While hearing their name called during the NFL Draft is the dream of every college prospect, some don’t get that luxury.
With just 259 draft picks, more players find themselves waiting after Saturday’s conclusion to find their chance. Often forgotten, these undrafted free agents come into the NFL with limited expectations but high hopes.
Over the years, a laundry list of undrafted free agents have carved out long careers, including former Minnesota Vikings Hall of Fame defensive tackle, John Randle.
This season, the Vikings signed 15 players to an undrafted free-agent deal. These players will go through the off-season program, hoping to make the team’s 53-man roster before the regular season begins.
Here are each of those signings.
TCU iOL Alan Ali
Alan Ali began his career at SMU under current TCU head coach Sonny Dykes. While with the Mustangs, Ali started 43 games over four seasons and three different positions, including both tackle spots.
After Dykes took the TCU head coaching job, Ali entered the transfer portal to follow Dykes. Ali started all 15 games at center for TCU and played 1,017 snaps. After the season, he was named to the All-Big 12 First Team.
The Vikings are likely betting on experience here, which is never a bad bet. The offensive line is one of those spots where experience makes all of the difference.
Ali lacks the prototypical size coaches want from their interior offensive linemen, but his experience shows off on the tape. He understands how and when to climb to the next level and knows where to put his hands to make the most impact. The physical part of the game might limit his NFL impact, but betting on experience is usually a sound strategy.
Illinois iDL Calvin Avery
Calvin Avery is a former four-star prospect and Under Armour All-American who committed to Illinois over 24 other programs that offered him.
While at Illinois, Avery struggled with his weight, which limited him to a rotational role early on. However, after Illinois coaches told him that he would have to stay with strength and conditioning coach Tank Wright to lose weight, Avery lost 30 pounds and became a regular contributor
“I said, ‘Coach Tank, it ain’t [going to] be like that,'” Avery said, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. “‘I’m [going to] get right. It ain’t got to be like that.’ So that right there just set the standard. I was like, ‘Yeah, I’m not [going to] be staying alone with this man.’ That’s pretty much what the real motivation was right there.”
Avery won’t shatter the box scores with his production, but he is a typical 0-tech inside a defense. Avery uses his weight and strength to control multiple gaps, which allows other players along the defensive line to make plays. Often overshadowed and overlooked, players like Avery are critical in helping a defense run.
Marshall LB Abraham Beauplan
Abraham Beauplan began his college career at Navarro Junior College before committing to Marshall over multiple Group of 5 offers.
At Marshall, Beauplan quickly blossomed into one of the defense’s leaders, though he was considered quiet. Beauplan’s demeanor earned him the nickname The Golfer from teammates and staff.
“I call him “The Golfer,” really consistent, really quiet, doesn’t say much,” head coach Charles Huff said about Beauplan. “He just hits good shots. He’s not a very vocal guy and he’s not a ‘rah-rah’ guy, he just doesn’t make a lot of mistakes.”
Beauplan is quick but not fast, as indicated by his 40-yard dash, so he’ll need to continue to learn to utilize his explosiveness to get in the proper positions. He’s better against the run than the pass, likely limiting him to two downs at the next level.
Army EDGE Andre Carter II
Andre Carter II started his high school career as a wide receiver and tight end before moving to the defense, where he found his calling.
In 2021, Carter became Army’s first All-American in 31 years after producing an uber-productive season as a pass rusher. Carter sacked opposing quarterbacks 15.5 sacks while also contributing 18.5 tackles for loss. Carter’s sack numbers dropped in 2022, but he still had some highly-productive games, including a 2.5 sack performance against UTSA.
When committing to Army, Carter mentioned that the opportunity to represent his country in the military played a major factor.
“It was a two-part decision,” Carter told ESPN. “I knew that this place, just being here, is an honor. Serving my country is an honor, and I look forward to serving my country for a long time. But I also knew that you could go to the NFL from here.”
Carter is the definition of a raw prospect. He’s not up to NFL size and doesn’t have a consistent pass-rush plan yet, but there are moments of pure brilliance when Carter is on the field. Like college athletes, Carter will likely need a redshirt year in the NFL before he can make an impact.
Pace OL Jacky Chen
Jacky Chen began playing football in his sophomore year of high school and quickly became a natural, starting two years on varsity at Port Jefferson (N.Y.) High School.
