The Vikings’ undrafted free agent class that features the top-two players on PFF’s UDFA board has now been ranked the fifth best UDFA class, in the NFL according to Thor Nystrom of FantasyPros.
In total the Vikings added 16 undrafted free agents to their roster in the hours after the 2023 draft.
Nystrom notes the aggressiveness with which the Vikings went after Army defensive end Andre Carter II by handing out a record-breaking $300k deal. Nystrom said: “Minnesota is so capped-out that every dollar matters – they’re tipping off to you that they intend to roster Carter II barring disaster in camp.”
“Carter II has intriguing pass-rushing upside, but he’ll be unplayable against the run until he hits the weights and substantially improves his play strength,” Nystrom opined.
Perhaps ahead of Carter on the undrafted list is Cincinnati linebacker Ivan Pace Jr., who was PFF’s No. 1-graded linebacker in college football last season.
“Pace was heavily dinged because he’s 5-foot-10, doesn’t have a big tackling radius, and underwhelmed during athletic testing (57th-percentile size-adjusted composite),” says Nystrom. “But how does a player with this skillset not turn into at least a strong NFL special teams player? A muscle-hamster type, Pace plays with plugged-into-a-reactor energy and a take-no-prisoners bent for violence.”
Other notables from the Vikings’ class were Illinois nose-tackle Calvin Avery, Southeastern Louisiana wide receiver Cephus Johnson, who is 6’5” and 220 pounds, and Kansas State’s returner Malik Knowles, who has track speed and excellent return skills.
