Monday, June 16, 2014

How hard is it to make the Vikings roster?

Daniel House analyzes the numbers and shows you how difficult it is to make the Vikings roster as an undrafted free agent. Brace yourselves, the numbers will shock you.


Updated: June 16th, 2014 1:10pm

By: Daniel House


I decided to analyze all of the 118 undrafted players the Vikings have signed since Rick Spielman joined the team in 2006. I did so in an effort to show the difficulty a player faces to make a roster in the league. The numbers are rather staggering and bring back great memories of some of the players that were on the sidelines for a short time in Mankato. When you evaluate players at training camp, take a look at the trends and try to decide how many undrafted rookies really have a chance to make the roster via the practice squad or the active 53-man roster.


2006 Undrafted Rookie Class

Albert Stinson, OT, Jackson State- 0 years
Jason Carter, WR, Texas A&M- 0 years
Hank Baskett, WR, New Mexico, 5 years- Eagles, Colts, Vikings- returned in 2010, was released in training camp in 2006
Steven Jackson, FB, Clemson- 0 years
Taurean Henderson, HB, Texas Tech- 0 years
John Torp, P, Colorado- 0 years
Jason Palermo, C/G, Wisconsin- 0 years
Charles Gordon, CB, Kansas- 3 years with Vikings 
Donald Penn, OT, Utah State- cut in training camp by Vikings, 8 years in league with Tampa Bay
Kyle Smith, WR, Youngstown State- 0 years
Robert Cobbs, CB, Massachusetts- 0 years
Wendell Mathis, HB, Fresno State- 1 year on practice squad, promotion to 53-man and later released
Jayme Mitchell, DE, Mississippi- 5 years with Vikings, 2 years with the Browns, 1 year with the Bucs
Kyle McKenzie, LB, Minnesota- 0 years
Barrick Nealy, WR, Texas State- 0 years, released by the Vikings in training camp

Percent that make 53-man roster with Vikings: 13%
Percent that made another team's roster: 13%
Percent that made Vikings practice squad: 6.6%
Percent that lasted more than 5 years in the league: 13%

2007 Undrafted Rookie Class


Joe Anoai, DT, Georgia Tech- 0 years
Conrad Bolston, DT, Maryland- 12 weeks on practice squad with Vikings, half season with Packers 
Joe Bradley, DT, Louisiana-Lafettye- 0 years
Jeremy Burnett, DB, South Florida- waived in training camp
Kyle Cook, OG, Michigan State- waived in training camp, 7 years with Bengals
Josh Day, OT, Colorado State- 0 years
Sergio Gilliam, CB, Clemson- waived in training camp
George Hall, LB, Purdue- 0 years
David Herron, LB, Michigan State- waived in training camp, returned to Vikings for 2 seasons
Braden Jones, TE, Southern Illinois- 2 years on practice squad
Dan Mozes, C, West Virginia- 2 years with Vikings 
Arkee Whitlock, RB, Southern Illinois- 1 year on Vikings practice squad
Chase Johnson, OT, Wyoming- 2 years with Vikings 
Brian Daniels, OG, Colorado- 3 years with Vikings 
Alex Reyes, P, Texas Tech- 0 years

Percent that make 53-man roster with Vikings: 20%
Percent that made another team's roster: 13%
Percent that made Vikings practice squad: 20%
Percent that lasted more than 5 years in the league: 6.6%

