The Vikings’ Top 3 Roster Winners Due to NFL Free Agency
To begin, note that Janik Eckardt has previously discussed the topic. Check out his take on the issue.
As is the case in a lot of football discussions, the Vikings’ top 3 roster winners are subject to some debate. And, to be sure, there’s much that remains to be determined. So far, look at the in-house talents who have seen players cleared out so they can journey toward larger jobs.
The Vikings’ Top 3 Roster Winners
Winner No. 1 — WR Tai Felton
The sophomore has a lot to prove. What’s encouraging for him is that the debris has been cleared away, allowing him to move through the upcoming challenge with less hindrance.
Felton has good size at 6’1″ and 185 pounds. He’s not an imposing receiver like Calvin Johnson (few are) but his length will help him to make plays, especially on long bombs. Felton’s speed — made evident in his sizzling 4.37 forty — should lead to a future where he takes the ceiling off the defense.
Picture Justin Jefferson running one of his trademark crossing routes in the intermediate area. Sneaking Felton in behind Jefferson, someone who usually attracts attention from the free safety, could lead to hitting paydirt.
Winner No. 2 — DT Levi Drake Rodriguez
The Vikings moved on from Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave. Each was a starter last season, meaning a pile of snaps have been vacated.
Last season, Levi Drake Rodriguez played good football. He climbed up to 459 snaps, earning a 57.8 PFF grade along the way. He tossed up 2 sacks to stand alongside his 5 quarterback hits and 8 tackles for loss. The 2024 7th-Round selection has been improving and now looks likely to step into a larger role.
Winner No. 3 — C Michael Jurgens
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Not everyone will be thrilled by the possibility, but Michael Jurgens has a chance at starting in 2025. He’ll need to overcome offseason competition to lock-in the job but the possibility is out there.
Jurgens sees 4 sacks, 2 quarterback hits, and 9 pressures showing up on his report card. Worse yet, he was guilty of committing 5 penalties, often an indicator of being overwhelmed (think holding penalties, the byproduct of losing a rep; think false start penalties, the byproduct of losing focus). He needs to get more rugged but will benefit from working alongside a veteran passer who can get the ball out quickly.
Editor’s Note: Information from Pro Football Reference, PFF, and Over the Cap helped with this piece.
