Christian Elliss

Vikings Bring In 11 UDFAs

By Sam Robinson | at May 5, 2021 3:03 pm

The Vikings have filled out their initial undrafted free agent class, according to a team announcement. Here are the 11 rookies the Vikings will bring in to join their 11-man draft class:

• Turner Bernard, LS (San Diego State)
• Tuf Borland, LB (Ohio State)
• Christian Elliss, LB (Idaho)
• Zeandae Johnson, DT (Cal)
• Myron Mitchell, WR (UAB)
• Riley Patterson, K (Memphis)
• Whop Philyor, WR (Indiana)
• Blake Proehl, WR (East Carolina)
• A.J. Rose, RB (Kentucky)
• Jordan Scott, NT (Oregon)
• Zach Von Rosenberg, P (LSU) (story)

The Vikings are guaranteeing $100K of Proehl’s base salary and adding a $15K signing bonus, veteran NFL reporter Aaron Wilson tweets. This will mark another second-generation NFL wideout for the Vikes, who already employ Don Beebe‘s son, Chad. Blake Proehl’s father, Ricky Proehl, played 17 NFL seasons. Christian Elliss joins Proehl in being the son of an NFLer; his father, Luther Elliss, played 10 seasons as a defensive tackle (nine with the Lions).

Patterson will join Greg Joseph as the Vikings’ kickers. Minnesota added Joseph in February, but he has not kicked in a regular-season game since 2019. He and Patterson, who kicked in 51 games for the Tigers, figure to compete for the job in camp. Patterson missed seven field goals as a senior but made 23 of 25 kicks in 2019. They will vie to succeed Dan Bailey, who struggled last season.

Philyor proving to be an NFL-caliber receiver could potentially land him an endorsement deal, at least at Minneapolis-area Burger Kings, with his nickname being geared around his affinity for Whoppers as a boy. At Indiana, he posted a 1,002-yard receiving season as a junior in 2019.