Vikings Add Former Giants Draft Pick to Training Camp Roster Battle

The Minnesota Vikings did not land a former Mr. Irrelevant, the nickname affectionately given to the players selected with the final pick in their respective draft class. The Vikings did come close, though, signing former New York Giants draft pick Gervarrius Owens in free agency.

Owens was the No. 254 overall pick in the 2023 draft, five slots ahead of Mr. Irrelevant in his class, defensive lineman Desjuan Johnson, who went to the Los Angeles Rams.

“#LegendsLiveHere,” SportsTrust Advisors posted on X on July 30, announcing the deal.

Owens spent the 2024 season with the Tennessee Titans. He has recorded 1 combined tackle and recovered 1 fumble in his five career games played, three of which came as a rookie with the Giants.

If Owens is going to make the Vikings’ 53-man roster, he will have to beat out some promising candidates.

Gervarrius Owens Joins Intriguing Roster Battle

Getty| Theo Jackson of the Minnesota Vikings enters the field before facing the New York Jets.

The Vikings are strong at the top of their depth chart at the safety spot with Harrison Smith and Josh Metellus, who just re-upped on a four-year, $36 million contract, meaning Owens, who spent time with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this offseason, will compete for a backup spot.

He must contend with Theo Jackson, who is expected to assume the on-field role vacated by Camryn Bynum (Indianapolis Colts), Jay Ward, and rookie UDFA Mishael Powell.

Veteran Tavierre Thomas is also in the mix, though he is listed as a “DB” on the team’s website.

That gives him positional versatility and, potentially, greater job security when the Vikings start making roster cuts in August. The Athletic’s Alec Lewis projected Powell as the lone “out” among the group for a spot on the 53-man roster.

There are questions about how Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores will deploy his personnel this season.

Bynum was a key to allowing Metellus to line up at various positions.

“Last year, Flores utilized three-safety personnel groupings on nearly 75 percent of snaps. Will that continue without Cam Bynum? If so, will the Vikings rely on cornerbacks like [Byron] Murphy and [Isaiah] Rodgers? If the Vikings opt to use three cornerbacks (Murphy, Rodgers and [Jeff] Okudah), what will that mean for their safety usage?” Lewis wrote on July 30.

“Would Flores entertain more dime personnel (six defensive backs)? He wasn’t afraid to roll this out in 2024, especially on third down.”

Former UDFA Pays Price for Gervarrius Owens

Getty| Max Tooley #45 of the Houston Texans tackles Boston Scott #30 of the Los Angeles Rams.

The Vikings announced the deal for Owens, and they made a corresponding move, waiving 2024 UDFA and outside linebacker Max Tooley, whose appearance was more notable than his contributions so far.

“Sporting a mustache and a mullet, Tooley at least has the look,” Lewis wrote on July 9, offering thoughts on 46 different Vikings defenders before training camp.

Tooley, 27, spent six years in college at BYU, earning bowl trips in his first five campaigns.

He originally signed with the Houston Texans after the draft, but the Vikings signed him two days after his release in September 2024. Tooley plays a loaded position for the Vikings that still features starters Blake Cashman and Ivan Pace Jr.

Veteran reserves Brian Asomoah II and Eric Wilson are also on hand. Notably, Lewis also projected that Tooley would fail to earn a spot on the Vikings’ 53-man roster later this summer.

Owens figures to face just as steep a climb up the Vikings’ depth chart.