The Minnesota Vikings are set to kick off rookie minicamp on Friday, May 10th, giving rookies the first time to put on a uniform in the National Football League.
Not only will there be 15 undrafted free agents at rookie minicamp, but there will be non-roster invitees along with the seven selections the Vikings made in the 2024 NFL Draft.
There is a lot of excitement for the Vikings, especially with their quarterback of the future McCarthy set to take his first snaps. Rookie minicamp is an interesting environment that can't be taken the same way like a training camp practice. What can we take from rookie minicamp and what should we be looking for?
What to watch for at Vikings rookie minicamp
J.J. McCarthy dons a Vikings jersey for the first time
This is where fans are going to be the most excited. McCarthy will put on a Vikings helmet and jersey for the first time. You don't want to judge him completely on his performance since he is only 21 years old and not practicing in the same way that will translate. These are the things to watch for:
- Confidence and presence on the field
- Growth during practice
- Cool highlight worthy throws
Growth will always be the most important thing for a rookie quarterback and McCarthy will have a chance to do that over the course of the next few months.
Dallas Turner's movement skills
This is going to be one of the biggest impact players on the Vikings defense in 2024. Turner has incredible movement skills and looks to be a weapon for defensive coordinator Brian Flores. How does he look once he gets onto the practice field? The idea behind drafting Turner is that he just moves differently than other players. Seeing that in person can get you really excited.
Khyree Jackson's position usage
Jackson is a press-man corner who can also thrive in zone coverage. How will the Vikings choose to use him? Will they prioritize Jackson's versatility and play him in the slot or even at safety? What they choose to do in rookie minicamp isn't necessarily what his final position will be, but it could end up being an inside look at what his projection might look like.
Levi Drake Rodriguez's athleticism
When you draft a player from the FCS level, it's important to see what things will look like in terms of athleticism. If there is some really good athleticism, you can expect some sort of translation. Rodriguez is a massive wild card because he played at the FCS level, but played his best football against higher levels of competition. If his athleticism pops at rookie minicamp, there is a level of hope that he will translate.
Gabriel Murphy's athleticism
Remember Ivan Pace Jr. last season? That is what Murphy is going to be this season. His size is somewhat small, but the only real deficiency Murphy has is short arms at 30.5". However, UCLA did a really good job of highlighting his abilities while hiding the arm length deficiency. That is something that Flores can figure out how as well. When that athleticism pops on the field, it will be the start of his journey to the 53-man roster.
