The Minnesota Vikings drafted a wide array of prospects, varying from those who need time to sit and develop, and some who are ready for game action if the season starts tomorrow. Each player drafted has a wildly different story and pathway to success, and growth is never linear, so remember this when the season ebbs and flows as it always does.
What Would a Successful Year Look Like for the Rookie Vikings?
J.J. McCarthy
J.J. McCarthy is the classic “sit until he’s 110% ready” quarterback. If he sits all year, it’s not a successful season, but that doesn’t mean it was a lost campaign. He didn’t play nearly as much as you’d like to see from a high-profile prospect like him, so the Vikings need to be extra cautious with McCarthy. Luckily, he steps into one of the best offensive supporting casts in the entire NFL, so when he does get the nod to start, he’ll be surrounded by talent, but he shouldn’t step onto the field until he’s able to elevate the talent around him, not bring it down. This is a redshirt year for McCarthy. If he starts, consider anything he does well on the field a cherry on top.
Dallas Turner
Unlike McCarthy, Dallas Turner will be on the field in week one. There’s no Sam Darnold in the defensive line room to start over Turner, so he’ll be thrown into the fire right away, which is something you can do with a non-quarterback position. Turner won’t be incredible from the jump, which is why Jonathan Greenard was brought in. Turner will be opposite a proven pass-rusher, taking the load off him and letting him do some of the other stuff a Brian Flores defense needs. Dropping into coverage, rushing with his hand in the dirt and a stand-up position, and stopping the run. He’ll move all over the field and bring his 4.4 speed to a Vikings defense in dire need of someone like him.
Khyree Jackson
Khyree Jackson will be competing for a starting spot right away, even as a fourth-round pick. He will have plenty of opportunities to make the roster and make and contribute early in the season. If Brian Flores were in a lab and wanted to design a corner to play for him, he’d create Khyree Jackson. With long arms, 6’4”, and 4.5 speed, Jackson has all the athletic ability to come in and impact the defense in a way some of the other corners on the roster can’t.
Will Reichard
The first (projected) rookie starter at kicker for the Vikings since Daniel Carlson back in 2018, which turned out well, just not for the Vikings. The all-time scorer in the history of college football, Reichard is expected to make the team. Rookie kickers are always shaky, so try not to think of the classic Vikings curse the second he misses a field goal, because I promise you, he’s going to miss. Try to look for improvement week to week, and if he makes it longer than three games, he’ll surpass the last rookie they drafted. Also, Greg Joseph was one of the worst kickers in the league last year, so improving on him shouldn’t be too much to ask.
The Others
If Walter Rouse, Michael Jurgens, and Levi Drake Rodriguez make the team, they’ll be successful picks. Getting interior offensive line depth is hard, so finding a gem in the rough with Jurgens or Rouse would be huge. If either of them start something has gone wrong, but stashing them on the end of the roster in hopes that one day they could spot-start would be a massive hit for a day three pick. Rodriguez is in a bit of a different spot, there isn’t a ton of competition on the interior of the defensive line, so he has the best shot of these three to make the team. He has a real path to playing time if he shows ability in camp and preseason, Just making the team for these three would be a win.
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