When Chen entered Division II Pace University, he was 240 pounds and a ball of moldable clay. By the end of college, Chen was up to 6-foot-6 and 310 pounds, a solid size profile for an offensive lineman.
Chen earned a high reputation during the pre-draft cycle, with multiple teams drawing interest in his physical profile.
Pace University tape is limited, so it’s hard to find a lot of film on Chen, but NFL scouts believe he has the physical profile and needs to learn the technique to match. Expect Chen to begin on the practice squad if he makes the Vikings.
Oklahoma CB C.J. Coldon
C.J. Coldon began his college career at Wyoming before transferring to Oklahoma for his final season.
While at Wyoming, Coldon battled his fair share of injuries, which kept him off the field. In 2018, Coldon suffered a shoulder injury that knocked him out for the rest of the season. In the third game of the next season, Coldon then tore his ACL.
“Injuries come with the game. It’s just all about what you want at the end of the day,” Coldon told the Belleville News-Democrat. I’m just super grateful to be in this position just really knowing I’m doing what I’ve always wanted to do.”
Last season, Coldon was an All-Big 12 honorable mention and led the team with four interceptions. Coldon also added 43 tackles and six pass breakups.
Coldon prides himself on his versatility, saying he can play inside and outside. Like other players on this list, the Vikings seem to be taking a chance on experience, but Coldon’s poor testing may limit his upside. He may need to carve out a role on special teams to make the 53-man roster.
Cincinnati LB Wilson Huber
Cincinnati Bearcats football runs in Huber’s family — his father attended the school, as did his grandfather and great-grandfather. His father was a tight end in the 1980s and a team captain in his senior season.
“They brought me home in a UC onesie, so I’ve been a UC fan my entire life,” Huber told WLWT in Cincinnati
Huber began his career as a tight end but moved to linebacker early. While playing as a reserve linebacker, Huber made his name on special teams, blocking three games over his college career.
Huber’s Pro Day showcased elite explosion and great size, which should help on the punt block team. Given his limitations on defense, Huber will have to earn his roster spot on special teams.
Southeastern Louisiana WR Cephus Johnson
Cephus Johnson began his career at South Alabama as a quarterback, throwing for 900 yards and five touchdowns as a sophomore.
Johnson then transferred to Southeastern Louisiana, where he played wide receiver and quarterback. Last season, Johnson threw for 1,354 yards and ten touchdowns while also rushing for five scores.
Johnson is transitioning to wide receiver in the NFL, but the Vikings may attempt to give him a hybrid role. At 6-foot-5 and 220 pounds, Johnson has the size to transition to wide receiver, but that transition is never guaranteed to work.
Kansas State WR Malik Knowles
Malik Knowles was a two-sport athlete in high school, playing football and running track and field. In 2015, Knowles set a personal best of 12.70 seconds in the 100-meter dash.
Knowles committed to Kansas State for football and showcased his value on offense and special teams. As a redshirt freshman, Knowles returned a kick for a 100-yard touchdown against Mississippi State.
In his final season, Knowles earned All-Big 12 Second Team honors, catching 48 passes for 725 and two touchdowns. He also returned 23 kickoffs for 592 yards.
Knowles has great size for the wide receiver position but will likely need to earn his roster spot via special teams. On offense, Knowles has the upside to be a vertical threat on the outside, where he can use his athleticism and explosion to create advantageous matchups.
Cincinnati LB Ivan Pace Jr.
Ivan Pace Jr. began his college career at Miami (OH) but transferred to his hometown of Cincinnati to finish his career.
In one season with the Bearcats, Pace quickly became one of the best linebackers in the nation and became the first Bearcat to be a unanimous All-American. Pace finished the season with 137 tackles, including 21.5 for a loss and ten sacks.
Coming out of high school, Pace was underlooked, earning just three FBS offers. According to Mike Tressel, his defensive coordinator at Cincinnati, Pace was underrecruited because “coaches are chickens.”
“It’s OK to make a mistake on a 6-foot-4 linebacker because then it’s not your fault as the coach, right? It’s the kid not living up to his potential or whatever,” Tressel told the Athletic. “But if you make a mistake on a 6-foot linebacker, then you’re an idiot as a coach.”
Pace measured under 6 feet during the pre-draft process, making him incredibly undersized for a linebacker. However, Pace makes up for the size with nearly unprecedented strength and toughness. Pace is one of the best pass-rushing linebackers in the NFL Draft, and that skillset should help him find a way onto the Vikings’ 53-man roster.
