Minnesota Vikings rookie Tai Felton could earn massive role this season
In this story:
Former Terrapin Tai Felton is entering his rookie season with the opportunity to become an early impact player for the Minnesota Vikings this fall.
Following a stellar career at Maryland, where he became the program record holder for single-season catches (96) and ranks third all-time in career receptions (172), Felton now looks to continue that success in the NFL. Vikings' wide receivers coach Keenan McCardell thinks that Felton has a shot at establishing himself as a key playmaker with the Vikings for the long haul.
Speaking with the Star Tribune over the summer, McCardell, who also coached the wide receivers at Maryland from 2014-2015, recalled working with Felton during his Pro Day leading up to the draft.
“I ran it, basically,” McCardell told the Star Tribune about Felton's Pro Day. “It was a really good workout. I told him, ‘Hey, man, you got me thinking now. If I get a chance, I’m going to fight to get you.’ … He can play special teams and do a lot of things to help us as a team, first, and then as a receiver. I think he’s going to be a good Viking for a long time.”
So when Felton was still on the board as the Vikings were making their third-round pick, the folks calling the shots in Minnesota knew exactly what they were going to do.
Felton enters a Vikings wide receiver room that includes elite playmakers like Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison. But recent reports indicate that Addison could face a suspension from a 2024 DUI citation that could sideline him for a portion of the season, with NFL insider Adam Schefter indicating he could be facing a three-game suspension.
If convicted, Vikings wide receiver Jordan Addison could be facing a baseline three-game suspension, per NFL policy. https://t.co/we6dIrQSpo
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) July 15, 2025
A potential suspension for Addison could open the door for a playmaker like Felton to establish himself in the Vikings offense early.
- Enjoy more Maryland coverage on Maryland Terrapins On SI -
More Maryland News
Derik Queen is a top performer in the NBA Summer League
Maryland 5-star commit Zion Elee remains near the top in latest Rivals300 rankings
Maryland Basketball offers explosive 4-star forward
Maryland Football: Reason for optimism ahead of the 2025 college football season
Maryland Football's 2026 recruiting class continues to struggle in latest Big Ten rankings
Derik Queen secures another double-double in Game 2 of NBA Summer League
Christopher Breiler launched Winged Helmet Media and began covering the Michigan Football program in an unofficial capacity in 2017. He then joined Wolverine Digest as part of the FanNation network in 2021 as a contributing writer, where he served as both a writer and a photographer on game days. In 2024, he took over as the Managing Editor for Michigan Wolverines On SI. In January of 2025, he took over as Publisher for Maryland On SI. His love for Michigan Football brought him into the industry, and his passion for being a content creator has led to some amazing experiences along the way.
Follow TWH_Chris