Miami Hurricanes defensive again Jakobe Thomas stays on the sector after struggling an harm throughout second-quarter motion towards the SMU Mustangs at Gerald J. Ford Stadium. On Nov. 1, 2025, Thomas was damage following a defensive cease as Miami’s protection battled by a bodily street matchup in Dallas. Obligatory Credit score: Jerome Miron-Imagn Photos.
It’s common by any stretch of the creativeness, however the Minnesota Vikings’ roster will function about three dozen newcomers in 2026, becoming a member of the membership from free company, the draft, and undrafted free company.
Six free brokers. 9 draft picks. Nineteen undrafted rookies.
The membership has 90 gamers on the depth chart proper now, a quantity that will likely be shaved to 53 in late August.
Minnesota’s Newcomers Stretch throughout Each Roster Lane
Get to know the newcomers.
Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback James Pierre reacts after recording an interception throughout fourth-quarter motion towards the Cleveland Browns at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh on Dec. 8, 2024. Pierre helped swing momentum late within the divisional matchup because the Steelers protection tightened in crunch time, celebrating the takeaway whereas teammates rapidly gathered round him following the pivotal turnover. Obligatory Credit score: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Photos.
From Free Company (6)
Newcomers:Johnny Hekker (P)Jauan Jennings (WR)Eric Johnson (DT)Kyler Murray (QB)James Pierre (CB)Ryan Van Demark (OT)
Murray clearly takes the cake right here; he’s a two-time Professional Bowler with a greater career-long EPA+CPOE than Baker Mayfield, Trevor Lawrence, and Daniel Jones, amongst others. He immediately makes the Vikings a playoff contender, showcasing no actual weaknesses other than his 5’10” peak.
Jennings signed on Thursday night time, a cake-topper of the offseason. He’s the brand new WR3, changing Jalen Nailor, who bolted for the Las Vegas Raiders in March. The brand new punter, Hekker, was as soon as one of the best in soccer 8-10 years in the past; now, he’ll hope to remain off a rookie from the third part of this text.
Pierre is Minnesota’s new CB3, a alternative for Jeff Okudah, who hasn’t signed wherever in 2026. Van Demark is offensive sort out insurance coverage in case one thing occurs to Christian Darrisaw or Brian O’Neill. Johnson, a defensive sort out, is a roster-bubble man who could or could not make the 53-man depth chart in August.
From The Draft (9)
Newcomers:Caleb Banks (DT) | Florida, Spherical 1Jake Golday (LB) | Cincinnati, Spherical 2Domonique Orange (DT) | Iowa State, Spherical 3Caleb Tiernan (OT) | Northwestern, Spherical 3Jakobe Thomas (S) | Miami, Spherical 3Max Bredeson (TE) | Michigan, Spherical 5Charles Demmings (CB) | Stephen F. Austin, Spherical 5Demond Claiborne (RB) | Wake Forest, Spherical 6Gavin Gerhardt (C) | Cincinnati, Spherical 7
Banks will outline this class — it doesn’t matter what. If he hits, to the tune of his All-Professional ceiling, the group can nearly do no flawed. Golday arrives as an Andrew Van Ginkel-like defensive weapon, the primary inside linebacker drafted by the Vikings within the first two rounds since Eric Kendricks in 2015.
Michigan Wolverines tight finish Max Bredeson watches follow earlier than the Faculty Soccer Playoff nationwide championship sport towards the Washington Huskies at NRG Stadium in Houston on Jan. 6, 2024. Bredeson carved out a invaluable position in Michigan’s offense together with his blocking means, toughness, and flexibility in the course of the Wolverines’ championship run beneath head coach Jim Harbaugh. Obligatory Credit score: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports activities.
Oragne is a nostril sort out, and the Vikings haven’t had a pure model of a kind of in eons. Tiernan is an offensive sort out, youth within the pipeline subsequent to Darrisaw and O’Neill. Harrison Smith hasn’t resigned but, and if he doesn’t, Thomas will get a glance as his alternative.
Bredeson is the brand new C.J. Ham; followers will love him. Demmings is a scrappy cornerback who may escape as a result of Minnesota hasn’t drafted a nook with endurance since Xavier Rhodes — 13 years in the past.
The brand new operating again, Claiborne, will likely be one thing within the neighborhood of Nyheim Hines, Jerick McKinnon, or De’Von Achane, primarily based on his dimension and play fashion. Gerhardt is a longshot bid for the Vikings’ heart of the long run.
From Undrafted Free Company (19)
Newcomers:Marcus Allen (CB) | North CarolinaDa’Veawn Armstead (CB) | North TexasDillon Bell (WR) | GeorgiaJordan Botelho (OLB) | Notre DameTyreek Chappell (CB) | Texas A&MMonkell Goodwine (DL) | South CarolinaShaleak Knotts (WR) | MarylandKeli Lawson (LB) | Central FloridaTristan Leigh (OL) | ClemsonDelby Lemieux (OL) | DartmouthKejon Owens (RB) | Florida InternationalTomas Rimac (OL) | Virginia TechMarcus Sanders (WR) | Georgia SouthernCam’Ron Stewart (OLB) | TempleJacob Thomas (S) | James MadisonBrett Thorson (P) | GeorgiaArden Walker (OLB) | ColoradoScooby Williams (LB) | Texas A&MLuke Wysong (WR) | Arizona
This record is clearly large, and most of those males received’t latch on to the Vikings’ roster or wherever within the NFL when it’s all stated and performed. Nonetheless, it’s necessary to notice that huge receiver Dillon Bell may rating a roster spot or follow squad invitation in late August.
Cam’Ron Stewart has some followers, and he’s 24, so he ought to be extra game-ready than most. Jacob Thomas could also be a darkish horse of the follow squad. And most anticipate Brett Thorson to have an honest-to-goodness punter battle with Johnny Hekker this summer time.
Georgia punter Brett Thorson kicks the soccer throughout drills on the NFL Scouting Mix inside Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis on Feb. 25, 2026. Thorson entered the pre-draft course of after constructing a status at Georgia for consistency, hold time, and field-position management whereas dealing with punting duties for considered one of school soccer’s premier packages. Obligatory Credit score: Kirby Lee-Imagn Photos.
DawgNation‘s Connor Riley on Thorson, “Thorson won the Ray Guy Award as the nation’s top punter and now he’ll be playing in the NFL. Thorson was a four-year starter at the University of Georgia. Thorson was one of the best punters in the country throughout his entire career, consistently pinning teams back deep.”
“He did suffer a knee injury that required surgery in December of 2024. Thorson missed the first game of the 2025 season but returned to play in Georgia’s final 13 games in 2025. He was named a First Team All-American for his play last season.”
The Vikings have a wealthy latest historical past of empowering undrafted free brokers. You possibly can’t rule out gamers from the record with out some summer time diligence.
Dustin Baker is a novelist and political scientist. His second novel, The Invaders , is out now. So is … Extra about Dustin Baker
