The 40 Most Important Vikings of 2026: No. 30 — Jakobe Thomas

The countdown means a little extra on Tuesday, as Minnesota Vikings players report to Eagan for training camp. That means the regular season is not far away. At No. 31, rookie cornerback Charles Demmings checked in, and another rookie is on deck at No. 30: safety Jakobe Thomas.

Thomas could grab defensive snaps early as a rookie, especially if longtime safety Harrison Smith remains “retired.”

Why Jakobe Thomas Could Matter Right Away

Thomas’s Role in 2026

Did the Vikings sign Jamal Adams, a once-upon-a-time All-Pro safety, on Monday? Yes. Yes, they did. Is Adams a safety anymore? No, he is not. Outwardly, it might’ve seemed like Adams’s arrival could affect Thomas – – and the rest of the Vikings’ safeties’ – – playing time. But with Adams firmly listed as a linebacker on the Vikings’ roster, Thomas’s role remains the same as a rookie – – fight for playing time amid names like Josh Metellus, Jay Ward, and Theo Jackson.

Unless the rookie barnstorms training camp, he likely won’t start in September, but that doesn’t mean he’ll be excluded from Brian Flores’s defense. There’s a real path for Thomas, especially as a 3rd-rounder. That’s high enough draft stock to get a look early in the regular season.

What Success Looks Like

Thomas must make the most of his probably-modest snaps – – seize the day. Metellus is a shoo-in starter, but after him, it’s unclear if Ward or Jackson will get the lion’s share of work. The opportunity is ripe for a hungry rookie like Thomas to stand up and make a name for himself.

Like most rookies, for the Vikings and around the NFL, Thomas must show that he belongs in the NFL – – that he was worth the 3rd-round selection in April.

The Athletic‘s Alec Lewis wrote about Thomas on Monday, “The Vikings were elated to land Thomas in the third round of the draft. His smarts, aggressiveness and blitzing ability should make him a viable option as a rookie.”

What Could Make This Ranking Look Too Low – – or Too High

Thomas can poke around the Top 25 if his snap count mirrors that of a starter — any amount over 400 would likely catapult him into the Top 25. It’s just unclear in July and August if that’s on the menu.

Sadly, the Vikings have a plentiful recent history of not involving rookies in the defensive game plan, and if that happens to Thomas, well, No. 30 on the preseason list of most important Vikings would seem to grandiose.

Minnesota has a vested interest in rookies panning out because, as of late, only a few notable examples exist: Will Reichard, Jordan Addison, Dallas Turner, Levi Drake Rodriguez, and perhaps Donovan Jackson. Thomas is one of the latest tests to determine if the Vikings have turned the corner on their subpar drafting habits.

NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein on Thomas before the draft: “Thomas is wired to play forward and race into the action wherever it is present. He overflows pursuit and has too many missed or broken tackles on his stat sheet, but his impact against the run is a net positive.”

“He has good ball production but is fairly average in coverage. He can be way too quick to overlap or bite on bait, which allows receivers to get behind him from single-high and split-safety alignments. Thomas has the potential to develop into a starter as a likely middle-round pick.”

Next in the Countdown

Thomas is in the books, and fans will begin to gain clarity on his 2026 role at training camp, which is underway. Here’s the list so far:

TE2 Josh Oliver is the next man up as VikesNow tunnels through the Top 30. He’s the Vikings’ main blocking tight end and is back for Year No. 4 in the Twin Cities.

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VikesNow Verdict: Thomas probably won’t start immediately, but his third-round pedigree and versatility give him a legitimate path to meaningful defensive snaps in Flores’s defense.
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About The Author

Dustin Baker

Dustin Baker is the co-founder and editor of VikesNow, a novelist, a writer at CBS Sports, and a political scientist. His second novel, The Invaders, is out now, along with his debut thriller, The Motor Route. He hosts VikesNow on YouTube and has followed the Minnesota Vikings intently since 1996. Guilty pleasures include peanut butter ice cream, The Sopranos, Basset Hounds, and The Doors.

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