Vikings rookie report cards: Donovan Jackson excelled; undrafted players stepped up

The Vikings finished their season with 10 rookies on their active roster, three on the injured reserve or physically unable to perform lists, and five on reserve/future contracts.

In a season in which a number of veteran players missed time because of various injuries, those rookies were often the next men up, sometimes on big stages.

Here’s how the Vikings’ 2025 draft class fared, plus status reports on a few undrafted free agents (UDFAs) who made roles for themselves.

Jackson, a product of Ohio State, proved the Vikings right in picking him. He was one of the most consistent presences on the offensive line throughout a tumultuous season. Coaches and teammates routinely praised “Donnie” for his ability to learn on the fly and his grit, especially only missing two games after a wrist injury that required surgery. Jackson allowed only two sacks and five quarterback hits all season, according to Pro Football Focus.

“He’s been everything that we hoped for going into his rookie year,” offensive coordinator Wes Phillips said Dec. 30. “He’s had some ups and downs, as any of ‘em will, but he’s improved throughout the year. ... I know he’s earned a lot of respect from his teammates, which is just huge going forward as a young player.”

Stats: 14 games played (14 starts)

Brosmer, the Gophers product who first caught coach Kevin O’Connell’s eye shortly after his transfer spring 2024, ended up having more on his plate this season than anyone could have expected. The undrafted free agent appeared in seven games and started two in place of J.J. McCarthy; he also finished games McCarthy exited early against the Giants and Packers.

Stats: 7 games played (2 starts), 47-for-71 for 328 yards, 0 touchdowns, 4 interceptions, 14 sacks

Price played little at wide receiver but quickly asserted himself as the Vikings’ answer at both kick and punt return after Rondale Moore was injured in the preseason. While his season wasn’t without its miscues, Price returned the third-most kickoffs in the NFL and had the third-most returns of over 20 yards in the first season of updated dynamic kickoff rules. He missed the final game of the season because of an ankle injury.

Stats: 1,479 yards on 57 kick returns (25.9 avg. per return), 298 yards on 30 punt returns (9.9 avg.)

Felton also featured most heavily on special teams in his rookie season but did play 46 snaps on offense, mostly in the final five games of the season. That’s about how the season was expected to go for the Maryland product, but with Jalen Nailor potentially departing in free agency, Felton could be expected to take on a bigger role next season.

“I’ll say he had a great rookie year,” wide receiver Jordan Addison said Dec. 31. “When he did get his opportunities to go in on offense, he knew what to do. ... Next year’s gonna be even more special.”

Ingram-Dawkins played 249 defensive snaps throughout the season all across the line, though a majority of his snaps (89) were on the left edge.

“Great first year,” Ingram-Dawkins said Jan. 5. “Different from college a lot. Played a lot in the same position, which was really good for me.”

Stats: 14 games played (1 start), 11 tackles, 1 sack for 6 yards, 1 pass defended

Williams, one of the most unlikely players to make the 53-man roster at the beginning of the season, ended the season on injured reserve with an ankle injury but played 42 snaps on defense throughout the year.

Stats: 7 games played, 5 tackles

Stats: 12 games played (1 start), 2 catches for 14 yards

Huber participated in the merry-go-round along the Vikings offensive line, where 10 players received snaps this season.

Stats: 12 games played (1 start)

Bartholomew missed the entire 2025 season after suffering a back injury near the end of the offseason program that eventually landed him on the physically unable to perform list. The Vikings opened his 21-day practice window at the end of the season to get him some work but ultimately did not activate him.

“We’re stealing time that, in the old days, you might not necessarily would have had that,” O’Connell said Dec. 31. “I think is going to serve him a ton on the back end.”

Batty’s most notable moment of the season was against the Eagles when he ended up at the bottom of the Vikings’ unique formation attempting to stop Philadelphia’s tush push. He featured most on special teams otherwise.

Stats: 12 games played, 4 tackles, 2 tackles for loss

King, the Vikings’ second-to-last 2025 draft pick, was waived by the team Oct. 23. He was picked up by the Jets and appeared in nine games for them.