4 unheralded players the Vikings should extend in 2020

Ifeadi Odenigbo – DL

Ifeadi Odenigbo has had a strange path to get to where he is right now with the Vikings. He was selected by Minnesota in the 2017 NFL Draft.

Odenigbo didn’t end up making the final 53-man roster as a rookie, but he was signed to the practice squad. The Vikings brought him back for the 2018 preseason and again, he couldn’t crack the final 53.

Minnesota was looking to, once again, add him to their practice squad, but he was swept up by the Cleveland Browns. He lasted there three weeks before getting let go. He was then claimed by the Arizona Cardinals where he hung around for about a month before getting cut again.

On Halloween of 2018, Odenigbo was brought back home as he signed with the Vikings to again be part of their practice squad.

After his third preseason with Minnesota, Odenigbo made the final roster and the team is now getting rewarded with their patience.

Odenigbo has been a great rotational pass rusher this season. He’s racked up 16 tackles, five sacks, and he scored his first-ever touchdown last week against the Chargers when he picked up a loose ball after a Danielle Hunter strip-sack.

He’s been getting better and better every week and the Vikings may begin to look at him as the heir apparent to Everson Griffen.

If this is the case, the Vikings should waste little time in extending him. Odenigbo is signed through 2020, but a top-level pass rusher is a premium find in the NFL. If Odenigbo finishes this season with a couple of more sacks and then breaks out in 2020, he’s going to demand a ton of money in the open market.

Minnesota salary cap guru Rob Brzezinski and general manager Rick Spielman are well aware of this and a nice contract extension could be coming Odenigbo’s way if he can continue his stellar play this year.