4 undrafted free agents who could make the Vikings roster in 2022
By Dean Jones
Luiji Vilain – DE/OLB
It’s easy to see just how much the Vikings prioritized signing Luiji Vilain once the 2022 draft reached its conclusion. According to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, the edge defender received a $20,000 signing bonus and $207,000 of his rookie salary fully guaranteed to bring him to the franchise.
Vilain has some impressive explosiveness and has no trouble getting physical at the line of scrimmage. His exploits at Wake Forest in 2021 resulted in eight sacks and nine tackles for loss – stats that indicate there could be even more to come once he develops under professional coaches.
The Vikings clearly see something in Vilain, who is a hard presence to stop when early momentum is generated. Minnesota would likely use him as a 3-4 outside linebacker under Ed Donatell if he did make the roster, which would be on a rotational basis thanks to the presence of Danielle Hunter and Za’Darius Smith.
For Vilain to make his presence felt in Minnesota, he must improve his pass-rushing moves. He also has a tendency to get lost in the mud when it comes to stopping the run.
Vilain’s versatility will help the player’s case. His physical attributes could also make him a nice special teams option while other areas of his game get up to speed.