With training camp finally underway and the Minnesota Vikings' preseason kicking off next Saturday, roster cuts will slowly take place, and teams will take shape over the following weeks as they dwindle their rosters from 90 to 53.
Every year, surprise roster cuts across the league occur, and players emerge to secure spots on the team with solid showings in practice and games. Entering the season, the Vikings have an abundance of young talent that could steal roster spots from veteran players over the next few weeks.
The Vikings' preseason debut is August 10th against the Las Vegas Raiders, and here are three players that Vikings fans should familiarize themselves with. They could be on the 53-man roster when it is announced.
Gabriel Murphy: Outside Linebacker
There is a reason the Minnesota Vikings gave Gabriel Murphy $245,000 in contract guarantees as an undrafted free agent. The team expects him to make the roster, and early on in training camp, he is making quite the impression early on.
Vikings undrafted rookie OLB Gabriel Murphy just had a sack and a tipped ball at the line to end a situational 1-min drill as a win for the second-team defense. He’s having a strong camp
— Will Ragatz (@WillRagatz) August 2, 2024
Murphy going undrafted was a surprise to many this past April (similar to Ivan Pace Jr going undrafted in 2023), and Minnesota quickly got him locked up after the draft concluded. Murphy is proving early on in training camp why Minnesota spent the extra money to bring him in. He has showcased his pass-rushing upside throughout his first week of training camp and also has flashed his high-level athletic ability using speed and quickness around the edges. Murphy looks like a safe bet to make the initial 53-man roster.
Dwight McGlothern: Cornerback
The Vikings have had a turnstile at cornerback for the last several seasons, and it has continued this offseason after the tragic passing of rookie Khryee Jackson and Mekhi Blackmon's knee injury that will force him to miss the entire season. The Vikings have brought in veterans Bobby McCain and Fabian Moreau, but another young defensive back is making a lot of noise early on in training camp.
Undrafted free agent cornerback Dwight McGlothern has showcased phenomenal fundamental skills in training camp while also being hyper-aggressive in going after the football in the air. McGlothern, the former LSU Tiger and Arkansas Razorback possesses ideal size and length for an NFL cornerback at 6-foot-2 and 185 pounds. He has taken advantage of the opportunities he has received with the first-team defense, although not many. McGlothern is outperforming players like Andrew Booth Jr. and Jaylin Williams, who are sitting on the roster bubble.
Vikings rookie CB Dwight McGlothern pic.twitter.com/0k7OpEfK6c
— Sean Borman (@SeanBormanNFL) August 1, 2024
With the injuries the Vikings have faced on the backend, McGlothern’s impressive play makes him an intriguing player for the team to look into keeping.
Lucky Jackson: Wide Receiver
The Vikings' receiver room is one of the deepest in the league, and part of that is because Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison are one of the better duos in football. However, the depth behind them has had a strong showing in training camp. Veteran Brandon Powell and third-year receiver Jalen Nailor look like locks for the roster’s third and fourth receiver spots, but after them, there is a plethora of talent fighting for what could only be two spots at receiver.
Trishton Jackson and Trent Sherfield are the likely candidates for the final two receiver room spots, but veteran Lucky Jackson has had a strong camp and could challenge those two for one of the final roster spots.
Not sure if this got posted yesterday…JJ McCarthy working against the Vikings 1st team defense…perfect back shoulder throw to Lucky Jackson.
— Leighton Glodek (@LGlodek) August 1, 2024
McCarthy and his teammates PUMPED! #skol pic.twitter.com/wHDNWAkDAw
A 27-year-old veteran, Jackson joined the Vikings' active roster in the summer of 2023 after playing in the UFL (then-XFL) with the D.C. Defenders the spring before. Jackson maintained a spot on the Vikings roster that season and appeared in three games. Jackson is making plays while playing with the 2nd-team offense, and if he has a strong preseason showing in the next couple of weeks, he could be a valuable player for the Vikings special teams unit.
