J.J. McCarthy heads list of 8 Vikings who have caught our attention this spring
As the Vikings get set to wrap up minicamp on Thursday, here's a look at eight players who have stood out as they try to earn jobs or move up the depth chart.
The Vikings completed the second day of their three-day minicamp on Wednesday with a shorter session that featured extensive red zone work in both 7-on-7 and full-team drills. This marked the fourth offseason practice that was open to the media.
With one day of minicamp left, and training camp opening late next month, here are eight players who have caught our attention:
J.J. McCarthy: The Vikings might have kicked the tires on Aaron Rodgers during the offseason but it’s now full steam ahead with McCarthy as the starter. McCarthy has gotten the majority of the snaps and displayed the type of arm strength that some draft experts claimed he didn’t have coming out of Michigan. McCarthy’s most impressive throws are the intermediate ones over the middle. On those passes, he combines a strong arm with accuracy. This could make McCarthy and Justin Jefferson a dangerous combination for opposing defenses. It also could result in a big season for tight end T.J. Hockenson.
Jalen Nailor: Entering the final season of his rookie contract, the wide receiver known as “Speedy” reported for offseason workouts looking as if had added substantial muscle. Nailor, who had 28 receptions for 414 yards with six touchdowns in 2024, knows this season is a key one for him. He figures to be the No. 3 wide receiver behind Jefferson and Jordan Addison, but Addison could face a multi-game suspension by the NFL after he was charged with DUI in California last July after allegedly falling asleep behind the wheel on a Los Angeles freeway. If Addison misses time, Nailor would be second on the depth chart. Nailor also will be an unrestricted free agent after the season and could land a lucrative contract elsewhere. Of course, first he must have success with his current club.
Jeff Okudah: The third pick in the 2020 draft by the Detroit Lions, the cornerback has battled injuries during a career that also has included stops in Atlanta and Houston. Last season, Okudah battled a quadriceps injury that limited him to six games. He played only 77 defensive snaps as the majority of his time came on special teams. It appears that might change in Minnesota — assuming Okudah can stay on the field. He signed a one-year, $2.35 million free agent contract with the Vikings — $1.17 million is fully guaranteed — but has been getting first-team reps as an outside corner in the nickel defense. Mekhi Blackmon, who is returning from a season-ending ACL tear suffered in training camp last summer, is likely to compete with Okudah in training camp, but clearly the Vikings feel Okudah has something left.