[2022] Vikings Announce UDFA Class

[Bundy]

When the Minnesota Vikings moved up in the 2022 NFL Draft to select standout receiver Alex Williams III, they did so at the cost of sacrificing valuable draft capitol and sacrificing some depth opportunities. The Vikings GM was also absent for Day 2 of the draft, seeing their advisory committee end up taking players that may not exactly fit the Vikings roster building interests.

 

Vikings fans, have no fear, the 2022 Vikings UDFA class is here.

 

Chargers guru @Pumph said it best, "It's like having compensatory picks at the end of the 8th round." The Vikings made filling out their off-season roster a priority, as they were the first team to ever house a full 90-man offseason roster with 22 UDFA signings.

 

QB Austin Bishop, Wisconsin

When the Vikings moved up with the Seahawks, it was tipped off within Minnesota media that the move up could be for Yusei Asencio, the stud quarterback from Ohio who drew Heisman contention. The Vikings, however, had just signed QB Christian Sinnock, a 24-year old quarterback who may chalk in as a high-floor type guy. Time will tell if the Vikings' conservative play in the QB room was the right move for a team strapped with an elite receiving arsenal. Sinnock only signed a moderate, relatively team-friendly deal - if he booms, its an absolute steal, and if he busts as the starter, it leaves the team room to continue to roster him as a mentor to a successor.

 

The Vikings first UDFA signee ever (by order of appearance in signing confirmation) goes into the record books as someone all too familiar to the Vikings 1st Round situation. Drawn to the Badgers film to observe Alex Williams III, the team quickly noticed his rapport with the team's signal caller. Alex Williams III led the nation with 2,567 receiving yards, and the young man getting it to him, Austin Bishop, came in as the nations's 5th-leading passer by yardage.

 

Bishop comes in raw in terms of NFL prospects, but at 6'5" 228 he looks the part already. If he can have any sort of camp or preseason success with a deep group of receivers, he could project as high as the third QB in the room. And betting odds might suggest he as a candidate for "first UDFA to start a game."

 

RB Le'Veon Caminero, Wisconsin

The Vikings drafted the nation's leading rusher in Cooper McGough, and they already have a veteran presence in Bruno Hanson, but there appears to be plenty of room in the stable for changes in pace and key role players. Staying in Madison, the Vikings inked their second key piece of their UDFA class in Badger Bellcow Le'Veon Caminero. Coming in at 68th in rushing yards and just a 3.89 average is likely what tanked potential draft stock, but Vikings insiders report Cam was slotted in the R7-8 range on the team's board. 738 receiving yards with 6 TDs shows some potential versatility, but it may be hard to crack further than RB4 in this explosive offense.

 

WR Kaleb Lunsford, Maryland

There is hardly going to be room for a college free agent to make it into the WR corps based on receiving alone, which is actually a positive for Lunsford, who only hauled in 21 of 49 targets in his lone year at Maryland. Lunsford ran a 4.40 40 at the Big Ten Pro Day, which doesn't quite make him a burner but does display some athletic ability that other late round prospects may not have. Lunsford is not tall and does not have a vertical worth mentioning - so he's going to have to make his name in the special teams game. Lunsford remains a long shot to crack the initial 55.

 

WR Oswaldo Urrutia, Alabama

Urrutia struggled to be a consistent threat throughout games for Alabama last season, hauling in just 31 of 72 targets. However, these 31 receptions went for nearly 23.5 yards a pop, and he finished as a solid scoring threat with 11 TDs. At 6'1", Urrutia is nothing more than average in stature at the position, but his big play potential coupled with decent athleticism may give him a leg up on some of the other receiver/special teamer candidates.

 

TE Mike Smith, Oklahoma

While the Sooners were held back by a lack of consistent coaching, they certainly put talent into the League in the initial draft. Mike Smith finished with an average 38-489-3 statline last year, but the 6'3" TE boasted a 4.55 at the Big XII Pro Day, and a 6.88 3-cone with a 38" vert set Smith into the 6th Round range per Vikings insiders. Smith certainly needs time to develop, and his blocking likely would see him on the sidelines in certain run formations, but the potential is there to be a solid "move" TE down the line. Smith may be a top contender of this class to crack the 55.

 

TE Pat Mathieu, Kent State

Outside of the Big 4 of the MAC in Ohio, Ball State, and Central and Western Michigans, its hard to shine. Mathieu struggled to a 35-287-2 senior season, but the 6'4" option threw up some reps at the MAC Pro Day and an above average receiving drill put him into the same company as Mike Smith. The Vikings clearly want to base their offense on space, and despite signing a fullback in their initial pool, there is no guarantee a traditional FB makes the team. A TE who can move the sticks, maybe as a lesser option in the offense, may get that role in this offense - and Mathieu fits that description.

 

OT Gary Albers, Kansas

Albers is someone the front office is very familiar with, and the team made a big push to sign the 6'5", 300 Big Man. Albers' team struggled last season, with the Jayhawks finishing 88th in rushing yards, which set the tone for the team to finish 5-7 on the year and miss a bowl game. But he threw up the 4th most bench reps at the Big XII Pro Day, and grades out as someone with future potential in the ground game. Its going to be hard for a 4th OT to make this roster, but familiarity may keep Albers around.

