New Minnesota Vikings safety Jakobe Thomas can apparently “do everything.” The club drafted him in Round 3 this offseason, and he’s the first return on the Jonathan Greenard trade, followed by another 3rd-round pick in 2027.
Minnesota’s safety pecking order is a bit unclear in mid-July, mainly because of Harrison Smith’s status, but regardless of the outcome, Thomas should see action in Brian Flores’s defense sooner rather than later.
The Traits That Make Thomas a Fit for Brian Flores
Pete Bercich Sees a Complete Safety
Bercich, a former Viking, broke down Thomas’s tape last week on the Vikings’ YouTube channel, anticipating training camp, which starts next week, and the regular season, which is less than eight weeks away. He highlighted Thomas’s versatility, among other strengths.
“Thomas can do everything. He can blitz off the edge. He can play the deep middle. He can rob the middle of the field. This guy is a beast in the middle of the field. This guy is dangerous as a blitzer off the edge of the defense,” Bercich declared.
“This guy is dangerous as a blitzer off the edge of the defense. He never abandons the opportunity to make a play just because the defense says he needs to be somewhere. All of these attributes … are going to make him a very, very big contributor to the Vikings defense in 2026.”
The breakdown from Bercich is especially encouraging because Round 3 safeties should expect to see playing time as rookies. Over the last four years, the Vikings have drafted oodles of rookies who struggle to see action in their first year. If Bercich’s analysis is correct, Thomas won’t follow the same naughty pattern.
The Scouting Report
Thomas is 6’2″ and 200 pounds. He has adequate size for an NFL safety and won’t be one of the guys who lacks the requisite tools to succeed. At Miami in 2025, he banked 76 total tackles in 16 games, along with 3.5 sacks, 5 interceptions, and 2 forced fumbles. Aligning with Bercich’s assessment, the statistical output highlights the versatility claim.
The Athletic‘s Dane Brugler noted on Thomas before the draft, “Against the run and in coverage, Thomas is champing at the bit to make plays. He reads it, triggers and looks to tune up ball carriers. He plays a lot more physically than he looks, although his aggressiveness can be a double-edged sword and lead to over-pursuit or missed tackles.”
“He tracks the quarterback well from depth with ball skills but will overthink route concepts and isn’t as effective once he turns his back to the ball. Thomas is a passionate competitor, which can lead to missteps but will also put him in position to play fast and make plays. He has the floor of a special-teamer and the potential to earn a starting role.”
Thomas can do a little bit of everything – – just what the doctor ordered to jell with Flores’s modus operandi.
Where Thomas Fits in 2026
Now, the tricky part: if the aforementioned Smith does not return – – nobody knows if he’s coming back or if he’s quietly retired – – the Vikings have Josh Metellus, Jay Ward, Theo Jackson, and Tavierre Thomas who probably all expect to make the 53-man roster. Thomas’s emergence at training camp and in the preseason could actually put Jackson on the roster bubble.
But Thomas is not walking into a situation that demands him to play immediately. He can watch and learn behind Metellus and Ward – – or Smith – – and ease his way into the action. The question becomes: how much playing time will he get? Tennessee Titans safety Kevin Winston, a 3rd-rounder from the 2025 NFL Draft, played 313 defensive snaps as a rookie. Jonas Sanker (3rd-round safety in 2025) of the New Orleans Saints played over 900 snaps on defense. Another 3rd-rounder from last year, Atlanta Falcons safety Xavier Watts, damn near played 1,100.
A reasonable bet for Thomas would likely be the 300-400 range, especially if Smith doesn’t return, or about one-third of the time.
Why Flores Could Use Him Early
Keep in mind: the Vikings didn’t have an official general manager during April’s draft. Interim boss Rob Brzezinski ran the show. Kwesi Adofo-Mensah had been fired in January, and Minnesota did not replace him until early June. Some believe that head coach Kevin O’Connell and Flores had more input than usual, possibly leading to more Thomas playing time out of the gate.
Flores may have picked the groceries on defense. He should let Thomas cook.
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VikesNow Verdict: Thomas has enough versatility to earn a rotational role instantly, but Minnesota does not need to force him into a full-time job. His best rookie path is special teams plus a flexible defensive package that lets him blitz, patrol deep zones, and rob the middle. If the instincts Bercich highlighted translate quickly, Thomas could become a meaningful piece of Flores’s defense before the season ends. That’s the goal.
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