The Minnesota Vikings concluded mandatory minicamp last week, continuing voluntary organized team activities (OTAs) this week before a five-week-long break until July’s training camp.
The Vikings signed an undrafted rookie free agent last week, right after minicamp ended.
And right after minicamp, the Vikings signed yet another offensive lineman, this time an undrafted free agent (UDFA) named Vershon Lee from the University of South Carolina.
Minnesota previously used a Top 30 visit on Lee leading up to the 2025 NFL Draft.
Vikings Sign OL Vershon Lee
Lee is formally on board with the Vikings’ 90-man roster.
Nov 5, 2022; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks wide receiver Antwane Wells Jr. (3) celebrates with offensive lineman V. Lee (53) after a touchdown during the first half against the Vanderbilt Commodores at FirstBank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-Imagn Images.
Vikings.com’s Rob Kleifield wrote, “After wrapping up its mandatory minicamp, Minnesota added to its offensive line. The Vikings on Friday announced the signing of former South Carolina Gamecocks o-lineman Vershon Lee. To make room for Lee, the Vikings released S Bubba Bolden.”
“Lee started 40 games in college (18 at center, 16 at left guard and six at right tackle) and appeared in 51 contests overall. He participated in a tryout with the Vikings on Thursday after going unselected in the 2025 NFL Draft and was hosted by Minnesota during a Top 30 visit.”
Minnesota has 10 weeks before roster trimdowns from 90 men to 53, so Lee will battle at training camp and in the preseason.
Who’s Vershon Lee?
No team drafted Lee in April, who ranked No. 611 on the Consensus Big Board. He played 51 career games at the University of South Carolina, starting in 2020 and ending last year. The 23-year-old is 6’4″ and 310 pounds.
Oct 17, 2020; Columbia, South Carolina, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks offensive lineman V. Lee (77) and South Carolina Gamecocks offensive lineman Jazston Turnetine (75) celebrate following their win over the Auburn Tigers at Williams-Brice Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Blake-USA TODAY Sports.
Kleifield added about Lee’s bio: “In 2024, Lee started all 13 games at center for South Carolina and was tabbed a Rex Enright permanent team captain after the season. He also was named to the SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll and was a co-recipient of the program’s Community Service Award.”
“Lee earned solid run-blocking grades from Pro Football Focus in 2024 (71.4) and 2023 (72.0). At the Gamecocks Pro Day in March, he measured in a smidge taller than 6-foot-3 and weighed 304 pounds; Lee lifted 28 reps of 225 pounds on the bench press and ran the 40-yard dash in 5.12 seconds. A native of Woodbridge, Virginia, Lee initially garnered rookie minicamp invites from Kansas City and Chicago.”
The OL Depth with Vershon Lee in the House
Lee was immediately listed as a guard on the Vikings’ website, meaning he’ll join this group:
Will Fries Donovan Jackson Blake Brandel Henry Byrd Joe Huber Marcellus Johnson Vershon Lee
It’s worth noting that Lee could also be a contingency plan at center.
Lee’s Realistic Roster Projection
Generally speaking, Lee is unlikely to make the 53-man roster late in August. Stranger things have happened, but he’s a relative unknown and only familiar to some Vikings fans because of the Top 30 visit a few months ago.
Dec 1, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota head coach Kevin O’Connell talks with running back Ty Chandler (32) before the game against the Arizona Cardinals at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images.
Realistically, Lee’s best-case scenario might be a spot on the 2025 practice squad, assuming he doesn’t blow the coaching staff away in July and August.
PPTSD on Lee
PurplePTSD‘s Janik Eckardt wrote about Lee last weekend, “After the draft, Minnesota signed three undrafted offensive linemen. They did not select one in the draft. It hasn’t been announced where the Vikings want to use the blocker, so it’s hard to predict his exact competition. Considering his 2024 position was center, that could be a decent guess.”
“The Vikes have hired new starter Ryan Kelly and still have Michael Jurgens under contract, a 2024 seventh-rounder. He could also be in line for a move to guard. Zeke Correll, an undrafted rookie, would be the next in line. His flexibility to play center, guard, and tackle could give him a chance at the next level.”
Minnesota has added nearly 25 UDFAs since late April.
Eckardt concluded, “Teams always look for versatile backups because they can only keep so many players on the roster and dress even fewer on gameday.”
Bubba Bolden’s Departure: A Tough Call for Depth
To accommodate Lee, the Vikings made the tough decision to part ways with safety Bubba Bolden, a move that caught many fans off guard. Bolden, who was the first free agent signed by the Vikings when the free agency period opened in March 2025, was expected to compete for a depth role in Minnesota’s secondary. However, his release reflects the team’s confidence in their current safety group, despite losing starter Camryn Bynum to the Indianapolis Colts in free agency.
Bolden, a 26-year-old defensive back with a 4.47-second 40-yard dash and a 6-foot-3, 204-pound frame, has had a challenging journey since entering the NFL. After spending time in the XFL and facing multiple suspensions, including a three-game ban in 2024 for undisclosed reasons and a 28-month suspension during his college career at USC, Bolden struggled to secure a consistent role. Despite his athleticism, he faced an uphill battle to crack Minnesota’s safety rotation, which includes stalwarts like Harrison Smith, Josh Metellus, and Theo Jackson, who was extended during the offseason. With only Jay Ward and Mishael Powell remaining as additional depth, the Vikings’ decision to release Bolden raises questions about their confidence in the safety position heading into the 2025 season.
The Vikings’ Safety Group without Bubba Bolden
Bolden, another UDFA, is no longer attached to the purple team’s roster, and he’s free to sign anywhere in the NFL.
Without Bolden, here’s the safety group for defensive coordinator Brian Flores:
Harrison Smith Josh Metellus Theo Jackson Jay Ward Mishael Powell
Depending on Powell, that unit could be basically set for 2025.