Florida Gators defensive lineman Caleb Banks (88) comes up the fumble through the second half at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, FL on Saturday, November 16, 2024. The Gators defeated the Tigers 27-16. © Doug Engle/Gainesville Solar / USA TODAY NETWORK by way of Imagn Photographs.
Coaching Camp has arrived, with this yr’s rookies, the quarterbacks, and chosen veterans the primary to return to the Twin Cities. It’s a large second for this yr’s Vikings rookies as they appear to satisfy the dream and safe a spot on the Vikings’ ultimate roster.
Vikings Rookies to Look Out for in Coaching Camp
There will probably be so much to unpack over the course of coaching camp as gamers battle for his or her place on the roster. This text goals to concentrate on this yr’s Vikings rookies, which of them to maintain a selected eye on, and why. We’ve a mixture of early-round draft picks all the way in which to some potential undrafted gems.
Caleb Banks (Defensive Sort out)
Apr 23, 2026; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Florida Gators defensive lineman Caleb Banks is chosen by the Minnesota Vikings because the quantity 18 choose through the 2026 NFL Draft at Acrisure Stadium. Obligatory Credit score: Kirby Lee-Imagn Photographs
There is just one place to start out: the 2026 first-round choose.
Chosen with the 18th total choose, Caleb Banks presents a dangerous selection for Minnesota. The expertise isn’t in query however after turning heads within the scouting mix it was revealed he had suffered a brand new foot harm – one which had already brought about him to overlook a lot of the 2025 school season. His draft inventory shortly tumbled from first-round potential to being seen as a Day 2 prospect.
Minnesota determined to gamble on his expertise and all indicators level to his inclusion at coaching camp. Seeing Banks out on the sector this early could be a lift and will give Vikings followers pleasure that he could be prepared to indicate off his abilities come the beginning of the season.
Domonique Orange (Nostril Sort out)
Minnesota doubled down on large defenders on this yr’s draft once they chosen Domonique Orange within the third spherical. With the nickname Large Citrus, Orange profiles as a real run-stuffer with the potential to start out at nostril deal with.
Standing in Orange’s approach is Levi Drake Rodriguez, a seventh-round choose who proved himself a strong depth participant in his second season with the Vikings in 2025. Orange ought to have the credentials to beat him out if he can adapt shortly to life within the professional ranks and show his game-readiness as a rookie to defensive coordinator Brian Flores.
The Rodriguez and Orange battle might be probably the most intriguing of the preseason.
Jake Golday (Linebacker)
Cincinnati Bearcats linebacker Jake Golday (11) hits a pad through the Cincinnati Bearcats soccer spring observe at Nippert Stadium on Saturday, April 12, 2025. © Albert Cesare/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK by way of Imagn Photographs.
In between the 2 large defensive linemen the Vikings chosen linebacker Jake Golday with their second-round choose. There was dialogue over Golday’s place, notably whether or not he’s a real off-ball linebacker or whether or not he might play from the sting. Given the way in which Flores likes versatility in his gamers – see Andrew Van Ginkel and Josh Metellus – it wouldn’t be a shock to see Golday lining up in varied spots.
With the potential of Golday, Van Ginkel, Metellus, and new signing Jamal Adams lining up collectively, Flores might have enjoyable making offenses attempt to determine who’s taking part in the place. That makes Golday a dream participant for the Vikings DC and somebody to maintain an in depth eye on in coaching camp to see him develop.
Dillon Bell (Huge Receiver)
Undrafted rookies making the ultimate roster was a theme of the Kwesi Adofo-Mensah period. Will that be the identical now that Nolan Teasley is the overall supervisor? One of the best likelihood appears to come back within the type of Dillon Bell who has been creating some hype already.
He’s being likened to former Viking Percy Harvin along with his versatile ability set and talent to make issues occur as soon as the ball is in his fingers. Whether or not Bell could make a play for a 53-man roster spot is a narrative price following. It is going to be robust with Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and Jauan Jennings locking up the highest three locations on the depth chart. It leaves Bell making an attempt to beat out Tai Felton and Myles Worth on the WR depth chart, with the latter having punt/kick return means on their facet.
Demond Claiborne (Working Again)
Oct 4, 2025; Blacksburg, Virginia, USA; Wake Forest Demon Deacons operating again Demond Claiborne (1) runs the ball through the first quarter in opposition to the Virginia Tech Hokies at Lane Stadium. Obligatory Credit score: Brian Bishop-Imagn Photographs
I (like most individuals) anticipated the Vikings to do one thing to deal with a operating again state of affairs that hasn’t been nice in latest seasons.
Minnesota waited till the sixth spherical of the draft to herald Demond Claiborne. On the floor, that doesn’t seem a lot of a risk to Aaron Jones or Jordan Mason. Nonetheless, the pattern in recent times has been to draft RBs later, and a few good ones have come out of the mid-to-late rounds.
Claiborne brings 4.37 velocity to the Vikings’ offense; it’s as much as him to make use of that asset to carve out a job in Kevin O’Connell’s offense.
Max Bredeson (Fullback)
When O’Connell grew to become the Vikings head coach there was an expectation he would put off the fullback place that his predecessor Mike Zimmer had valued so extremely. As an alternative, O’Connell embraced CJ Ham and located a job for him in his offense whereas retaining a group captain and particular groups contributor on the roster.
Ham has now retired however it seems that the fullback place lives on in Minnesota with fifth-round rookie Max Bredeson. Whereas Bredeson is ready to succeed Ham, he’s a really totally different participant. He was a good finish in school and by no means tried a single dashing try. Coaching camp will give us the primary have a look at how O’Connell plans to make use of Bredeson.
Proud UK Viking. Household Man. Take pleasure in writing about my group. Away from soccer an advocate for autism acceptance.
