5 Vikings whose jobs are in danger following the 2023 NFL Draft
By Chris Schad
Player No. 2
Jalen Reagor - WR/PR
Reagor’s odds of earning a starting spot diminished when the Vikings selected Jordan Addison in the first round of the draft, but they weren’t great to begin with. Reagor’s main concern should be holding onto his job as the starting punt returner, where he suddenly has plenty of competition.
The Vikings made a move to upgrade at punt returner when they signed Brandon Powell in free agency. While the 27-year-old has caught just 47 passes for 354 yards and two touchdowns over his career, he has averaged 9.6 yards per punt return during his four-year career and returned a punt for a touchdown for O’Connell’s Los Angeles Rams during a Week 16 victory in 2021.
The Vikings also added competition by signing North Carolina State wide receiver Thayer Thomas as a UDFA. Thomas returned 70 punts for an average of 9.7 yards and a touchdown during his five years with the Wolfpack and should also have a shot at winning the starting job.
Reagor could wind up on the roster due to the $2.4 million guaranteed in the final year of his contract. But if he doesn’t win the punt returner job, it’s unclear what he would do on the roster. The Vikings could want to leave that spot open for someone who can contribute elsewhere, which could leave Reagor as the odd man out.