7 Things We Learned from Vikings Rookie Minicamp

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7 Things We Learned from Vikings Rookie Minicamp

7 Things We Learned from Vikings Rookie Minicamp — Vikings rookie running back Demond Claiborne participates in rookie minicamp during May 2026 at the TCO Performance Center in Eagan. Minnesota selected Claiborne in the sixth round of the 2026 NFL Draft after an accomplished college career at Wake Forest, where he earned attention for his burst, vision, and ability to contribute in multiple offensive situations. Mandatory Credit: YouTube.

Dustin Baker · Vikings Territory

Tue, May 12, 2026 ·

5 min read

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The Minnesota Vikings hosted rookie minicamp last week, the first get-together of the year for all new youngsters and a couple of veteran invitees. Along the way, here's what we learned about the club from that event.

Minnesota 's first post-draft event delivered more than rookie jersey numbers.

The next step for Minnesota is organized team activity workouts on May 26th.

The Clues from Eagan Are Taking Shape

Ranked in ascending order of importance, these are the takeaways.

Cooper Rush throws under pressure from Dalvin Tomlinson during a Vikings-Cowboys game at U.S. Bank Stadium. Vikings rookie minicamp — Dallas Cowboys quarterback Cooper Rush looks to throw while Minnesota Vikings defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson pressures the pocket on Oct. 31, 2021, at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. Rush later developed into one of the NFL's more dependable reserve quarterbacks, earning repeated opportunities because of his experience, calm pocket presence, and ability to manage offenses in relief situations. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports.

7. Cooper Rush "for Later"

The name of the event is "rookie" minicamp, but NFL teams send invitations to all comers, including Rush for the Vikings this time.

Head coach Kevin O'Connell mentioned Rush's attendance, "As I told Cooper, it's almost like a free agent visit. He gets to know us, we get to know him. He's played a lot of football over the years in the National Football League."

"I think it can open up that world to him, or if there's an opportunity in the future, he can make that a really positive situation for himself and become our first phone call."

So, if quarterback injuries ravage the Vikings' season — like last year — it probably won't be Desmond Ridder and John Wolford on speed dial. O'Connell has Rush in mind.

6. Two New Contracts: DL Smith Vilbert and ILB Bangally Kamara

While Minnesota has added about 30 new rookies since the start of the draft — nine in the draft, nineteen from undrafted free agency — an extra pair wiggled their way in as a result of rookie minicamp tryouts.

Smith Vilbert from the University of North Carolina evidently got a Bill Belichick-endorsed stamp of approval for Brian Flores. He's the new DT-OLB hybrid in the mix. The Vikings also signed off-ball linebacker Bangally Kamara from Kansas.

Both will fight for roster spots or practice squad placement this summer.

5. Demond Claiborne Looked the Part

Remember DeWayne McBride ? The Vikings' 7th-Round rookie from 2023 who looked so terrible in his first preseason that he never saw an NFL roster ever again? Yeah, Claiborne doesn't bring that vibe.

Claiborne looked explosive and fast at minicamp — the opposite of McBride three years ago.

The Athletic 's Alec Lewis on Claiborne : "The more consistency the Vikings can get out of sixth-round running back Demond Claiborne early on, the better chance he'll have to contribute this fall. Beyond running backs coach Curtis Modkins, many of the Vikings' coaches and personnel staffers present were attentive to the running backs drills."

4. Adrian Peterson to the Ring of Honor

Until Monday, the Vikings had 28 players in the Ring of Honor . Peterson will make it 29.

The franchise surprised the future Hall of Famer, baiting him to Eagan and then springing the ROH news on him, courtesy of John Randle's revelation.

Peterson getting the ROH love was a total no-brainer; now, it's official.

3. GM Search Ongoing

Nolan Teasley from the Seattle Seahawks and Terrance Gray of the Buffalo Bills are said to be external frontrunners for the Vikings' vacant general manager job. Meanwhile, the interim boss, Rob Brzezinski, is strongly in the mix and expressed formal interest in the position last week.

Rob Brzezinski participates in a discussion during the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. Vikings rookie minicamp — Minnesota Vikings executive Rob Brzezinski speaks during a panel discussion on Feb. 25, 2026, at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis alongside KFAN host Paul Allen and analyst Pete Bercich. Brzezinski has become one of the NFL's most respected contract and salary-cap minds, helping shape Minnesota's long-term roster construction strategy for more than two decades. Mandatory Credit: YouTube.

SI.com 's Will Ragazt on Teasley , "It might not be a bad idea for the Vikings to poach their GM from the reigning Super Bowl champions. Teasley has been with Seattle for 12 years, working his way up from an internship to director of pro personnel and then assistant GM under John Schneider."

No matter who is picked from the search — the decision should be announced in about a week — Brzezinski figures to remain a meaningful role in the front office.

2. A True-Blue QB Competition Ahead

NFL Network 's Tom Pelissero said last week, "They envision it being a true competition: Kyler Murray versus J.J. McCarthy . And both these guys are going to go into this believing they're gonna win this job."

"I don't know, frankly, how friendly that quarterback room is going to be. It's going to be a very competitive quarterback room. From everything that I've understood, it is truly wide open; they're keeping an open mind as a coaching staff."

Most have assumed that Murray didn't sign with the Vikings to be a backup quarterback, but the club apparently insists that he will battle for the QB1 job. It'll be Murray v. McCarthy in July and August.

1. Caleb Banks Tentatively Expected for Training Camp

O'Connell gave a Banks update last week: "Caleb is doing great. Got some more positive information here as he reported to Eagan in the last couple days, and very much looking forward to him establishing a great plan with our medical staff and the coaching staff."

"On the coaching staff side, how can we push Caleb from an above-the-neck standpoint to be that much more comfortable when he does get healthy? He gets a great chance this spring and summer to get strong and build himself up."

Jaxson Dart throws a pass over Florida defensive lineman Caleb Banks during a game in Gainesville. Vikings rookie minicamp — Mississippi quarterback Jaxson Dart throws over Florida defensive lineman Caleb Banks on Nov. 23, 2024, during second-half action at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville. Banks entered the NFL Draft process as one of the SEC's more intriguing defensive tackle prospects, drawing attention because of his size, athletic movement skills, and interior pass-rushing upside. Mandatory Credit: Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images.

Drafting Banks came with considerable injury risk, so this spring's monitoring of his progress was inevitable.

O'Connell continued, "With Caleb, he doesn't necessarily have to worry about the physical side of it right now, other than just getting healthy. So we can hopefully challenge him to learn multiple spots that coincide with his versatility to align in different impactful spots along the D-line."

"I just think we're happy with where he's at, all things considered. We want to have our eyes on that end-of-July date so he can hopefully have a seamless transition into training camp."

Circle training camp for Banks's debut.

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