Rookie minicamp is underway for the Minnesota Vikings, and players are already making an impression on the coaches and staff, hoping to show the team why they should be part of the 53-man roster or practice squad during the 2026 NFL season.
While these players aren't going to make headlines when they join a team, there have been plenty of examples of undrafted free agents or low draft picks impressing teams enough to become contributors and earn time on the field.
It is unknown which players will emerge from undrafted free agency, but that is why teams take a chance on these players during minicamp and training camp, when the rosters are expanded, and evaluations can be done.
The Minnesota Vikings signed University of North Carolina and Penn State defensive lineman Smith Vilbert, who played under Bill Belichick in 2025.
The Minnesota Vikings seem to have taken a liking to at least one of their undrafted free agents. NFL agent Brett Tessler shared on X that UNC and Penn State defensive lineman Smith Vilbert signed a three-year deal after a short time at the rookie minicamp.
The Minnesota Vikings just signed my client Smith Vilbert (DL, UNC / Penn State) to a 3-year deal after he attended their rookie minicamp this weekend.
— Brett Tessler (@TesslerSports) May 8, 2026
Minnesota has been aggressive in getting younger and beefing up its lines this offseason. That was obvious during the 2026 NFL Draft and continues to be the case with the signing of Vilbert this early in camp.
Vilbert played 47 games in college, spending all but 12 of those with Penn State before transferring to North Carolina. His statistics at Penn State were not very impressive, but he got significantly more productive once arriving with ill Belichick at UNC.
In those 12 games at North Carolina, Smith Vilbert had 22 combined tackles, including six tackles for a loss and one sack. In addition, he accumulated two pass defenses and recovered two fumbles while forcing one fumble.
A six-foot-six, 256-pound defender, Vilbert was projected to be a Day 3 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, with a comparison to Tennessee Titans defensive lineman Jack Crawford by Brian Dohn at 247 Sports.
This should make Smith Vilbert a player for Minnesota Vikings fans to watch during training camp and the preseason, and should give the tough defensive lineman a huge leg-up on potentially earning a spot on the practice squad despite a lot of competition for those spots from all the high-potential players who were invited to attend training camp with the purple and gold this year.
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