Georgia K Jack Podlesny
A man of many nicknames, Jack Podlesny was often referred to as Hot Pod, an ode to former Georgia kicker Rodrigo Blankenship.
Despite walking on to the Georgia program, Podlesny replaced Blankenship, who moved on to the NFL, as the starting kicker. Over his three-year career as the starter, Podlesny made 82% of his field goal attempts. In 2020, Podlesny hit his career-long of 53 yards.
Podlesny will have to beat out incumbent starter Greg Joseph for the team’s kicking job. Beating out Joseph will be Podlesny’s only chance at earning a roster spot because the Vikings will not keep two kickers on their 53-man roster.
Baylor TE Ben Sims
Ben Sims likely won’t put up gaudy numbers in the receiving game, but he will find work as a run blocker.
At Baylor, Sims was often utilized as a key blocker in their zone-based scheme, and he earned an All-Big 12 Honorable Mention in 2021.
During Big 12 Media Days, Sims told the media that he looked up to San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle, who also plays in a wide zone scheme.
“So I like to watch a lot of film on the San Francisco 49ers because what they do is very similar to how we run our wide zone scheme,” Sims said. “But Kittle, you can see when he blocks he has an intent to him. He doesn’t just get in the way, he wants to dominate you and he wants to put you on your back and he wants to be the guy that’s making that wide zone play work.”
Sims likely won’t be an immediate starter for the Vikings, but there’s a chance that he can earn a roster spot as a blocking tight end. There isn’t a team in the NFL that’s not looking to improve their blocking, and Sims has experience blocking in a wide zone scheme, which the Vikings utilize.
NC State WR Thayer Thomas
Thayer Thomas joined the NC State football team as a priority walk-on, but it didn’t take long for him to earn a full-ride scholarship. After just one season on the roster, Thomas earned a scholarship and quickly became a rotational wide receiver.
Last season, Thomas hauled in a career-high 642 yards and added four touchdowns. Thomas also returned punts throughout his career, even returning one for a touchdown in 2019.
Thomas was also an outfielder on NC State’s baseball team, hitting .222 in 2019. Against Pittsburgh, Thomas went 2-for-2 with a double and a home run. After that season, the Boston Red Sox selected him in the 33rd round of the MLB Draft, but he chose to pursue football.
Thomas lacks an imposing physical profile, but his special teams’ experience could help him earn a role on the Vikings roster. After that, Thomas will have to rely on his steady hands and vision to find a spot inside the offense.
Georgia Southern CB NaJee Thompson
NaJee Thompson made his name in college on special teams, playing 791 special teams snaps over his career. In 2021, Thompson was named to Pro Football Network’s All-American team as a special teams player.
“NaJee Thompson is an unbelievable special teams player,” Georgia Southern special teams coordinator Turner West said. “He does it in practice and he did it in every game he played in last year. He’s the same guy every day.”
Last season, Thompson also saw a career-high 557 snaps on defense as a cornerback. Thompson had his best game against Old Dominion, posting three pass breakups in the win. Against South Alabama, Thompson hauled in an interception, the second of his career.
Thompson was a two-time state champion in the 200 and 400 meters and currently holds the South Carolina state record in the 200-meter.
Thompson will have to earn his roster spot via special teams, but he embraced that in college, giving him valuable experience. Expect him to work on the punt team in the preseason.
Indiana CB Jaylin Williams
Few players experienced more ups and downs in college football than Jaylin Williams. During the COVID-19 shortened season, Indiana won six games but followed that up by going 2-10 the next season.
Although Williams could have entered the transfer portal or the NFL Draft, he chose to return to Indiana for his final season.
“I just felt like I wasn’t done, and it’s not in me just to run away from the grind,” said Williams. “Just coming off the season that we had, that just gave me even more reason to stay. That made me want to stay literally even more because I’m honestly not done here with my time at IU, so I just want to show the world what we can do.”
In 2020, Williams had his best statistical season, intercepting four passes and defending an additional five. Over his career, Williams finished with 152 tackles and six interceptions.
Williams has shown that he can be aggressive at the catch point, but his lack of prototypical size may push him inside in the NFL. That may limit Williams’s chances to make the 53-man roster because the Vikings have a few players who can play slot cornerback. As a result, Williams will need to rely on his special teams experience to help find a spot on the 53-man roster.
