With OTAs and minicamp in the books, we've had our fair share of early overreactions, and why not? We're starving for football. The offseason can get brutally long. Now, handing out the "bust" label to a rookie? That's a little much.
However, if we're talking about a recent draft pick and not necessarily a rookie, the conversation changes. And that's exactly the conversation we need to have when it comes to 2022 third-round pick Brian Asamoah II.
The linebacker out of Oklahoma entered his respective draft as arguably one of the top at his position but fell to the third round. Now having seen a couple of players move ahead of him on the depth chart, Asamoah is entering a make-or-break year in 2025.
Brian Asamoah may be off the Vikings' roster after just his rookie contract
This league is all about "what have you done for me lately?" and we know it. In three seasons, Asamoah has appeared in 46 games. He's tallied a total of just 30 tackles, with none of them coming for a loss.
To say he's been a disappointment would be an understatement. A third-round pick is supposed to be better than this, and all Asamoah has been able to do is become a regular on special teams.
His defensive snaps have gone from 11 percent as a rookie, down to four percent in his second season and just three percent last year. Meanwhile, he's played at least 61 percent of snaps on special teams in all three seasons.
A special teams regular is not exactly what you're bargaining for with a third-round pick. Sure, he's not off the roster (yet) but he has not been the defensive contributor many thought he could be.
Minnesota also signed Eric Wilson while drafting Kobe King in the sixth round this year, essentially saying this team is investing more into the inside linebacker position and readying themselves for when Asamoah is eventually gone in 2026.
This year is crucial for the former Sooner. If he doesn't have a big summer or become a Pro Bowl special teams standout, he's going to be gone next spring.