 

OT Brandon Gwynn, Tulane

Immediately after we say "its going to be hard for a 4th OT", we have another candidate for the spot. Tulane only allowed 21 sacks despite passing the 16th most times, with Gwynn leading the way. Gwynn is really probably Albers Lite though - not quite as big, equally on the lower end of the athleticism scale, and maybe a little more balanced in terms of blocking ability.

 

OG Danny Syndergaard, Kansas

Syndergaard might actually be one of the biggest "snubs" of an 8-round draft, as he was the true leader of the Jayhawk offense last year that saw RB Bene' Humber win 1st-team Big XII honors. Syndergaard was the KU Captain, and likely would have gone late Day 2 to Minnesota. He doesn't offer much in the passing game and career aspirations may be capped at backup status, but the one position the Vikings offensive trenches don't feel solidified at, is guard. So there's more than a snowball's chance.

 

OG Kemoko Claudio, North Carolina

Claudio is a bit undersized for the pros, but his sheer explosiveness through his arms earns him a shot. He's slow, but if you're not asking him to pull, and you just want him to 1-arm bench press on some short zone runs, or give a huge initial pop in a 3- or 5-step drop, the ability is there. Claudio is likely practice squad fodder early in his career - but again, the Vikings are lacking at guard.

 

C Justin Phelps, Colorado

Sensing a trend with a few of these UDFA linemen - undersized, lacking speed, but making up for it in initial force. The Vikings are almost certainly carrying only 2 centers, so Phelps is in town to try to sign on as a practice squader during the year. It will be a few seasons before Phelps is truly ready to show anything.

 

DE Elieser Blake, Eastern Michigan

Blake lived in the backfield, recording 20 of his 37 tackles behind the line last year. Blake is likely a 2-down DE in the NFL, but with as suspect as the Vikings initial defense on paper is, there's a chance he could not only earn a spot, but also be a year 1 contributor. Some Vikings metrics placed Blake as high as the 5th round range, so he's perhaps one of the biggest FA steals the team was able to snag.

 

DT Daniel Dekker, Kansas

If you're noticing a trend of potential "homerism" in these signings, there's certainly a reason to it. The Vikings are most familiar with KU players, and establishing their preferred schemes will be made easiest with guys who understand what they want to do. Dekker fits into a very niche role if any, chasing the passer, and he might be able to do that against some of the lesser linemen in the pros. Dekker has as good of odds as any in the DT depth mix to make the roster, but the Vikings were heavily interested in defensive tackles in this past draft, so he's going to have to show out to make a living.

 

DT Che-Hsuan Byard, Oklahoma State

Byard managed to haul in an interception last year, but lacks when it comes to being a defensive anchor. He has a long way to go to be truly roster ready.

 

OLB Adrian Nicholson, Southern Miss

Nicholson ran a 4.48 40 with 30 bench reps, making him more of a potential box safety than anything else, especially at his stature. Nicholson certainly fell through the draft due to a lack of stats, but he consistently outran and nearly outjumped one of Southern Miss' top receivers in practice every day. Expect a shot at a special teams role to be what gets Nicholson noticed.

 

OLB Nelson Velasquez, Kansas

Jehu Ginn was reportedly the top man on the Vikings draft board. Ginn was long gone by the time the Vikings took Williams III, but they find another culture fit here in another Kansas player, and a fellow Big XII 1st-Team member in Velasquez. 10 TFL last year give him a legitimate shot to make a squad this year.

 

ILB Jayson Grimm, Southern Miss

Familiarity, familiarity, familiarity. The Vikings continue to preach that throughout their FA process, bringing in Nicholson's college roommate. Grimm is a 2-down backer who would certainly project to come off the field in nickel situations, but his size and strength make him an ideal ILB in the team's base front. 81 tackles, 21 TFL, 2 FF. Grimm certainly produced, finishing with the 4th most tackles in all of college football.

 

ILB Anthony Williams, Ole Miss

Williams was another productive run stuffer, recording 67 tackles and 11 TFL in his time at Ole Miss. A little bit leaner than Grimm, Williams has a surprising 37" vertical, and while he can't keep up with the top receivers on deep routes, he may actually stand a chance against a TE. Williams enters the ILB mix with roster potential.

 

CB DeSean Williams, Oregon

With a 4.03 shuttle Williams may actually project well as a punt returning candidate due to his shiftiness. He may also be a dark horse to make it as a depth corner, though the teams drafting of multiple DBs may make it a little murky.

 

CB De'Vondre Grilli, Ball State

4 interceptions and a near 40" vert get Grilli onto the pro radar, but his 4.59 40 tanked his draft stock. Grilli was actually a little quicker than his MAC opposition receivers on short to intermediate routes, so he may get a look in a red zone role. He's also a potential punt returner.

 

CB Sam Tartamella, TCU

Tartamella is likely #90 on the 90-man, he's a slow corner who lacks elite athleticism and leaves much to be desired. He's okay at some zone concepts though, which could give him work should the Vikings employ more of a zone look than expected.

 

PK Brandon Smith, Colorado State

Smith enters a camp competition with 27-year-old Richard Yob for the teams placekicking spot. Smith went just 18/30 (60%) last year and might be an unconvincing prospect, but he did drill a 54-yarder, which may be a deeper leg than Yob's. The team may keep eyes on other kicking competitions though, so neither Yob nor Smith are cemented into a roster spot.

[alexfall862]

I see you're taking care of your Jayhawks... I was tempted to sign the Nebraska QB but he was just too terrible.

[tsweezy]

I will pay you $500 sports book cash if Austin Bishop starts a game

[Bundy]