It’s time to start thinking about Minnesota Vikings’ training camp — one of the most wonderful times of the year — because that will arrive live and in color at the end of the month. To get you ready, it’s important to know which players are trending up, eyeing roster spots, or in worst-case scenarios, practice squad placement.

Listed alphabetically, these are the Vikings who are suddenly turning heads — in a good way.

Dillon Bell’s Gadget Case Is Getting Harder to Ignore

1. Dillon Bell | WR

The Vikings haven’t had a player quite like Bell in a long time. While technically a wide receiver, Bell’s true value emerges when Minnesota utilizes him beyond that traditional role. His appeal lies in his versatility: think hand-off and gadgetry. Basically manufactured touches that exploit his athleticism if he make the active roster.

Percy Harvin, who last played for the Vikings 13 years ago, served as a prime example of this type of dynamic playmaker. Cordarrelle Patterson also comes to mind, too, though Minnesota never fully capitalized on his diverse skill set before his departure.

Bell’s immediate challenge is to parlay his early-summer buzz into a roster spot by September. If he secures a place on the 53-man roster, Minnesota gains a wide receiver capable of significantly shaking up their offensive scheme. The Vikings already possess a strong contingent of conventional receivers; Bell’s unique selling proposition is to offer Kevin O’Connell something entirely different.

Kevin Seifert wrote about Bell last month, “It can be difficult to gauge receiver skill sets in spring practices, when NFL rules prohibit physical coverage techniques. But it was eye-opening to see Bell — an undrafted rookie from Georgia — working extensively with the second team during drills.”

“That placement spoke volumes about his initial impression with Vikings coaches, who in essence were putting him in the (early) mix to be the No. 4 receiver behind Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison and Jauan Jennings.”

2. Charles Demmings | CB

The Athletic‘s Dane Brugler noted on Bell after the draft, “Day 3 pick who could surprise: Charles Demmings, CB, Stephen F. Austin. Aside from Demmings always being a great quote, he leaves everything he has on the field. With his cover athleticism and mental toughness, Demmings was a worthy bet in the fifth round, and he landed with a team that needed cornerback depth.”

Fast forward to minicamp, and Demmings basically effectuated that Brugler prediction. He looked terrific, and Minnesota’s cornerback room is ripe for a hungry newcomer.

Demmings possesses an impressive physical profile even before he steps onto the field. Standing 6’1″, 195 pounds, and running a 4.41 40-yard dash, his measurables alone command attention for a cornerback. At Stephen F. Austin, he further solidified his resume with nine interceptions and showed the ability to cover deep routes.

His combination of length and speed is precisely what Minnesota can leverage at cornerback, particularly within a Brian Flores defense that demands defensive backs to excel in isolated coverage.

The only catch? Demmings did not really face top-tier collegiate receivers, and he occasionally tends to be overly physical downfield, a habit that is quickly penalized by NFL officials.

3. Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins | DL

Ingram-Dawkins represents the kind of experimental player development that sounds unconventional until Flores gets involved. Initially drafted as a defensive tackle, Ingram-Dawkins is now exploring outside linebacker or a hybrid role — an intriguing positional shift. The versatility is precisely why Minnesota drafted him. The Vikings identified “tweener” potential, and Flores likely envisions a versatile weapon to disrupt opposing offenses.

Should the transition prove successful, Minnesota could cultivate an in-house EDGE rusher, circumventing the need to pursue a free agent. The Vikings really, really need a backup outside linebacker to step up this summer.

Ingram-Dawkins said last month about switching to OLB: “I just cleaned up my body a lot in the offseason. I mean, I’m still 280 pounds. Why was it important to clean up your body? You know, just trying to make a big, big jump from my last year. You know, I feel like that was one of the things that I could work on in my game. You know, developing a core and all that, that’ll help me in my techniques with all the versatile positions that I’m playing across the line.”

“The main focus was to just clean up my body. You know, I feel like that could only help me with how versatile I’m using, I’m being used across the line with all positions. You know, I just feel like I can play all around the line and wherever they wanna plug me and play me. That’s — I’m gonna just put my all into that.”

Wouldn’t you know it? At minicamp, Ingram-Dawkins saw most action on the EDGEs of the defensive line.

4. The Thomas Safeties

This gets confusing, so pull up a chair.

Minnesota drafted Miami’s Jakobe Thomas in Round 3 two months ago — the first installment of the Jonathan Greenard trade. Another 3rd-Rounder is on the way next year. Meanwhile, the Vikings also signed safety and undrafted free agent Jacob Thomas from James Madison.

Both Thomases did their part at minicamp; there’s a decent chance that a ‘J. Thomas” puts his thumbprint on the 2026 Vikings.