7 bold predictions for the Vikings 2023 training camp
By Chris Schad
Bold Prediction No. 5
Ivan Pace Jr. will make the 53-man roster
A favorite activity of fans attending training camp is picking out which players could make the 53-man roster. While we can assume that Justin Jefferson and Kirk Cousins’s jobs are safe, there should be plenty of spots open on the back end, which could create an opportunity for younger players.
One of those players is Ivan Pace Jr., who is a UDFA out of Cincinnati. Pace’s metrics were off the charts in his final year with the Bearcats, ranking first among linebackers in PFF’s overall defensive grades and fourth in their run defense grades. While he shows up as a hyper-athletic player on tape, his size is a problem, standing at 5-foot-10 and 231 pounds.
But while athletic ability is always a factor, so is opportunity. Brian Flores is looking for quick-twitch athletes to revamp the Vikings’ defense, and with a variety of exotic looks, a player like Pace could be used as a sub-package player or a contributor on special teams.
With Jordan Hicks potentially on bubble after a lackluster first season in Minnesota, there’s a chance that Pace could make the roster and have a substantial role. If that’s in the cards, Pace must make it happen in training camp.