The Minnesota Vikings have a new fan favorite in the making, and his name is Smith Vilbert. After rookie minicamp wrapped up last week, the franchise inked a deal with this hybrid OLB-DT—and yes, the nickname is already a winner: Vilbert the Viking.
Standing nearly 6'6" and tipping the scales at 290 pounds with 34-inch arms, Vilbert brings the kind of size and length that gets coaches excited. But it's his wonderfully obvious nickname that's already winning over the locker room and fans alike.
Vilbert's path to Minnesota is an interesting one. After spending time at Penn State, he played under Bill Belichick at North Carolina, which suggests the communication pipeline between Belichick and Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores is wide open. That's a connection worth watching.
Last week, Minnesota hosted dozens of rookies—and even some veterans like quarterback Cooper Rush—for tryouts. Vilbert was one of 21 rookie tryout players at Friday's camp, and he clearly made an impression in a short time. According to SI.com's Will Ragatz, his agent Brett Tessler confirmed the undrafted free agent deal shortly after camp concluded.
Vilbert lined up mostly as an edge defender in college but also has experience on the interior of the defensive line. That versatility is exactly what Flores looks for in his front-seven players, who are often asked to move around, disguise formations, and take on multiple assignments. A New Jersey native, Vilbert was a three-star recruit coming out of high school in 2019 and chose Penn State over several other big-time offers.
Ever since the Vikings unearthed defensive tackle Jalen Redmond two years ago, under-the-radar defensive line additions have become something of a tradition in Minnesota. Vilbert fits that mold perfectly—a classic "lottery-ticket" addition. He's big, long, and experienced, but faces a steep climb to the 53-man roster.
Physically, he checks all the boxes. His imposing frame gives Minnesota a rookie defensive lineman capable of fitting into various roles, from traditional defensive tackle to five-technique or even a larger edge presence. While his college production doesn't jump off the page, his potential as a versatile chess piece in Flores' defense is undeniable.
For Vikings fans, Vilbert the Viking is the kind of underdog story that makes training camp so compelling. Keep an eye on this one.