Vikings UDFA Earns Tap on Helmet from Kevin O’Connell
The Minnesota Vikings took the field in front of reporters on Friday. It was part of the annual rookie minicamp when all the rookies, from undrafted guys to first-rounders, compete with one another.
Vikings UDFA Earns Tap on Helmet from Kevin O’Connell
The most notable names on the field, of course, were top draftees Donovan Jackson and Tai Felton, but it might be even more important for the undrafted players to show their skill set in front of the coaches.
Utah’s corner Zemaiah Vaughn showed some promise on the first practice day.
Craig Peters, Vikings.com, wrote in his rookie minicamp observations: “Beyond intended pass catchers, there also were back-to-back interceptions recorded. The first was by undrafted rookie Zemaiah Vaughn, which prompted O’Connell to walk over and congratulate him. The second was by sixth-round pick Kobe King, a linebacker out of Penn State.”
The video material is pretty limited, but the pick is on tape in a Vikings highlight video, which cuts off right before O’Connell congratulates him. Vaughn (#34) is catching the pass at the 47-second mark.
The Athletic’s Alec Lewis summarized the play in his rookie minicamp takeaways: “Maybe the most impressive play of the day occurred on the left sideline, as Brosmer tried to layer a pass into a pocket in the defense’s zone coverage. Zemaiah Vaughn, an undrafted cornerback from Utah, leaped and secured the interception. Afterward, defensive passing game coordinator and defensive backs coach Daronte Jones and even O’Connell patted Vaughn on the helmet.”
The defender went undrafted out of Utah. He is an intriguing player because of his measurements at over 6-2 and 186 lbs.
Length is an important aspect of cornerback play, and the top Vikings corners (Byron Murphy Jr., Isaiah Rodgers, and Mekhi Blackmon) all lack that size.
Including the shortened COVID season in 2020, Vaughn spent five years at Utah, playing in 56 games. He made 144 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, three sacks, and three interceptions.
Here is a rep against 8th overall pick Tet McMillan.
Former Senior Bowl director Jim Nagy tweeted ahead of the draft: “CB Zemaiah Vaughn’s (6021v, 175v, 32 7/8 arm) name out there much in draft rankings right now but he possesses one of best combos of length & speed in this year’s draft. Springy athlete should blowup Combine and his makeup speed jumps off the tape.”
Minnesota’s cornerback room is far from perfect, and one of the undrafted guys could emerge. The aforementioned Murphy Jr., Rodgers, and Blackmon are expected to be the top trio, followed by veteran Jeff Okudah. Special teamer Tavierre Thomas has a shot to clinch a depth role, and Dwight McGlothern, last year’s UDFA, is a guy to watch throughout spring and summer.
Still, beyond the presumed four top corners, there’s room for Vaughn, and that play is exactly what can turn heads and give him a chance.
Editor’s Note: Information from PFF, Over The Cap, and Sports Reference CFB helped with this article.
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