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The Minnesota Vikings begin Organized Team Activities (OTAs) on Tuesday. Much of the focus will be on the quarterback competition. But this is an important time for players trying to fight for a roster spot.
Among those is Jacob Thomas, a safety out of James Madison, who was signed as an undrafted free agent last month. He has size (6'1", 212 pounds) and versatility playing both deep safety and in the box, to make an impression on Brian Flores. That makes Thomas the most exciting UDFA to watch for in Vikings OTAs, says Bleacher Report's Gary Davenport.
"Thomas has good size," Davenport wrote Monday. "He can play multiple spots in the secondary. And he makes up for what he lacks in elite athleticism with excellent instincts and hard-nosed play.
"He's unlikely to start as a rookie, but he has a real shot to make the roster."
The Vikings' safety room has plenty of question marks. They did draft Miami safety Jakobe Thomas in the third round (98th overall), but Harrison Smith's future is still uncertain, and Josh Metellus ended the 2025 season on IR. Theo Jackson lost his starting job late in the season to Jay Ward, who has plenty of inconsistencies in his own game.
That could open the door for UDFA Jacob Thomas to find a spot on the roster. Minnesota has shown a willingness to give overlooked players opportunities. The organization even highlighted that identity earlier this offseason with a joint press conference for Adam Thielen and C.J. Ham, two longtime Vikings who entered the league as UDFAs.
Could Thomas be the next underdog story in Minnesota? His size and skill set could give him an opportunity to do so. If Flores values versatility as much as his reputation suggests, the rookie safety could become one of Minnesota's more intriguing under-the-radar names this summer.
This article originally appeared on Vikings Wire: Who is the Vikings most exciting UDFA heading into OTAs?
Continue reading...
Among those is Jacob Thomas, a safety out of James Madison, who was signed as an undrafted free agent last month. He has size (6'1", 212 pounds) and versatility playing both deep safety and in the box, to make an impression on Brian Flores. That makes Thomas the most exciting UDFA to watch for in Vikings OTAs, says Bleacher Report's Gary Davenport.
"Thomas has good size," Davenport wrote Monday. "He can play multiple spots in the secondary. And he makes up for what he lacks in elite athleticism with excellent instincts and hard-nosed play.
"He's unlikely to start as a rookie, but he has a real shot to make the roster."
The Vikings' safety room has plenty of question marks. They did draft Miami safety Jakobe Thomas in the third round (98th overall), but Harrison Smith's future is still uncertain, and Josh Metellus ended the 2025 season on IR. Theo Jackson lost his starting job late in the season to Jay Ward, who has plenty of inconsistencies in his own game.
That could open the door for UDFA Jacob Thomas to find a spot on the roster. Minnesota has shown a willingness to give overlooked players opportunities. The organization even highlighted that identity earlier this offseason with a joint press conference for Adam Thielen and C.J. Ham, two longtime Vikings who entered the league as UDFAs.
Could Thomas be the next underdog story in Minnesota? His size and skill set could give him an opportunity to do so. If Flores values versatility as much as his reputation suggests, the rookie safety could become one of Minnesota's more intriguing under-the-radar names this summer.
This article originally appeared on Vikings Wire: Who is the Vikings most exciting UDFA heading into OTAs?
Continue reading...
