Vikings Protection: Jake Golday works alongside Minnesota Vikings defenders throughout OTA follow at TCO Efficiency Heart, with June 2, 2026 inserting the offseason session in Eagan, Minnesota. The group strikes by drill work as coaches research communication and early defensive rhythm throughout spring preparation, captured within the crew’s follow highlights from that afternoon for Minnesota. Necessary Credit score: YouTube.
It’s time to start out interested by Minnesota Vikings’ coaching camp — some of the fantastic instances of the yr — as a result of that may arrive reside and in colour on the finish of the month. To get you prepared, it’s essential to know which gamers are trending up, eyeing roster spots, or in worst-case eventualities, follow squad placement.
Listed alphabetically, these are the Vikings who’re immediately turning heads — in a great way.
Dillon Bell’s Gadget Case Is Getting More durable to Ignore
Minnesota Vikings extensive receiver Dillon Bell seems in team-produced content material after becoming a member of the group as an undrafted free agent on June 8, 2026. Bell continued offseason work in Minnesota whereas getting ready for a summer time roster battle, hoping to show early alternatives right into a spot on the regular-season squad later that yr for Kevin O’Connell. Necessary Credit score: YouTube.
1. Dillon Bell | WR
The Vikings haven’t had a participant fairly like Bell in a very long time. Whereas technically a large receiver, Bell’s true worth emerges when Minnesota makes use of him past that conventional position. His enchantment lies in his versatility: suppose hand-off and gadgetry. Principally manufactured touches that exploit his athleticism if he make the lively roster.
Percy Harvin, who final performed for the Vikings 13 years in the past, served as a major instance of any such dynamic playmaker. Cordarrelle Patterson additionally involves thoughts, too, although Minnesota by no means totally capitalized on his numerous ability set earlier than his departure.
Bell’s fast problem is to parlay his early-summer buzz right into a roster spot by September. If he secures a spot on the 53-man roster, Minnesota positive aspects a large receiver able to considerably shaking up their offensive scheme. The Vikings already possess a robust contingent of typical receivers; Bell’s distinctive promoting proposition is to supply Kevin O’Connell one thing fully completely different.
Kevin Seifert wrote about Bell final month, “It can be difficult to gauge receiver skill sets in spring practices, when NFL rules prohibit physical coverage techniques. But it was eye-opening to see Bell — an undrafted rookie from Georgia — working extensively with the second team during drills.”
“That placement spoke volumes about his initial impression with Vikings coaches, who in essence were putting him in the (early) mix to be the No. 4 receiver behind Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison and Jauan Jennings.”
2. Charles Demmings | CB
The Athletic‘s Dane Brugler famous on Bell after the draft, “Day 3 pick who could surprise: Charles Demmings, CB, Stephen F. Austin. Aside from Demmings always being a great quote, he leaves everything he has on the field. With his cover athleticism and mental toughness, Demmings was a worthy bet in the fifth round, and he landed with a team that needed cornerback depth.”
Quick ahead to minicamp, and Demmings mainly effectuated that Brugler prediction. He appeared terrific, and Minnesota’s cornerback room is ripe for a hungry newcomer.
Demmings possesses a powerful bodily profile even earlier than he steps onto the sector. Standing 6’1″, 195 kilos, and operating a 4.41 40-yard sprint, his measurables alone command consideration for a cornerback. At Stephen F. Austin, he additional solidified his resume with 9 interceptions and confirmed the flexibility to cowl deep routes.
His mixture of size and velocity is exactly what Minnesota can leverage at cornerback, significantly inside a Brian Flores protection that calls for defensive backs to excel in remoted protection.
The one catch? Demmings didn’t actually face top-tier collegiate receivers, and he sometimes tends to be overly bodily downfield, a behavior that’s shortly penalized by NFL officers.
3. Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins | DL
Ingram-Dawkins represents the sort of experimental participant growth that sounds unconventional till Flores will get concerned. Initially drafted as a defensive sort out, Ingram-Dawkins is now exploring exterior linebacker or a hybrid position — an intriguing positional shift. The flexibility is exactly why Minnesota drafted him. The Vikings recognized “tweener” potential, and Flores probably envisions a flexible weapon to disrupt opposing offenses.
Georgia Bulldogs defensive lineman Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins (93) strains up in opposition to the TCU Horned Frogs through the CFP nationwide championship recreation at SoFi Stadium on Jan 9, 2023. Ingram-Dawkins labored by the title-game stage in Inglewood as Georgia managed the matchup and accomplished one other dominant postseason run in school soccer that evening. Necessary Credit score: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Pictures.
Ought to the transition show profitable, Minnesota may domesticate an in-house EDGE rusher, circumventing the necessity to pursue a free agent. The Vikings actually, actually need a backup exterior linebacker to step up this summer time.
Ingram-Dawkins mentioned final month about switching to OLB: “I just cleaned up my body a lot in the offseason. I mean, I’m still 280 pounds. Why was it important to clean up your body? You know, just trying to make a big, big jump from my last year. You know, I feel like that was one of the things that I could work on in my game. You know, developing a core and all that, that’ll help me in my techniques with all the versatile positions that I’m playing across the line.”
“The main focus was to just clean up my body. You know, I feel like that could only help me with how versatile I’m using, I’m being used across the line with all positions. You know, I just feel like I can play all around the line and wherever they wanna plug me and play me. That’s — I’m gonna just put my all into that.”
Wouldn’t you understand it? At minicamp, Ingram-Dawkins noticed most motion on the EDGEs of the defensive position.
4. The Thomas Safeties
This will get complicated, so pull up a chair.
Air Power Falcons extensive receiver Jared Roznos (13) catches a landing late within the second quarter with James Madison security Jacob Thomas (27) defending at Amon G. Carter Stadium on Dec 23, 2023. Roznos completed the scoring play in Fort Price as Air Power pushed for momentum earlier than halftime in opposition to the Dukes. Necessary Credit score: Andrew Dieb-USA TODAY Sports activities.
Minnesota drafted Miami’s Jakobe Thomas in Spherical 3 two months in the past — the primary installment of the Jonathan Greenard commerce. One other Third-Rounder is on the way in which subsequent yr. In the meantime, the Vikings additionally signed security and undrafted free agent Jacob Thomas from James Madison.
Each Thomases did their half at minicamp; there’s an honest likelihood {that a} ‘J. Thomas” places his thumbprint on the 2026 Vikings.
Dustin Baker is a novelist and political scientist. His second novel, The Invaders , is out now. So is … Extra about Dustin Baker