2008 Undrafted Rookie Class

J Leman, LB, Illinois- 9 years on Practice Squads with Vikings, Panthers, Eagles, Chargers, and Raiders
Husain Abdullah, S, Washington State- 4 years with Vikings, 1 with Chiefs
Martail Burnett, DE, Utah- 1 year with 49ers
Leger Douzable, DT, UCF- Practice Squad with Vikings in 2008, 6 years with Giants, Rams, Lions, Jags, Titans, and Jets
Marcus Griffin, S, Texas- 0 years
Steven Hauschka, K, NC State- waived in training camp, 7 years with Baltimore, Detroit, Denver, and Seattle
Nate Jones, WR, Texas- waived in training camp, 2 years with Rams
Travis Key, CB, Michigan State- waived in training camp, 1 year with the Colts
Tim Mattran, C, Stanford- on Vikings practice squad, practice squad stints for 3 years with the Rams, Jags, and Raiders
Drew Radovich, OT, USC- 2008 with Vikings, practice squad with Colts and 49ers, 2009 with Vikings 
Darius Reynaud, WR, WVU- 2 years with Vikings, 2 years with Giants, 2 years with Titans, 1 year with Jets
Brandon Sumrall, CB, Southern Miss- Practice Squad with Vikings in 2008, Practice Squad with Bucs, Colts, and Giants
Marcus Walker, CB, Oklahoma- waived by Vikings in camp, 3 years with Panthers
Kyle Wright, QB, Miami- 0 years
Albert Young, RB, Iowa- 3 years with Vikings, practice squad (1 year) with Jags and Steelers
Tom Busch, FB, Iowa- 0 years
Matt Roan, C, Southern Utah- 0 years
Brandon Joyce, OT, Illinois St.- 0 years
Erin Henderson, LB, Maryland- 6 years with Vikings 
AJ Raebel, LB, Wisconsin – Whitewater- 0 years
Jeff Fielder, TE, Minnesota State-Mankato- 0 years

Percent that make 53-man roster with Vikings: 24%
Percent that made another team's roster: 14.2%
Percent that made Vikings practice squad: 19%
Percent that last more than 5 years in the league: 29%

2009 Undrafted Rookie Class

Colt Anderson, S, Montana- 2 years on practice squad, 4 years with the Eagles, currently with Colts
Kahlil Bell, RB, UCLA- waived in training camp, 5 years with Bears, Jets, and Packers
Jon Cooper, C, Oklahoma- 3 years with Vikings, 1 practice squad year with the Titans
Robert Francois, LB, Boston College- waived in training camp, 6 years with the Packers
Sean Glennon, QB, Virginia Tech- 1 year on practice squad with Vikings
Devon Hall, S, Utah State- waived in training camp, 1 year split with Colts and Bucs
Antoine Holmes, DT, NC State- 1 year with Vikings 
Tremaine Johnson, DT, LSU- 3 years on Vikings practice squad
Andy Kemp, G, Wisconsin- 0 years
Bobby Lepori, OT, Fresno State- 0 years
Nick Moore, WR, Toledo- 1 year on practice squad with Vikings 
Nick Walker, TE, Alabama- 0 years

Percent that make 53-man roster with Vikings: 8.3%
Percent that made another team's roster: 25%
Percent that made Vikings practice squad: 25%
Percent that last more than 5 years in the league: 25%

2010 Undrafted Rookie Class

R.J. Archer, QB, William & Mary- waived in training camp
Thomas Austin, OG, Clemson- waived in training camp, 4 years with Patriots, Texans, Panthers, Colts
Matt Hanson, OT, Midwestern State- 0 years
Tommy Hernandez, C, Cal-Davis- 0 years
Aaron Rhea, WR, Stephen F. Austin- waived in training camp, 1 year with Buffalo
Ryan Perriloux, QB, Jacksonville State- failed to make training camp roster
Terrell Skinner, S, Maryland- 1 season with Vikings 
Ray Small, WR, Ohio State- 0 years
Kelton Tindal, WR,  Newberry- 0 years
Angelo Williams, CB, Ferris State- waived in training camp
Marlon Winn, OT, Texas Tech- waived in training camp

Percent that make 53-man roster with Vikings: 9%
Percent that made another team's roster: 18%
Percent that made Vikings practice squad: 0%

2011 Undrafted Rookie Class

Chris Adingupu, S, Prairie View A&M- 0 years
David Akinniyi, DE, NC State- 0 years
Conan Amituanai, OG, Arizona- waived in training camp
Matt Asiata, RB, Utah- 3 years with Vikings 
Larry Dean, LB, Valdosta State- 3 years with Vikings
Marcell Gipson, CB, Wyoming- waived in training camp
Ryan Hill, S, Miami (Fla.)- waived in training camp
Andre Holmes, WR, Hillsdale- waived in training camp, 2 years with Cowboys, 1 with Raiders
Rod Huntley, OG, UTEP- 0 years
Byron Isom, G, Auburn- waived in training camp
Dominique Johnson, WR, Cal Poly- 0 years
Allen Reisner, FB/TE, Iowa- 2 years with Vikings, 2 years with Jags, back with Vikings in 2014
Devon Torrence, CB, Ohio State- waived in training camp
Nathan Whitaker, K, Stanford- waived in training camp

