{"id":38013,"date":"2025-05-10T03:10:09","date_gmt":"2025-05-10T03:10:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/38013\/"},"modified":"2025-05-10T03:10:09","modified_gmt":"2025-05-10T03:10:09","slug":"vikings-udfa-earns-tap-on-helmet-from-kevin-oconnell","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/38013\/","title":{"rendered":"Vikings UDFA Earns Tap on Helmet from Kevin O’Connell"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"Nov 9, 2024; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Utah Utes cornerback Zemaiah Vaughn (5) reacts after a sack against the Brigham Young Cougars during the second half at Rice-Eccles Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-Imagn Images\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

The Minnesota Vikings took the field in front of reporters on Friday. It was part of the annual rookie minicamp when all the rookies, from undrafted guys to first-rounders, compete with one another. <\/p>\n

Vikings UDFA Earns Tap on Helmet from Kevin O\u2019Connell<\/p>\n

The most notable names on the field, of course, were top draftees Donovan Jackson and Tai Felton, but it might be even more important for the undrafted players to show their skill set in front of the coaches. <\/p>\n

\"\"Nov 9, 2024; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Brigham Young Cougars quarterback Jake Retzlaff (12) is sacked by Utah Utes cornerback Zemaiah Vaughn (5) during the second half at Rice-Eccles Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

Utah\u2019s corner Zemaiah Vaughn showed some promise on the first practice day. <\/p>\n

Craig Peters, Vikings.com, wrote in his rookie minicamp observations<\/a>: \u201cBeyond intended pass catchers, there also were back-to-back interceptions recorded. The first was by undrafted rookie Zemaiah Vaughn, which prompted O\u2019Connell to walk over and congratulate him. The second was by sixth-round pick Kobe King, a linebacker out of Penn State.\u201d<\/p>\n

The video material is pretty limited, but the pick is on tape in a Vikings highlight video, which cuts off right before O\u2019Connell congratulates him. Vaughn (#34) is catching the pass at the 47-second mark. <\/p>\n

The Athletic\u2019s Alec Lewis summarized the play in his rookie minicamp takeaways<\/a>: \u201cMaybe the most impressive play of the day occurred on the left sideline, as Brosmer tried to layer a pass into a pocket in the defense\u2019s zone coverage. Zemaiah Vaughn, an undrafted cornerback from Utah, leaped and secured the interception. Afterward, defensive passing game coordinator and defensive backs coach Daronte Jones and even O\u2019Connell patted Vaughn on the helmet.\u201d<\/p>\n

The defender went undrafted out of Utah. He is an intriguing player because of his measurements at over 6-2 and 186 lbs. <\/p>\n

Length is an important aspect of cornerback play, and the top Vikings corners (Byron Murphy Jr., Isaiah Rodgers, and Mekhi Blackmon) all lack that size. <\/p>\n

Including the shortened COVID season in 2020, Vaughn spent five years at Utah, playing in 56 games. He made 144 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, three sacks, and three interceptions. <\/p>\n

Here is a rep against 8th overall pick Tet McMillan. <\/p>\n

Former Senior Bowl director Jim Nagy tweeted<\/a> ahead of the draft: \u201cCB Zemaiah Vaughn\u2019s (6021v, 175v, 32 7\/8 arm) name out there much in draft rankings right now but he possesses one of best combos of length & speed in this year\u2019s draft. Springy athlete should blowup Combine and his makeup speed jumps off the tape.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"NFL:Nov 5, 2023; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Minnesota Vikings cornerback Byron Murphy Jr. (7) runs with the ball after making an interception against the Atlanta Falcons during the second half at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports<\/p>\n

Minnesota\u2019s cornerback room is far from perfect<\/a>, and one of the undrafted guys could emerge. The aforementioned Murphy Jr., Rodgers, and Blackmon are expected to be the top trio, followed by veteran Jeff Okudah. Special teamer Tavierre Thomas has a shot to clinch a depth role, and Dwight McGlothern, last year\u2019s UDFA, is a guy to watch throughout spring and summer. <\/p>\n

Still, beyond the presumed four top corners, there\u2019s room for Vaughn, and that play is exactly what can turn heads and give him a chance. <\/p>\n

Editor\u2019s Note: Information from\u00a0PFF<\/a>,\u00a0Over The Cap<\/a>,\u00a0and\u00a0Sports Reference CFB<\/a>\u00a0helped with this article.<\/p>\n

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