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Vikings Sign Former Penn State, UNC D-Lineman After Rookie Minicamp

Smith Vilbert is a 6'6" defensive lineman with some length and versatility.
Will Ragatz|
Sep 13, 2025; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; Richmond Spiders running back Andrew King (8) runs as North Carolina Tar Heels defensive lineman Smith Vilbert (8) defends in the second quarter at Kenan Stadium.
Sep 13, 2025; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; Richmond Spiders running back Andrew King (8) runs as North Carolina Tar Heels defensive lineman Smith Vilbert (8) defends in the second quarter at Kenan Stadium. | Bob Donnan-Imagn Images

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Minnesota Vikings

After the conclusion of their rookie minicamp on Friday, the Vikings signed former Penn State and North Carolina defensive lineman Smith Vilbert to an undrafted free agent contract, according to his agent Brett Tessler. Vilbert was one of 21 rookie tryout players at Friday's camp and must have impressed the coaching staff in a short time period.

Standing nearly 6'6" and 290 pounds, Vilbert has 34-inch arms and brings some versatility. He lined up mostly as an edge defender in college but can also play on the interior of the D-line.

A New Jersey native, Vilbert was a three-star recruit coming out of high school in 2019 and chose Penn State over several other big-time offers. His college career didn't exactly go to plan. He redshirted his first two years, saw some time in 2021 and had three sacks, and then missed virtually all of the 2022 and 2023 seasons due to injury or other undisclosed reasons.

In 2024, his sixth year at Penn State, Vilbert broke out as a solid rotational contributor. He had four tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, and two forced fumbles. One of those forced fumbles came on a nasty move in the season opener against West Virginia.

With a year of eligibility remaining, Vilbert transferred to North Carolina for the 2025 season and became a full-time starter for the first time. He played over 500 defensive snaps and recorded 6 TFL plus a sack, a forced fumble, two pass breakups, and two fumble recoveries. He registered 21 pressures on 274 pass-rush snaps, per PFF.

The Vikings now have two starters from UNC's defense on their roster in Vilbert and cornerback Marcus Allen, an intriguing undrafted rookie.

Here's what the Vikings' defensive line depth chart looks like, in estimated order:

  • Jalen Redmond
  • Caleb Banks
  • Domonique Orange
  • Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins
  • Levi Drake Rodriguez
  • Eric Johnson II
  • Taki Taimani
  • Elijah Williams
  • Monkell Goodwine
  • Smith Vilbert

There should be some good competition in that room. Johnson is a former fifth-round pick who has seen the field with the Colts and Patriots. Williams joined the Vikings last offseason as a rookie minicamp tryout player, then made the initial 53-man roster. Taimani made the Vikings' 2024 roster as a UDFA.

It may be tough for him to climb up the depth chart enough to make the 53-man roster, but Vilbert should have an opportunity to make the practice squad if he continues to impress this offseason.

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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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