The Vikings May Have Done It Yet Again

Dec 10, 2023; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Minnesota Vikings coach Kevin O'Connell (left) and general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah react during the game against the Minnesota Vikings at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports. As per usual in the NFL, the money is what offered the first real clue. The Vikings welcomed guard Joe Huber to town following the conclusion of the 2025 NFL Draft. Doing so meant guaranteeing $210,000 within the three-year contract that’s sitting at a total of $2.975 million. Locking in so much guaranteed money — it’s a good payday for an undrafted player — suggests that multiple teams were chasing Mr. Huber while also revealing that Minnesota was serious about obtaining his services. The Vikings May Have Done It Once Again The gold standard for UDFAs from recent seasons is Ivan Pace Jr., someone who became an impact linebacker in his rookie season. Fast and physical, Mr. Pace seems to have slipped out of the draft due to his size, or lack thereof. He stands at just 5’10” and 231 pounds, meaning he doesn’t possess the ideal build for an off-ball linebacker in the pros. Pace still finds a way to win, largely due to his aggressiveness. He slices through the offensive line like a lightsaber going through butter. Across two NFL seasons, Pace finds himself at 174 tackles, 9 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, 16 QB hits, and 2 interceptions. He isn’t perfect, but he is a very good player who is moving toward a large raise. Jan 13, 2025; Glendale, AZ, USA; Minnesota Vikings linebacker Ivan Pace Jr. (0) reacts against the Los Angeles Rams during the second half in an NFC wild card game at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images. Do note, folks, that the UDFA success hasn’t stopped at Mr. Pace. One thinks of Gabriel Murphy doing some really good things during the current offseason. Last year, he joined the roster as an UDFA. He overcame an early injury to eventually get onto the 53-man roster and appears to be careening toward the EDGE4 job. Similarly, UDFA edge rusher Bo Richter looks like someone who can keep helping. Punter Ryan Wright was an undrafted add back in 2022, serving as the punter ever since. Corner Dwight “Nudie” McGlothern made the team last season and there’s varying levels of optimism for options such as quarterback Sam Brosmer, offensive tackle Logan Brown, tight end Ben Yurosek, edge rusher Tyler Batty, and corner Zemaiah Vaughn (among others). Bring the discussion back around to Huber, someone who has been in the headlines for shattering expectations on PFF. The analytics website gave the guard a truly sensational 94.7 grade. Consider the scouting blurb on the NFL’s website prior to the draft: “Scheme-friendly interior lineman with guard/center flexibility. Huber is an athletic blocker who is quick off the ball. He plays with body control and accuracy as a pulling guard and on work-ups off of duo blocks, but he lacks the length and mass to win consistently against NFL power. He leans forward at times, creating quick losses at the point of attack and in protection.” Further: “Huber is athletic in recovery mode, but he needs to calm his feet during pass sets and eliminate edge leakage. Huber projects as a solid backup whose ceiling could be defined by a coach’s ability to correct lunging and leaning.” Oct 6, 2024; London, United Kingdom; Helmets at the line of scrimmage as Minnesota Vikings center Garrett Bradbury (56) and offensive line snaps the ball against the New York Jets at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images. Recent months have featured no shortage of focus on Minnesota’s interior offensive line. Sinking huge cash into center Ryan Kelly and right guard Will Fries will do that. Pushing things to a fever pitch meant dropping the No. 24 pick on left guard Donovan Jackson. Bringing all of these players to town meant that the Vikings had snagged a new starter for each of the three iOL positions. Within all of that optimism has been Joe Huber, someone hiding in plain sight. The lineman stands at 6’5″ and weighs 310 pounds. The 23-year-old played his college ball at Cincinnati and Wisconsin, meaning he played for some strong college football programs. Note, as well, that he ran a 5.2 forty. The Vikings aren’t going to ask the world of Joe Huber in 2025 but even becoming a backup would be a win. His history of playing multiple positions — per the NFL scouting report, Mr. Huber has played both guard spots — helps his chances. Offering versatility and upside as a depth option in ’25 while working for more moving forward would represent a really nice development for the Vikings. Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images The Vikings are hosting the Patriots for joint practices at TCO Performance Center this week. On Saturday, the teams will play a game inside of U.S. Bank Stadium. Keep an eye on #60, the jersey that belongs to Joe Huber. Seeing him continue shining will mean that Minnesota has no choice but to find a spot on the 53-man roster for him. Editor’s Note: Information from Pro Football Reference, PFF, and Over the Cap helped with this piece. I'm the Senior Editor for Vikings Territory & PurplePTSD . Twitter & Bluesky: @VikingsGazette. Email: k.joudry[at]vikingsterritory[dot]com. I am Canadian.