Percent that make 53-man roster with Vikings: 36%
Percent that made another team's roster: 14%
Percent that made Vikings practice squad: 0%

2012 Undrafted Rookie Class

Chase Baker, DT, Boise State- 1 year on practice squad, 1 year on active roster
Derrick Coleman, RB, UCLA- waived in training camp, 2 years with Seahawks
Kevin Cyrille, DE, Florida Atlantic- waived in mini-camp 
Bobby Felder, CB, Nicholls State- 1 year on Vikings practice squad, 1 year with Bucs
Kamar Jorden, WR, Bowling Green- waived in training camp, back with Vikings in 2014
Eric Latimore, DE, Penn State- 0 years
Tyler Nielsen, LB, Iowa- waived in training camp 
Ernest Owusu, DE, California- waived in training camp, resigned to practice squad, two years on practice squad with the Bucs
Austin Pasztor, G, Virginia- waived in training camp, two years with Jags
Tydreke Powell, DT, North Carolina- 0 years
Terrell Resonno, DT, Missouri- 0 years
Quentin Saulsberry, C, Mississippi State- waived in training camp, 1 year on Broncos practice squad
Darrion Weems, OT, Oregon- waived in training camp, 2 years with the Cowboys
C.C. Whitlock, CB, South Carolina- 0 years

Percent that make 53-man roster with Vikings: 0%
Percent that made another team's roster: 28.5%
Percent that made Vikings practice squad: 14.2%

2013 Undrafted Rookie Class

James Vandenberg, QB, Iowa- waived in training camp
Erik Highsmith, WR, North Carolina- waived in training camp
Nicholas Edwards, WR, Eastern Washington- 0 years
Brandan Bishop, S, NC State- 1 year on practice squad, on 2014 roster
Bradley Randle, RB, UNLV- 2 practice squad stints, short stint on 2014 roster
Jerodis Williams, RB Furman- waived in training camp 
Colin Anderson, TE, Furman- waived in training camp 
Zach Line, FB, SMU- injured reserve, on 2014 roster
Darius Eubanks, S, Georgia Southern- waived in training camp
Nathan Williams, LB, Ohio State- waived in training camp
Camden Wentz, C, NC State- waived in training camp 
Marquis Jackson, DE, Portland State- waived in training camp 
Mark Jackson, T, Glenville State- 0 years
Collins Ukwu, DE, Kentucky- waived in training camp 
Anthony McCloud, DT, Florida State- waived in training camp, 1 year with Arizona Cardinals
Rodney Smith, WR, Florida State- 1 year on practice squad, on 2014 roster
Adam Thielen, WR, Minnesota State-Mankato- 1 year on practice squad, on 2014 roster

Percent that make 53-man roster with Vikings: 0%
Percent that made another team's roster: 5.8%
Percent that made Vikings practice squad: 23.5%


As you can see an undrafted rookie faces a steep uphill battle to make the roster of the team that signs them. Practice squad is certainly an option, but the odds are less than 25%. Since Rick Spielman joined the team in 2006, undrafted rookies have a small percentage chance of making the team in a small cap.

Of the 118 players since 2006:

Percent that make 53-man roster with Vikings: 13.5%
Percent that made another team's roster: 11.8%
Percent that made Vikings practice squad: 13.5%

These numbers are quite staggering and show the low percentage of undrafted rookies that make the Vikings roster via the practice squad or 53-man roster. This means of the 15 undrafted rookies the Vikings signed to the roster this season, roughly two of them will make the 53-man roster and two will make the practice squad. This doesn't mean the Vikings will follow trends of the past, especially considering the depth of this draft class, but it certainly is worth putting in the back of your mind.

3 comments:

  1. I think WRs Lora and R Smith are on the PS, and Thielen and Kolter make the 53. I see TE Leonard and OG Wentworth making the PS as well. I think either RB Randle or Barnyard will be on the PS and former UDFA RB Line makes the 53. Finally, I see UDFA OT Richardson making the 53 and DT Fasciane making the PS. This is the best Vikes' UDFA class in a long time and one of the best UDFA classes in the NFL this year.

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  2. Good, detailed read..... thanks for the writeup.

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  3. Great work, but Zach Line did make the team last year as a starter till Felton's suspension was up and he was conveniently injured and placed on IR

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