Inside The Vikings

Vikings UDFA profile: BYU OLB Tyler Batty is an old rookie with a chance

Batty, who is already 26, has the tools and motor to potentially make the Vikings' roster.
Will Ragatz|
Oct 18, 2024; Provo, Utah, USA; Brigham Young Cougars defensive end Tyler Batty (92) encourages fans to cheer against the Oklahoma State Cowboys during the fourth quarter at LaVell Edwards Stadium.
Oct 18, 2024; Provo, Utah, USA; Brigham Young Cougars defensive end Tyler Batty (92) encourages fans to cheer against the Oklahoma State Cowboys during the fourth quarter at LaVell Edwards Stadium. | Rob Gray-Imagn Images

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Minnesota Vikings

With Vikings training camp coming up, we're going to help you prepare by introducing you to some of the unheralded names on the roster: the undrafted rookies. Over the next few weeks, we'll be taking a look at all 21 of Minnesota's UDFA additions this year.

Vikings UDFA profile: BYU OLB Tyler Batty

  • Age: 26
  • Size: 6'5", 271
  • RAS: 8.76
  • 2024 stats: 59 tackles, 7 TFL, 1.5 sacks, 2 INT
  • Guaranteed money: $259,000
Tyler Batty's Relative Athletic Score
Tyler Batty's Relative Athletic Score | Kent Lee Platte (ras.football)

It typically isn't too hard to figure out why a player went undrafted — whether it's size, athleticism, college production, or another factor. With Tyler Batty, what jumps out is his age. Batty, who served a three-year LDS mission before spending five years at BYU, is already 26 years old. He's been married for over four years. By NFL rookie standards, he's borderline ancient.

But even if Batty's ceiling may be capped by his age and lack of quick-twitch athleticism, he has the size, strength, and motor to put himself in the mix for a spot on the Vikings' 53-man roster. Having played in 53 games at BYU, Batty has substantial experience and a path to contributing as a depth and special teams player during his rookie contract. After all, there's a reason why he received more guaranteed money than any other undrafted free agent the Vikings signed this spring.

Batty, who grew up on a farm in Utah, stuck with football despite a scary head injury from an ATV accident just before high school. Over his five seasons at BYU, he recorded 16.5 sacks, 34 total tackles for loss, three forced fumbles, and a pair of interceptions. Not unlike 2024 UDFA Bo Richter, Batty is a big, strong defensive end who wins with physicality and a relentless motor. He isn't dripping with burst or agility, but he's a violent, powerful player who can rush the passer in a variety of ways.

With the Vikings, there's at least one roster spot, if not two, up for grabs in a competition between four former undrafted players at outside linebacker. Batty's college production and the amount of guaranteed money he got from Minnesota suggest he has a real chance to emerge from that competition with a spot on the team.

Vikings estimated OLB depth chart

  • Jonathan Greenard
  • Andrew Van Ginkel
  • Dallas Turner
  • Bo Richter
  • Gabriel Murphy
  • Tyler Batty (rookie)
  • Chaz Chambliss (rookie)

Previous UDFA profiles

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Will Ragatz
WILL RAGATZ

Will Ragatz is a senior writer for Vikings On SI, who also covers the Twins, Timberwolves, Gophers, and other Minnesota teams. He is a credentialed Minnesota Vikings beat reporter, covering the team extensively at practices, games and throughout the NFL draft and free agency period. Ragatz attended Northwestern University, where he studied at the prestigious Medill School of Journalism. During his time as a student, he covered Northwestern Wildcats football and basketball for SB Nation’s Inside NU, eventually serving as co-editor-in-chief in his junior year. In the fall of 2018, Will interned in Sports Illustrated’s newsroom in New York City, where he wrote articles on Major League Baseball, college football, and college basketball for SI.com.

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