The Buzz Doesn’t Stop for an Undrafted Vikings Rookie

Nothing is more fun to watch than an undrafted rookie overcoming the odds and showing enough promise to clinch one of the 53 coveted roster spots. The Vikings have had fairly much success in that area in franchise history, but also recently with Ivan Pace Jr. They might have found another hidden gem.

It’s time to pay attention to Vikings rookie Zemaiah Vaughn.

Cornerback Zemaiah Vaughn has turned some heads in his young NFL career. The undrafted rookie, who played his college ball at Utah, should be taken seriously.

Recently, around mandatory minicamp, Vikings beat writer of The Athletic, Alec Lewis, noted via social media, “Not going to make too much out of OTAs/minicamp, but one guy who keeps flashing to me is Utah undrafted corner Zemaiah Vaughn. Just always around the ball, never seems out of place.”

Sure, it’s just OTAs and minicamp, but his name keeps popping up.

Vaughn first got attention when he made a splashy interception last month.

Craig Peters, Vikings.com, wrote in his rookie minicamp observations: “Beyond intended pass catchers, there also were back-to-back interceptions recorded. The first was by undrafted rookie Zemaiah Vaughn, which prompted O’Connell to walk over and congratulate him. The second was by sixth-round pick Kobe King, a linebacker out of Penn State.”

The play was caught on video, although it was a little hard to see.

Vaughn (#34) is catching the pass at the 47-second mark. The video cuts off right before the O’Connell interaction.

Lewis summarized the play in his rookie minicamp takeaways: “Maybe the most impressive play of the day occurred on the left sideline, as Brosmer tried to layer a pass into a pocket in the defense’s zone coverage. Zemaiah Vaughn, an undrafted cornerback from Utah, leaped and secured the interception. Afterward, defensive passing game coordinator and defensive backs coach Daronte Jones and even O’Connell patted Vaughn on the helmet.”

Vaughn also got some money to warrant attention. Although the guaranteed money isn’t a guarantee of any success for undrafted rookies, it still suggests that other teams were also interested in his services, resulting in some kind of bidding war.

When he signed with the club, the defender received $249,000 in guaranteed money. That ranks him third on the team behind pass rusher Tyler Batty and tight end Ben Yurosek. Auburn’s linebacker Austin Keys also received $249,000.

Some rookies are a long shot to make the team because their position groups are already filled, but Vaughn’s cornerback position isn’t. The Vikings re-signed Byron Murphy Jr. to be the team’s CB1 in Brian Flores’ defense.

Other than that, Isaiah Rodgers is the frontrunner for the other starting job, while third-year player Mekhi Blackmon and free agent addition Jeff Okudah could be in the mix. Ambry Thomas has collected some experience over the years, and Dwight McGlothern played well in last year’s preseason.

Still, behind the first two or three guys, it’s an open competition, and a guy like Vaughn could enter the race.

Vaughn went undrafted after spending his five collegiate seasons at Utah. At 6’2″ and 186 pounds with a 4.45 40-yard dash, he has the physical tools to succeed at the next level.

Former Senior Bowl director Jim Nagy tweeted ahead of the draft: “CB Zemaiah Vaughn’s (6021v, 175v, 32 7/8 arm) name out there much in draft rankings right now but he possesses one of best combos of length & speed in this year’s draft. Springy athlete should blow up Combine and his makeup speed jumps off the tape.”

In his college career, Vaughn played in 56 games, secured three interceptions, had three sacks, 14 tackles for loss, and 144 tackles.

Like many undrafted players, he might just disappear after the roster cuts in August. However, players who make noise beyond that start exactly like Vaughn has, with a little buzz here and there.