4 Vikings defensive players on the bubble entering training camp

Cameron Smith – LB

The Vikings took Cameron Smith in the fifth round a year ago and had to be disappointed with his performance during his rookie season. The mid-round draft pick couldn’t even secure a spot on Minnesota’s final roster last year and he ended up beginning the season on the team’s practice squad.

Smith was called up from time to time throughout the 2019 season, but he failed to cash in on those opportunities. He finished his rookie campaign with just eight tackles in five games.

Smith enters this year’s training camp with a lot to prove. He’ll need to play his butt off in practice if he’s going to earn a spot on the Vikings final roster.

The one positive he can take from his rookie season was that it gave him some experience. He now knows what it is like to play in an actual NFL game in addition to him getting the opportunity to adjust to the speed and talent level that he has to deal with when facing opposing offenses at the professional level.

This should help Smith in year two, but he’ll still have to fend off fellow Minnesota linebacker Ben Gedeon to make the team.

With things being up in the air because of the current uncertainty related to the COVID-19 pandemic, there’s a good chance Minnesota will decide to go with veterans and experienced players over younger guys who have much more to prove. That is what puts Smith on the bubble.

His best chance to secure a spot on the Vikings final roster, besides playing out of his head, will be if Gedeon decides his health is more important and calls it a career to avoid sustaining any more concussions (he suffered two last season). Smith would be the next man up in that situation and basically a lock to make the team.