With the Minnesota Vikings making headlines in free agency earlier this year when they added guys like Jonathan Allen, Will Fries, Javon Hargrave, and Ryan Kelly, their signing of cornerback Isaiah Rodgers flew a bit under the radar.
Given that Rodgers is expected to open the 2025 season as one of Minnesota's starting corners, he has a great chance to make a big impact on the team. Apparently, however, he would like his impact to go beyond the defensive side of the ball, at least according to what Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell said during a recent appearance on the "Up & Adams" show.
"[Isaiah Rodgers] has had a great camp. So physically gifted. He's one of the faster players in the league. He's sticky in coverage [and] still plays physical, which I really like.
He's begging me to return kickoffs because I think he needs a certain amount of yards doing that to [reach a personal record].
...[But I told him] it could be a while. I told him that the other day. Could be a little time before he hits that number."
Should the Minnesota Vikings make Isaiah Rodgers the team's kick returner for the 2025 season?
O'Connell eventually mentioned that the personal record Rodgers is trying to get to is 2,000 kickoff return yards, and he's 130 away from hitting that mark. Despite the corner's efforts, it doesn't seem like helping Rodgers reach that 2,000-yard mark is a top priority for the Minnesota head coach heading into the 2025 season.
Given the question marks the Vikings currently have with their kick returners, though, is this something O'Connell should re-consider?
Right now, it seems like rookie wide receiver Tai Felton is set to open up the 2025 season as Minnesota's kick returner. However, Felton fumbled the ball during a kickoff return in the Vikings' preseason game last weekend, and that has, rightfully so, led to some having doubts about his ball security skills.
Since entering the NFL in 2020 as a member of the Indianapolis Colts, Rodgers has returned a total of 69 kickoffs for 1,870 yards (27.1 average) and one touchdown. He's also averaged 27 yards per return on six kickoff returns in five playoff appearances.
Rodgers clearly has a skill has a kick returner. However, the upside of his return ability obviously isn't enough for O'Connell to give the role to one of his starting corners.