The Minnesota Vikings are firmly entrenched in OTAs and are progressing toward training camp at TCO Performance Center. This will be the third season under head coach Kevin O'Connell and general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah while also being a turning point in the future of the organization.
To prepare for the pivotal 2024 season, we will break down each player on the 90-man roster leading up to training camp. In this series, we will look into their background, scheme fit, best and worst case scenario along with what to expect from each player. It will also help gain more insight on each player going into the year, especially with players who haven't gotten much fanfare.
Is Will Reichard the savior at kicker for Vikings?
Background
Reichard was a three-star recruit out of national powerhouse Hoover, Alabama where he picked Alabama over the likes of Georgia, Oklahoma and LSU. After playing in just five games his freshman season due to injuries, Reichard was the guy at kicker the rest of his career. Reichard finished his career at Alabama as the NCAA's career points leader at 547 points. He also made 70% of his field goals from 50+ yards which is plus for a kicker.
Scheme fit
Scheme fit isn't necessarily something that matters for kickers. Can you be successful or not is the question.
Best case scenario
Coming in with the highest investment, Reichard comes to training camp and puts on a clinic. He matches the praise that some on the beat have given him, including showcasing a big leg which wasn't shown during his college days. He completely outshines John Parker Romo and wins the job handily.
Worst case scenario
The weaker leg that Reichard displayed at Alabama continues to hinder him. Having not made a single field goal more than 52 yards, he continues to struggle and gets beaten out by Romo for the job.
What to expect in 2024
The Vikings investing kicker in the NFL Draft was a little bit of a surprise. They haven't had a lot of success in drafting a kicker over the last 15 years. Blair Walsh was a success immediately but struggled after the 2015 season where he shanked a 27-yard field goal in the playoffs against the Seattle Seahawks.
The Vikings strongly believe in Reichard and he is a technically sound player at the kicker position. Reichard losing out on the job would be a big surprise, especially since he was hand-picked by the Vikings.
Previous player profiles
Devron Harper | Ty James | Trey Knox | Gabriel Murphy | Dwight McGlothern | Dallas Gant | Doug Nester | Jeshaun Jones | Taki Taimani | Jeremy Flax | Spencer Rolland | Tyler Manoa | Bo Richter | Jaren Hall | Lucky Jackson | K.J. Cloyd | Levi Drake Rodriquez | Michael Jurgens | Walter Rouse
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