A photograph of TCO Efficiency Heart. Vikings and Patriots Coaching Camp Joint Apply Highlights | August 13, 2025. Minnesota Vikings gamers participated in 2025 Coaching Camp joint apply with the New England Patriots on the TCO Efficiency Heart. Obligatory Credit score YouTube.
The contributions from current draft lessons have been pretty restricted for the Minnesota Vikings. Buying and selling away picks at an uncommon charge didn’t assist, however means too many picks didn’t ship an appropriate return on funding.
Late-rounders are by no means supposed to be franchise-changers, however they need to present depth for a number of years. A kind of is 2024 sixth-rounder Walter Rouse, who joined the membership in the identical spherical as placekicker Will Reichard.
The latter has been a superb participant for the franchise; the previous has barely performed and will see his journey finish this summer season.
Jun 10, 2025; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings guard Donovan Jackson (74) and offensive deal with Walter Rouse (73) apply throughout minicamp on the Minnesota Vikings Coaching Facility. Obligatory Credit score: Matt Krohn-Imagn Pictures
Rouse, a left deal with at Stanford and Oklahoma, has appeared in eight video games throughout his two-year NFL profession, seeing the sector on 88 offensive snaps and 38 on particular groups. He had a protected spot on the 53-man roster for 25 months, however the numbers work in opposition to him this 12 months.
The Vikings added Ryan Van Demark in free company, snatching the restricted free agent from the Buffalo Payments. He’s set to be the swing backup deal with for the upcoming season after beginning six video games in entrance of Josh Allen.
Moreover, the group acquired Caleb Tiernan within the third spherical of final month’s draft. The Northwestern deal with needs to be anticipated to stay round, after all, and probably threaten Van Demark quite than competing with Rouse.
Aug 2, 2024; Eagan, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings offensive deal with Walter Rouse (78) warms up throughout apply at Vikings coaching camp in Eagan, MN. Obligatory Credit score: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports activities.
That makes two backup tackles behind the unquestioned beginning duo of Christian Darrisaw and Brian O’Neill. Each struggled with their well being final 12 months, lacking a number of video games and opening the door for Rouse to get his first offensive snaps. Rouse began the season because the fourth deal with behind the 2 starters and backup Justin Skule, however on some events, the employees most popular to maneuver Blake Brandel again to deal with over giving the 2024 decide a shot.
Beginning 52 video games in school, first at Stanford after which at Oklahoma, Rouse possesses supreme measurements for a deal with at 6’6″ and 313 lbs, with 35″ arms.
Nonetheless, a transfer to offensive guard is likely to be his greatest guess. Behind starters Donovan Jackson and Will Fries, the Vikings aren’t significantly loaded with backups after Brandel’s slide into the middle place. The backup listing contains undrafted rookies and apply squad gamers in Joe Huber, Henry Byrd, Vershon Lee, and Tomas Rimac.
In truth, a place swap has been floated as an concept for years.
Dec 28, 2023; San Antonio, TX, USA; Oklahoma Sooners offensive linemen Caleb Shaffer (53) and Walter Rouse (75) prepare for a play within the first half in opposition to the Arizona Wildcats at Alamodome. Obligatory Credit score: Daniel Dunn-USA TODAY Sports activities
Darren Wolfson commented on Skor North final 12 months, “Walter Rouse, I’m told, his camp feels like there’s more of a pathway to playing time at some point at guard versus tackle. If you’re thinking Walter Rouse, draft pick last year, is more a tackle, just saying, don’t sleep on the possibility of him playing guard, getting guard reps, working more so at the guard position, not the tackle position.”
Oli Udoh went that route in 2021 and Brandel in 2023. Each began one season at guard earlier than a substitute arrived. It helped them carve out an extended profession, although.
Even head coach Kevin O’Connell has talked about the Rouse to protect idea earlier than, hinting on the transition forward of his rookie season: “The growth we’ve already seen, both at the right tackle position ‒ I do believe he’s gonna have the ability to play some guard also. It’s not something you start him out in his NFL journey, bouncing around [in] different spots on the line.”
Given the state of the roster, it could hardly be shocking to see Rouse get some reps on the guard place all through OTAs and the summer season’s coaching camp.
Rouse turned 25 this 12 months.
Editor’s Observe: Data from PFF, Over The Cap, and Sports activities Reference helped with this text.
Janik Eckardt is a German sports activities nerd, who likes numbers and stats. He selected the Vikings to be his … Extra about Janik Eckardt
