies Ben Yurosek and Bryson Nesbit. Those two were added after the draft. When in doubt, the club would keep the draftee rather than the free agent add, but the UDFAs will get the chance to show that they are better than the sixth-rounder, especially if he’s hurt.
Bartholomew turned 22 in April. His athletic testing was intriguing, and his numbers in the passing game were also impressive. While he may not quite have the high-end talent to become a superstar at the position, he possesses the tools to have a long career comparable to Mundt’s.
The Vikings are looking for the next Mundt, and Bartholomew has the pole position.
Editor’s Note: Information from PFF, Over The Cap, and Sports Reference helped with this article.
If Jordan Addison Is Suspended, Don’t Overlook 1 Key Difference from Last Year