In recent years, the Vikings have had tiny draft classes and it was quite easy to put a finger on the biggest early contributor. This year might be a little different. The interim front office drafted nine players and added several undrafted rookies in the process.
Also unusual was the arrival of some Day 2 rookies, something Kwesi Adofo-Mensah didn’t particularly emphasize. In his last three drafts, only Tai Felton and Mekhi Blackmon were drafted in the third round and both were drafted at the very end of the third. He skipped the second round altogether.
Caleb Banks joined in the first, Jake Golday in the second, Domonique Orange, Caleb Tiernan and Jakobe Thomas in the third. Generally, those are the contenders for the most impactful first few games of their careers.
Charles Demmings and Demond Claiborne offer some intriguing tools, but are likely vying for depth roles. Fullback Max Bredeson could play early, but a rookie fullback will hardly change the game, with all due respect. Seventh-round center Gavin Gerhardt might not even be on the team in Week 1.
At first, let’s eliminate Tiernan from the conversation. The Northwestern tackle is set for a redshirt year, unless he can unseat Ryan Van Demark, a free agent signing, for the backup tackle role. And then he would still need an injury to take place ahead of him, which we all hope won’t be the case.
That makes four remaining candidates.
Caleb Banks
The first-rounder should always be the favorite in this conversation, but this might be a different case. Banks suffered a foot injury at the scouting combine and has yet to appear in practice. His OTA and minicamp participation was limited to work on the rehab field.
Minnesota reporter Kevin Seifert updated the Banks situation last month: “The Vikings didn’t rush Banks this offseason as he recovered from surgery to repair the broken fourth metatarsal bone in his left foot, an injury he suffered at the combine in February. He did not participate in practices but observed most of them on the field, and by the end of the spring, he was working out on the rehabilitation field with other players who were sitting out. Coach Kevin O’Connell said he believes Banks will be ready for the start of training camp.”
Banks offers elite athleticism and the size to make noise early on, but it remains to be seen how quickly he can earn a sizable role. The Vikings will likely take a cautious approach.
Jake Golday
That brings second-rounder Golday into focus. He’s officially an off-ball linebacker, but has edge-rushing experience from college. His competition at linebacker is Eric Wilson, while Blake Cashman should be set in the starting unit. Wilson is not impossible to usurp, but he’s the perfect fit for Brian Flores’ system and should be the clear favorite to start in Week 1.
A sneaky opportunity could await on the outside, however. His versatility could open the door for early snaps, as the Vikings have an unfinished outside linebacker depth chart behind starters Andrew Van Ginkel and Dallas Turner.
Domonique Orange
Unlike Banks, who’s set to eventually play a defensive end or three-technique, Orange is a good-old nose tackle. He’s a big, powerful guy who will be tasked with eating up blockers, holding his ground against double teams, and making plays against the run.
That’s hard to do as a rookie and defensive linemen often require some time to improve their strength. Yet, competition is former seventh-rounder Levi Drake Rodriguez, who played a backup role last year. Due to the unsolidified defensive line, Orange could quickly get snaps, but he’s unlikely to make any splash plays. That’s just rarely in the cards for nose tackles.
Jakobe Thomas
While the big defensive tackles get most of the attention, safety Thomas could be a decent bet to be the answer to the early contributing question.
Drafted in the third round, some voices quickly claimed he was a reach, but with plenty of college experience in the back pocket and a fit for Flores’ downhill defense, Thomas could emerge as a steal. His competition isn’t that crazy either, especially if Harrison Smith isn’t back on the team in a couple of months. Jay Ward has mostly been a special-teamer in his first three seasons with the club, while Theo Jackson hardly thrived in an elevated role last year.
Just like the other guys on the list, Thomas might need some time to acclimate to the NFL, but he has a clear path towards a meaningful role when the Vikings take on the Packers in September.
Verdict
If Banks is healthy, he’s the best bet. If he isn’t, Thomas has good chances to be the early face of the rookie class.
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