TCU Horned Frogs working again Kevorian Barnes is wrapped up by a number of Iowa State defenders throughout first-half motion on Nov. 8, 2025, at Amon G. Carter Stadium in Fort Price, Texas. Barnes fought for further yardage as Iowa State’s protection swarmed to the soccer, highlighting the bodily nature of a key late-season Large 12 matchup. Obligatory Credit score: Jerome Miron-Imagn Pictures.
The Minnesota Vikings turned the web page on the Kwesi Adofo-Mensah period this offseason, and with that, many hope the staff can begin drafting properly and inserting rookies into the lineup sooner fairly than later. That’s the purpose anyway.
The membership welcomed about 35 new gamers altogether this offseason; now it’s time to look on the rookies who might begin as early as Week 1.
Listed alphabetically, these are these rookies who’ve an affordable or semi-reasonable path to the beginning lineup straight away.
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Florida defensive lineman Caleb Banks speaks with reporters following his exercise on the program’s Professional Day occasion in Gainesville. Banks used the showcase to focus on his athletic traits, dimension, and flexibility whereas assembly with NFL scouts and discussing his improvement forward of the upcoming draft. March 26, 2026. Obligatory Credit score: Alan Youngblood-Gainesville Solar.
1. Caleb Banks | DT
Most likely a no brainer on this listing — the Vikings drafted Banks as their most impactful potential DT resolution since Sharrif Floyd in 2013, a DT from Florida who additionally had foot points, mockingly sufficient.
Whether or not Banks is able to begin will stay a summer season suspense novel. Head coach Kevin O’Connell lately said that the purpose is to have him prepared by coaching camp, however the Vikings even have a historical past of slow-rolling harm recoveries.
If Banks’s foot is sweet to go, he’ll formally take Jonathan Allen’s spot within the 2026 lineup.
2. Gavin Gerhardt | C
That is essentially the most far-fetched on the listing.
The Vikings appeared to scout Gerhardt as their youth resolution at heart from the beginning of the pre-draft course of. Gerhardt stated in April about his pre-draft go to, “The coaches were just genuine, good human beings. Obviously, I think highly of them coaching-wise, but they were all very good people. People that cared about me as a human being — and that’s what I care most about, other human beings.”
“Clearly, I believe I’m an excellent soccer participant, however me as a human being, I believe that’s my best high quality. I actually try to be identical to my father and be that man everybody can lean on. That’s the vibe I received after I was there in Minnesota from the teaching workers.
Vikings.com’s Craig Peters additionally famous after the draft on Gerhardt, “The Vikings have 2024 seventh-round pick Michael Jurgens and 2020 sixth-rounder Blake Brandel returning after both played pivot in place of Kelly last season.”
“The Vikings evaluated multiple interior linemen. Gerhardt’s inclusion in the Top 30 process enabled the team to see how he would handle an install and his voice in a simulated huddle.”
There’s a world, albeit far off in a distant galaxy, the place Gerhardt takes the summer season by storm and ousts Brandel from his frontrunner standing. It might occur, particularly if Minnesota extensively scouted Gerhardt as “their guy.”
3. Dominique Orange | DT
Orange is the most definitely to start out out of the gate on this listing.
He has no lingering harm points — like Banks. He’s not a Seventh-Rounder. And he’s not battling a savvy veteran like Johnny Hekker, like the subsequent man on the listing.
Nostril tackles usually acclimate to the NFL sooner than different defensive gamers, and since Minnesota employs no surefire nostril deal with within the beginning lineup — Levi Drake Rodriguez can be the closest various — Orange has a glowing alternative to grab the second.
Iowa State defensive lineman Domonique Orange celebrates after a defensive cease throughout a house sport in opposition to BYU at Jack Trice Stadium. Orange emerged as a disruptive presence for the Cyclones, utilizing his dimension and energy to anchor the defensive entrance whereas drawing consideration from NFL evaluators. Oct. 25, 2025. Obligatory Credit score: Nirmalendu Majumdar-Imagn Pictures.
He’s enormous. He stuffs the run. The Vikings don’t have a beginning nostril deal with. And Minnesota picked him in Spherical 3, an affordable spot to recommend Week 1 taking part in time. Orange will probably be the Week 1 starter at NT.
4. Brett Thorson | P
Thorson stands 61″ and weighs 240 kilos. His major concern is the climate; he didn’t develop up dealing with the Midwest’s wind, snow, and chilly, and Georgia doesn’t present the identical circumstances he would encounter in Minnesota.
Moreover, the Vikings have already signed a brand new punter: Johnny Hekker. As soon as considered the most effective punter in soccer, he earned six All-Professional choices, 4 Professional Bowl invites, and a Tremendous Bowl ring. Nevertheless, that model of him is now a couple of years prior to now. In 2025, he carried out nearer to league common, so for him to rebound in Minnesota, he would wish to regain his earlier kind.
Georgia punter Brett Thorson kicks the ball in the course of the SEC Championship Sport in opposition to Texas at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. Thorson constructed a status as certainly one of school soccer’s high specialists, showcasing a robust leg and constant manufacturing whereas serving to the Bulldogs compete for convention and nationwide titles. Dec. 7, 2024. Obligatory Credit score: Brett Davis-Imagn Pictures.
His contract complicates issues additional. It signifies he would be the Vikings’ punter by 2026. In the event that they preserve Thorson and launch Hekker, they might incur useless cash, and groups usually don’t carry two punters.
Whereas Thorson could possibly be a viable possibility, he faces a sensible problem past his kicking talents. He should present that he can deal with holding for further factors and discipline objectives, a accountability he didn’t fulfill at Georgia. For specialists, the talent may be the distinction between and lively roster spot and the apply squad.
Dustin Baker is a novelist and political scientist. His second novel, The Invaders , is out now. So is … Extra about Dustin Baker
