Vikings UDFA Profile: Georgia Southern CB NaJee Thompson
Over the next couple weeks, Inside the Vikings will be taking a look at all 15 members of Minnesota's 2023 undrafted free agent class.
Vikings UDFA profile: Georgia Southern CB NaJee Thompson
- Size: 5'10", 200
- RAS: 1.59
- 2022 stats: 37 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 INT, 11 passes defended
NaJee Thompson spent five seasons at Georgia Southern, beginning his career as a wide receiver and ending it at cornerback. Throughout his career, the constant was Thompson's impact on special teams. He was a core special teams player for GSU during all five of his seasons, playing a wide range of roles in that phase of the game.
In his first two college seasons, Thompson racked up four fumble recoveries, a forced fumble, and a blocked punt. In 2020, he blocked two punts. In 2021, he was named a first team All-American as a special teams player by Pro Football Network.
Through his first four seasons, Thompson hadn't seen a huge role on either offense or defense. He had 13 touches and 170 total yards in his first three seasons as a backup wide receiver, then recorded his first interception after making the switch to corner in 2021. But last year, as a fifth-year senior, Thompson got the opportunity to start at corner at ran with it, breaking up 11 passes and adding his second INT.
With the Vikings, Thompson's path to stick around is all about special teams. If he can show off his abilities as a gunner and blocker in that phase, he may have a shot to earn a practice squad spot. Kris Boyd, who led Minnesota with 419 special teams snaps last season, is now with the Cardinals, so there are snaps available.
"Opportunity will present itself and I will make that 53 man roster at end of the day," Thompson tweeted after signing with the Vikings. "I know I’m the best special teams player in the country short simple and sweet…. Film can’t lie! Blessed for this opportunity that’s coming to prove all other 31 teams that passed up wrong!!"
It'll be an uphill battle for Thompson, whose 1.59 RAS suggests he's simply not an NFL-caliber athlete. He also has just one full year of experience as a starting cornerback, which is much less than fellow UDFA CBs Jaylin Williams and C.J. Coldon. It'll all come down to special teams.
Vikings' offseason cornerback depth chart:
- Byron Murphy Jr.
- Akayleb Evans
- Andrew Booth Jr.
- Mekhi Blackmon (rookie)
- Joejuan Williams
- Jay Ward (rookie)
- Tay Gowan
- Kalon Barnes
- John Reid
- C.J. Coldon (rookie)
- Jaylin Williams (rookie)
- NaJee Thompson (rookie)
Other Vikings UDFA profiles
Thanks for reading. Make sure to bookmark this site and check back daily for the latest Vikings news and analysis all offseason long. Also, follow me on Twitter and feel free to ask me any questions on there.
