The Minnesota Vikings officially started this week of the training camp, and that means that the battle for 53 schedules is official.
It also means that emerging stars are hopefully coordinated to hand in their best NFL seasons. Here is a look at four Vikings players who can arise as a breakout stars in 2025.
OLB Dallas Turner
Dallas Turner clearly did not get much time on the field last season, even though it was a pick in the first round, but the question is: was that lack of playing time needed or out of choice? Was Dallas Turner just not ready to play at NFL level, or was he given the opportunity to sit and learn behind two Pro Bowlers?
For example, I will choose to believe the last until it has been proven differently. Turner is an athletic freak from the edge and proved during his time in Alabama that he could contribute as a Pass Rusher and Run defense.
It is clear that both Jonathan Greenard and Andrew van Ginkel are still nearby, but this is not the first time during the Brian Flores era that the Vikings went into a training camp with an apparently busy OLB room at the top.
Do you remember 2023 when Minnesota Danielle Hunter, Zadarius Smith and Marcus had Davenport? There were enough times during the camp when Flores all used three at the same time on the field. This time the trio remains healthy, so that we can see that plan in action during the regular season.
CB Mekhi Blackmon
It is easy to forget how solid from a player Mekhi Blackmon was during his Rookie season now that we have removed from him for 1.5 years that appear in an NFL game.
Blackmon was called Pff’s all-smokie teamRank third under Rookie Cornerbacks in both general and coverage pff figures. He is also a very certain tackler, an underestimated feature on the cornerback place.
Of course Blackmon’s torn ACL cost him the entire season during the first day of the training camp in 2024, but now there is a starting point on the line in the camp. Blackmon could very well come back with a revenge and take that CB2 role.
S Theo Jackson
The blueprint is right in front of Theo Jackson to find success in 2025. Harrison Smith is 36 years old and can be in the last season of his career. Josh Metellus is in the last year of his contract. Camryn Bynum has already left the team and found a new home at the Indianapolis Colts this spring.
Jackson has a path with a red carpet to become a cornerstone in the defense of Minnesota on the safety position.
Until now, the 26-year-old has answered every conversation. He intercepted a pass in week 2 against the Philadelphia Eagles during the 2023 season after Smith had left the game with a concussion. He played double -digit defending Snaps in three consecutive games in 2024, defended two passes and took a interception against the Seattle Seahawks in an important way victory.
There is little competition for Jackson to deal with terms of a starting point, so the only thing he has to do is see in the camp and to ensure that the Vikings do not look for external talent.
Wr Jordan Addison
Of course Jordan Addison’s first two seasons of combining 133 receptions, 1786 Yards and 19 TouchDowns to start with were not too poor, but what if the young star could get even better?
Outside of eight games to start his Rookie season, Addison finally played the majority of his career with catching passes of names such as Josh Dobbs, Nick Mullens and Sam Darnold. What can his songs look like now that JJ McCarthy is his QB?
Time will learn, and of course Addison is probably confronted with a suspension this season, but as soon as that is in the rearview mirror and the full focus is back on football, the young star could use a fantastic campaign in 2025.
Editors’ note: Statistics for this article were found via Pro Football Focus And Pro Football Reference.
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