The 5 Most Interesting Vikings Players Entering Summer

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The 5 Most Interesting Vikings Players Entering Summer

The 5 Most Interesting Vikings Players Entering Summer — Minnesota Vikings players participate in organized team activities at the TCO Performance Center during offseason preparations for the 2026 campaign. On June 4, 2026, in Eagan, Minnesota, coaches and players worked through drills and installation periods as the Vikings continued evaluating the roster and building toward training camp. Mandatory Credit: YouTube.

Dustin Baker · Vikings Territory

Sat, Jun 6, 2026 ·

5 min read

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The Minnesota Vikings' summer calendar is about to hit the pause button, but before too long, training camp will heat up, and the buzz will be tremendous. Along the way, we're to provide you with the most interesting Vikings players of the summer — an article we publish annually.

The following men aren't necessarily the best or most popular players, yet from a 2026 standpoint, they are the most interesting . They're ranked in ascending order (No. 1 = most interesting).

Vikings' Depth Chart Has Some Pressure Points

Cincinnati center Gavin Gerhardt during practice after being named to the Rimington Trophy watch list. Vikings training camp — Cincinnati center Gavin Gerhardt earned recognition on the Rimington Trophy watch list, an honor awarded annually to the nation's top center. The distinction places Gerhardt among the premier interior offensive linemen entering the upcoming season. The preseason accolade was announced during the summer of 2026 as expectations continued to rise around his development. Mandatory Credit: Scott Springer/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK.

5. Gavin Gerhardt | C

The Vikings really needed a starting center at the onset of the offseason, as Ryan Kelly , a four-time Pro Bowler, retired. Minnesota did not sign any prominent free-agent centers, instead relying on the promotion of Blake Brandel, who played better each week at the position when Kelly missed games.

So, when the draft rolled around, fans assumed that the Vikings would use a Round 1-4 pick on a fancy new center. They did not. They waited until Round 7 to unearth Gerhardt from Cincinnati, later claiming they identified him as their rookie center prize from the beginning.

Therefore, it will be fascinating to see if Gerhardt seriously vies for the starter's job — or if he's just another 7th-Rounder who doesn't amount to much.

4. Jay Ward | S

Ward enters the final season of his rookie contract in 2026, and he saw increased playing time last December and January. If he wants to prove he has staying power as a starting safety, now's the time to ball out. It's unclear if Harrison Smith will finally announce his return or retirement, leaving a lane open for Ward's presence.

The Vikings' 2026 safety situation is tailor-made for a hungry youngster to step up. His pocketbook depends on it. Should he earn a starter's title and play well, his extension next offseason will reflect it.

3. Tai Felton | WR

Former Vikings boss Kwesi Adofo-Mensah evidently loved Felton, spending a 3rd-Round pick on him in 2025 when the rest of the draft community had him pegged as a 4th- or 5th-Rounder. He has the speed to torment defenses, but as a rookie, the Vikings hardly used him.

Most 3rd-Round wide receivers flirt with serious playing time as a rookie. Felton did not.

This summer will prove if Felton is closer to the team's WR4 — or a roster bubble guy. The new general manager, Nolan Teasley , obviously has no allegiance to Felton.

Vikings rookie wide receiver Tai Felton participates in drills during Minnesota's 2025 rookie minicamp. Vikings training camp — Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Tai Felton participates in rookie minicamp as the organization begins evaluating its 2025 draft class. The former Maryland standout worked through installation drills and timing exercises while learning the offense. The footage was recorded in May 2025 as Minnesota introduced its third-round selection to the professional level. Mandatory Credit: YouTube.

Fansided 's Austin Bundy noted on Felton last month , "Felton could've been WR3, but the team signed former San Francisco 49ers pass catcher Jauan Jennings on Thursday to fill that role, although he's not guaranteed to keep it. It took Jennings nearly two months to find a new home which indicates teams were not entirely smitten with his abilities despite a career year in 2025."

"That's an opening for Felton who is already familiar with Minnesota's system and can prove to offensive coordinator Wes Phillips he deserves to get more targets. The 23-year-old is speedy — he ran a 4.37-second 40-yard dash at last year's combine — which makes him an under the radar deep shot threat while guys like Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison are covered. If he can find those open spaces, he'll get more opportunities from Murray."

2. Jake Golday | LB

Golday is intriguing because some credible reporting claims that he is a) "raw" and perhaps not ready for NFL action right away b) versatile like Andrew Van Ginkel, able to play OLB and ILB.

Something's gotta give: either Golday can play snaps at OLB, making the Vikings' OLB depth less frightening. Or — if Golday trends toward a redshirt season, Minnesota will need an OLB3 after Van Ginkel and Dallas Turner on the depth chart.

Golday's maturation alone may determine whether Minnesota has an OLB roster weakness.

1. Demond Claiborne | RB

Sometimes, diamonds in the rough can be unearthed late in the draft, particularly at running back, and fans hope Claiborne follows suit.

He has the speed — 4.37 — and is built similarly to Bucky Irving of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Minnesota extensively scouted Claiborne, so much so that it passed on rookie tailbacks like Jonah Coleman, Nicholas Singleton, and Emmett Johnson, among others.

Wake Forest running back Demond Claiborne carries the ball against Miami at Hard Rock Stadium. Vikings training camp — Wake Forest running back Demond Claiborne carries the football against Miami during ACC action at Hard Rock Stadium. Claiborne showcased his playmaking ability throughout the contest while helping drive the Demon Deacons' offense. The run occurred on Nov. 23, 2024, during a road matchup against the Hurricanes in Miami Gardens. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images.

Claiborne's spot on the roster plops him behind two veteran running backs: Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason. Claiborne has young legs; Jones and Mason do not. Training camp should provide glimpses to determine he has the juice for an eventual RB1 job in the big leagues.

Minnesota hasn't employed a productive rookie tailback since 2017 or 2019 (Dalvin Cook and Alexander Mattison, respectively).

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