Vikings Rookies to Look Out for in Training Camp

Training Camp has arrived, with this year’s rookies, the quarterbacks, and selected veterans the first to return to the Twin Cities. It is a big moment for this year’s Vikings rookies as they look to fulfill the dream and secure a place on the Vikings’ final roster.

Vikings Rookies to Look Out for in Training Camp

There will be a lot to unpack over the course of training camp as players battle for their place on the roster. This article aims to focus on this year’s Vikings rookies, which ones to keep a particular eye on, and why. We have a mix of early-round draft picks all the way to some potential undrafted gems.

Caleb Banks (Defensive Tackle)

There is only one place to start: the 2026 first-round pick.

Selected with the 18th overall pick, Caleb Banks presents a risky choice for Minnesota. The talent isn’t in question but after turning heads in the scouting combine it was revealed he had suffered a new foot injury – one that had already caused him to miss much of the 2025 college season. His draft stock quickly tumbled from first-round potential to being seen as a Day 2 prospect.

Minnesota decided to gamble on his talent and all signs point to his inclusion at training camp. Seeing Banks out on the field this early would be a boost and should give Vikings fans excitement that he can be ready to show off his talents come the start of the season.

Domonique Orange (Nose Tackle)

Minnesota doubled down on big defenders in this year’s draft when they selected Domonique Orange in the third round. With the nickname Big Citrus, Orange profiles as a true run-stuffer with the potential to start at nose tackle.

Standing in Orange’s way is Levi Drake Rodriguez, a seventh-round pick who proved himself a solid depth player in his second season with the Vikings in 2025. Orange should have the credentials to beat him out if he can adapt quickly to life in the pro ranks and prove his game-readiness as a rookie to defensive coordinator Brian Flores.

The Rodriguez and Orange battle could be one of the most intriguing of the preseason.

Jake Golday (Linebacker)

In between the two big defensive linemen the Vikings selected linebacker Jake Golday with their second-round pick. There has been discussion over Golday’s position, notably whether he’s a true off-ball linebacker or whether he could play from the edge. Given the way Flores likes versatility in his players – see Andrew Van Ginkel and Josh Metellus – it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Golday lining up in various spots.

With the potential of Golday, Van Ginkel, Metellus, and new signing Jamal Adams lining up together, Flores could have fun making offenses try to figure out who is playing where. That makes Golday a dream player for the Vikings DC and someone to keep a close eye on in training camp to see him develop.

Dillon Bell (Wide Receiver)

Undrafted rookies making the final roster was a theme of the Kwesi Adofo-Mensah era. Will that be the same now that Nolan Teasley is the general manager? The best chance seems to come in the form of Dillon Bell who has been creating some hype already.

He’s being likened to former Viking Percy Harvin with his versatile skill set and ability to make things happen once the ball is in his hands. Whether Bell can make a play for a 53-man roster spot is a story worth following. It will be tough with Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison,  and Jauan Jennings locking up the top three places on the depth chart. It leaves Bell trying to beat out Tai Felton and Myles Price on the WR depth chart, with the latter having punt/kick return ability on their side.

Demond Claiborne (Running Back)

I (like most people) expected the Vikings to do something to address a running back situation that hasn’t been great in recent seasons.

Minnesota waited until the sixth round of the draft to bring in Demond Claiborne. On the surface, that doesn’t appear much of a threat to Aaron Jones or Jordan Mason. However, the trend in recent years has been to draft RBs later, and some good ones have come out of the mid-to-late rounds.

Claiborne brings 4.37 speed to the Vikings’ offense; it’s up to him to use that asset to carve out a role in Kevin O’Connell’s offense.

Max Bredeson (Fullback)

When O’Connell became the Vikings head coach there was an expectation he would do away with the fullback position that his predecessor Mike Zimmer had valued so highly. Instead, O’Connell embraced CJ Ham and found a role for him in his offense while keeping a team captain and special teams contributor on the roster.

Ham has now retired but it appears that the fullback position lives on in Minnesota with fifth-round rookie Max Bredeson. While Bredeson is set to succeed Ham, he is a very different player. He was a tight end in college and never attempted a single rushing attempt. Training camp will give us the first look at how O’Connell plans to use Bredeson.

Proud UK Viking. Family Man. Enjoy writing about my team. Away from football an advocate for autism acceptance.