Every training camp produces a handful of players who suddenly become impossible to ignore. Some exceed expectations, others take advantage of new opportunities, and a few simply make play after play until everyone is talking about them.
The Minnesota Vikings haven’t held their first training camp practice yet, but it’s not too early to predict who could generate the most buzz over the next few weeks. Here are the players I expect to emerge as this summer’s biggest camp standouts.
1. Dallas Turner
Sure, he’s not a hidden gem as a first-round pick from two years ago with a breakout season in his rearview mirror, but he’ll still get a ton of buzz over the next few weeks. All eyes will be on him as a new starter following Jonathan Greenard’s exit and he’s just the kind of player that stars in practice settings with limited contact. Why? Because he’s lightning fast. Turner ran a 4.46 40-yard dash at the scouting combine and will be a problem for Minnesota’s offensive tackles, especially those in the second-team offense.
2. Tai Felton
Drafted in the third round in 2025, Tai Felton had a quiet rookie season with only three receptions. He spent most of the year on special teams, where he did quite well under the radar. As a sophomore, however, his goal is to push for offensive reps. That’ll be hard given the state of the wideout position, but he has the athleticism to make some noise before and after the catch.
Coming out, Felton was a raw player. A year later, he has learned a thing or two from WR coach Keenan McCardell and will put it to the test against the corners.
3. Zemaiah Vaughn
One of those corners is Zemaiah Vaughn, who was a camp standout last year. The undrafted sophomore was on the practice squad all year and worked on his craft behind the scenes. He’s a true physical specimen, combining size and speed to be a pest for wideouts.
The splash plays were there last year and he’ll build on that.
4. Jordan Addison
Back to the offensive side of the boundary battles, Jordan Addison is another prominent player on the list. He’s already an established weapon, but there’s still some untapped potential. Every summer, Addison is turning heads and he will once again.
An intriguing element is that he has already tried to build a bond with new passer Kyler Murray and covering him has always been a nightmare. Expect a heavy dose of Addison deep-bomb highlights.
5. Demond Claiborne
Running backs generally struggle to stand out in training camp because tackling is limited, but rookie Demond Claiborne will still raise eyebrows. Vision and the ability to absorb contact could be problems in his game, but those aspects won’t be on display. Speed will. Claiborne brings 4.3 speed to the table, allowing him to attack holes and angles other players can’t.
6. Levi Drake Rodriguez
A guy who’s not here to make those splashy plays but to prevent them is Levi Drake Rodriguez, Minnesota’s third-year defensive tackle. The former seventh-rounder will come into focus simply because the defensive line is unproven. Javon Hargrave and Jonathan Allen are gone and a couple of rookies will take their place in the rotation next to Jalen Redmond.
But there’s the steady Rodriguez, who did a solid job as a rotational nose tackle a year ago and will continue to get looks from the Vikings. A quick first step and smart, assignment-sound football will help him emerge in the trenches.
7. Dillon Bell
Basically this year’s Zemaiah Vaughn, Dillon Bell has already gotten a ton of buzz in spring practice, standing out as a playmaker. Receivers always find a way to create highlight reels in August and Bell will do just that.
The Georgia product went undrafted in April, but the Vikings snagged him. At this point, it would hardly be surprising to see him be part of the 53-man roster in a few weeks.
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