The Minnesota Vikings kicked off rookie minicamp final week, and alongside the way in which, the franchise signed a hybrid OLB-DT named Smith Vilbert. Sure, it’s Vilbert the Viking this summer time.
Minnesota’s newest roster flyer brings dimension, size, and a splendidly apparent nickname.
Vilbert performed with Invoice Belichick at North Carolina, so the Belichick-to-Brian-Flores communication pipeline is evidently broad open.
Vilbert Provides One other Outsized Physique to Flores’ Entrance
Now we have particulars on Vilbert.
North Carolina defensive lineman Smith Vilbert closes in on Richmond working again Andrew King throughout second-quarter motion on Sep. 13, 2025, at Kenan Stadium in Chapel Hill. Vilbert later emerged as an intriguing NFL prospect due to his uncommon dimension profile, providing groups the flexibility to deploy him as a heavy edge defender with occasional inside pass-rushing flexibility. Necessary Credit score: Bob Donnan-Imagn Pictures.
Vilbert to MIN
Minnesota hosted dozens of rookies (and a few veterans like quarterback Cooper Rush) final week, and Vilbert really snagged a contract.
SI.com‘s Will Ragatz wrote, “After the conclusion of their rookie minicamp on Friday, the Vikings signed former Penn State and North Carolina defensive lineman Smith Vilbert to an undrafted free agent contract, according to his agent Brett Tessler. Vilbert was one of 21 rookie tryout players at Friday’s camp and must have impressed the coaching staff in a short time period.”
“Standing nearly 6’6″ and 290 pounds, Vilbert has 34-inch arms and brings some versatility. He lined up mostly as an edge defender in college but can also play on the interior of the D-line. A New Jersey native, Vilbert was a three-star recruit coming out of high school in 2019 and chose Penn State over several other big-time offers.”
Ever since Minnesota found defensive sort out Jalen Redmond two years in the past, under-the-radar DL additions flip heads for Vikings followers.
The Background
Vilbert embodies a basic “lottery-ticket” addition for the Vikings: a giant, lengthy, and skilled prospect who faces a steep climb to the 53-man roster.
Bodily, he checks all of the containers, standing at an imposing 6-foot-6 and 282 kilos. His imposing body offers Minnesota a rookie defensive lineman able to becoming into varied roles, from conventional defensive sort out to five-technique or a bigger edge presence. Such versatility is essential in Flores’ protection, which steadily calls for front-seven gamers to maneuver round, disguise formations, and tackle a number of assignments.
Nonetheless, his faculty manufacturing doesn’t precisely scream “instant-impact rookie.” Although older than the typical first-year participant, his collegiate resume is extra intriguing than dominant. Whereas he confirmed flashes at each Penn State and North Carolina, Vilbert enters the NFL extra as a developmental challenge than a elegant defender prepared for rapid contributions. Therefore the undrafted free-agent standing.
The Vikings have already invested considerably within the defensive position with Caleb Banks and Domonique Orange, so Vilbert’s most sensible path includes showcasing flashes in coaching camp, incomes preseason reps, proving himself on particular groups, and doubtlessly securing a follow squad spot.
However, his mixture of dimension, size, and positional versatility makes him exactly the kind of undrafted or minicamp prospect Flores is eager to develop. Particularly if Belichick brokered the deal.
Penn State defensive finish Smith Vilbert waits earlier than kickoff on Oct. 23, 2021, at Beaver Stadium in College Park forward of a matchup in opposition to Illinois. Vilbert spent a number of seasons growing within the Massive Ten earlier than later transferring to North Carolina, the place his dimension and athletic profile helped draw extra NFL curiosity as a flexible defensive lineman. Necessary Credit score: Wealthy Barnes-USA TODAY Sports activities.
The Viking Age‘s Adam Carlson on Vilbert: “Vilbert played 47 games in college, spending all but 12 of those with Penn State before transferring to North Carolina. His statistics at Penn State were not very impressive, but he got significantly more productive once arriving with Bill Belichick at UNC.”
“In those 12 games at North Carolina, Smith Vilbert had 22 combined tackles, including six tackles for a loss and one sack. In addition, he accumulated two pass defenses and recovered two fumbles while forcing one fumble. A six-foot-six, 256-pound defender, Vilbert was projected to be a Day 3 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, with a comparison to Tennessee Titans defensive lineman Jack Crawford by Brian Dohn at 247 Sports.”
Up to date OLB Room
The Vikings’ inside defensive position room has modified considerably for the reason that membership launched Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave. It additionally traded Jonathan Greenard through the draft.
If Minnesota makes use of Vilbert as an EDGE rusher, right here’s the OLB group in the mean time:
OLB1: Andrew Van GinkelOLB2: Dallas TurnerOLB3: Bo RichterOLB4: Tyler BattyOLB5: Chaz ChamblissOLB6: Cam’Ron StewartOLB7: Jordan BotelhoOLB8: Arden WalkerOLB9: Smith Vilbert
For good measure, although Vilbert has an out of doors linebacker’s body, right here’s the DT unit:
DE1: Jalen RedmondDE2: Caleb BanksDE3: Tyrion Ingram-DawkinsDE4: Elijah WilliamsDE5: Monkell GoodwineNT1: Domonique OrangeNT2: Levi Drake RodriguezNT3: Taki Taimani
Summer time Trajectory
Vilbert, in fact, is on the very backside of the Vikings’ 90-man roster. It might really be unusual for Minnesota to strike oil twice in two years on stud defensive linemen out of nowhere: Redmond and Vilbert.
North Carolina defensive finish Smith Vilbert wraps up Stanford working again Micah Ford throughout first-quarter motion on Nov. 8, 2025, at Kenan Stadium in Chapel Hill. Vilbert earned consideration from NFL evaluators due to his mixture of size, dimension, and positional versatility, traits that allowed him to contribute each on the sting and close to the inside defensive entrance. Necessary Credit score: Bob Donnan-Imagn Pictures.
Due to this fact, Vilbert will doubtless vie for a follow squad spot at coaching camp and within the preseason. There, he might bide his time and probably claw his means up the depth chart.
Bear in mind, although, Belichick helped refine his talent set at North Carolina. There’s a small probability that he may very well be a diamond within the tough.
