And while Boyd excelled on special teams as a gunner, the Vikings have options to replace him. The Vikings, you may remember, lost Kris Boyd, who signed with the Arizona Cardinals. These next two names are this high on the list because they scream gunner. ‘The Beast’ 2023 NFL Draft guide: Dane Brugler’s scouting reports, player rankings 5. No, this is neither the time nor place to discuss the Vikings and Georgia kickers. There’s also the fact that he is recovering from a PCL injury, a rehab that did not prevent him from working out for teams. Osborn, Jordan Addison, Jalen Nailor, Jalen Reagor and Brandon Powell), it’s hard to see a spot for Knowles. Considering the Vikings’ depth in that room ( Justin Jefferson, K.J. He produced as a receiver, too, mostly benefiting from his speed. He also averaged 27.7 yards per kick return in college and housed three kicks. Knowles left Kansas State with an all-purpose yardage total (3,998) that ranked in the top five in program history. The Vikings already have an elite kick returner in Kene Nwangwu, but Knowles makes sense as a backup option if an injury occurs. Who did the #Vikings add in Mekhi Blackmon, Jaren Hall, Andre Carter II & Ivan Pace Jr.? If Pace can take advantage of this opportunity, it’s not hard to imagine him earning a roster spot. That the Vikings have a well-respected, well-traveled and willing mentor in Jordan Hicks will likely help the cause. The question, it appears, is whether Pace’s professional work habits will align with what is necessary for first-year Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores. Like Carter, Pace could play on a special teams unit in the NFL as a rookie, at the very least. He was a Senior Bowl standout, who, at 5-foot-10 and 231 pounds, is an absolute wrecking ball. He ranked first in the fewest broken tackles allowed and most tackles for loss per game. Among off-ball linebackers eligible for the draft, Pace ranked second in pressure rate and first in sacks per game. One player-personnel staffer for another team said simply, “One hell of a player.” If all goes as planned, Carter could create some noise in training camp and, ultimately, even find some snaps during his rookie season on Matt Daniels’ special teams unit. Mike Smith, the Vikings’ pass-rush specialist, is well respected within the league for his ability to enhance a pass rusher’s tools. This is a bet now on the team’s ability to develop. None of this is to say Carter is a shoo-in to make the team, but the Vikings have committed to him with a hefty guarantee. That mark slotted Carter a spot behind Texas Tech’s Tyree Wilson, who was taken with the seventh pick. Keep in mind, however, that pressure rates are more predictive than sack rates, and Carter’s 17 percent pressure rate ranked sixth among 43 draft-eligible edge rushers, according to Sports Info Solutions. The production scared teams, as did Carter’s thinner frame. He played basketball in high school and was a two-star tight end who attended a prep school in Connecticut, then transitioned into a pass-rushing monster at Army.Ĭarter recorded 15 1/2 sacks his junior year but only 3 1/2 sacks this past year. Carter is, to put it mildly, a freak of an athlete. The closer we get to training camp, the more you will hear this name. Using Dane Brugler’s draft reports, game tape and statistics via Sports Info Solutions, here is a ranking of the likeliest UDFA options to make the team: 1. To set the stage well before training camp, we thought it would be worthwhile to lay out the case for each player. Just last year, for reference, edge rusher Luiji Vilain, who was an undrafted signing for Minnesota, played 61 percent of the Vikings’ special teams snaps. Rarely will teams find high-impact players from this subset of players, but it does happen. It also includes 15 undrafted free agents. That list of players is not limited to the team’s six draftees. Those staffers, as well as the coaches, are now tasked with helping a group of successful college players make the transition to the NFL.
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