Overlooked no more…

StickierBuns wrote:

https://x.com/alec_lewis/status/2092950587591590007?s=46&t=ohFAAgt56m6anXyDpx1btQ

According to PFF, Thomas has been the highest graded rookie in the NFL so far this preseason.

Kid looks like he can play, always seems to be in the right place. I hope he can handle the stress when he gets on the field and the game is moving so fast.

MaroonBells wrote:

According to PFF, Thomas has been the highest graded rookie in the NFL so far this preseason.

Another potential sleeper is Bangally Kamara, has graded out as the #9 rookie per PFF

https://www.pff.com/news/highest-graded-nfl-rookies-after-week-2-of-the-2026-preseason

9. LB Bangally Kamara, Minnesota Vikings: 87.0

Kamara has been all over the field through two preseason games, particularly as a run defender, where he has earned an 86.4 PFF grade. He has yet to miss a tackle and has recorded nine tackles resulting in a defensive stop, leading all players in preseason.

Love it when the Adam Thielen, John Randle's of the world defy the odds. It's going to take me awhile to figure out all these Thomas's on the team.

Still Hurtn wrote:

Love it when the Adam Thielen, John Randle's of the world defy the odds. It's going to take me awhile to figure out all these Thomas's on the team.

Yup, too many Thomas's and too many JJ's...

rf54 wrote:

Kid looks like he can play, always seems to be in the right place. I hope he can handle the stress when he gets on the field and the game is moving so fast.

Yah, I'm taking in all the good that promise can provide in August...

That said, do the gods owe me (us?) some payback for KAM decision on Hamilton?

Long way to go, but what a boon this would be if he ends up being a real contributor some time. Its a need position.

And he can fill in at WR and QB! In high school he made a one hander to win state championship on a 3rd and 16 in OT. Ironically, Tai Felton was on same team and Thomas was only playing WR, because Felton was injured. The next year amazingly, he wins state championship again on last play of game, this time throwing a Hail Mary on last play of game while playing QB.

:55 mark of video

:30 of video

NorseFeathers wrote:

Another potential sleeper is Bangally Kamara, has graded out as the #9 rookie per PFF
https://www.pff.com/news/highest-graded-nfl-rookies-after-week-2-of-the-2026-preseason
9. LB Bangally Kamara, Minnesota Vikings: 87.0Kamara has been all over the field through two preseason games, particularly as a run defender, where he has earned an 86.4 PFF grade. He has yet to miss a tackle and has recorded nine tackles resulting in a defensive stop, leading all players in preseason.

Kamara has been doing it with the 3s, while Thomas stepped in with the 1s. Kamara may make the practice squad but I think Thomas will be on the regular squad.

In fact, many of Thomas’ former coaches begged their scouting friends to take the converted safety late in the NFL Draft. Ironically, according to several of these former coaches, the Green Bay Packers were one of the teams closest to pulling the trigger.

Finally read the article. Thanks for posting @StickierBuns 

Hopefully their loss is our gain. Sounds like he could be a real gem.

It's PS but the film says he's the real deal. His football IQ is above average so he plays fast. It'd be criminal if he doesn't make 53 man roster. Video is from a Ravens fan perspective.

He's not small or slow.

Thats a great find Mattyman!!

Is there REALLY ANYONE who's going to challenge this Thomas for Mr Mankato?

My football soul yearns for some Hamilton pay-back.

I know its a long-shot for that level of play, but I can sure still hope the kid becomes a good player for us.

We’ll need to see how he fares when the bullets are live, but damn, he sure looks like the real deal.

Mattyman wrote:

It's PS but the film says he's the real deal. His football IQ is above average so he plays fast. It'd be criminal if he doesn't make 53 man roster. Video is from a Ravens fan perspective.
He's not small or slow.

Nice find. He is suddenly my favorite diamond in the rough. Demmings looks the part too, but he has been quiet lately.

greediron wrote:

Nice find. He is suddenly my favorite diamond in the rough. Demmings looks the part too, but he has been quiet lately.

Chuck D's rawness flashes in the PS games, going to need a year or so of NFL coaching.

But a hella locker room presence in the interim

Hoping the best for him. I want to believe.🙏

Richard and Geraldine Thomas worked multiple jobs to help put Vikings safety Jacob Thomas through two years at James Madison University without a scholarship.

They still regularly attended his games. They are even now during the NFL preseason, traveling from their home in Virginia to East Rutherford, N.J.; Minneapolis and Friday’s exhibition finale in Denver.

More of their son’s games will come in Minnesota should Thomas, the rising undrafted rookie, remain with the Vikings through Sunday’s 53-man roster deadline.

“My mom does not like the cold,” Thomas said.

She may have to adapt fast. Vikings coaches and teammates have liked what they’ve seen from Jacob, the younger of two sons.

Thomas has taken many first-team reps in practices after injuries thinned the roster at safety. He’s turned that into preseason success.

After going undrafted this spring, Thomas had another offer to join the Arizona Cardinals. But he took the $160,000 guaranteed from Minnesota — “not the highest bidder,” Thomas clarified — to join defensive coordinator Brian Flores.

That decision already appears to be paying off.

“I keep hearing how bad winters are here,” Thomas said. “I’m not looking forward to it.”

Jacob Thomas has learned fast in Vikings training camp

Thomas, the child of two U.S. Army veterans who met while stationed in Germany, brought a studious approach to Flores’ meeting rooms.

The 23-year-old said he reviews the day’s meeting notes in his camp hotel room every night.

His willingness to learn made an impression on coaches and veteran teammates like safety Joshua Metellus.

Safety is “one of our premier positions,” Metellus said. It requires sharp mental processing and communication skills.

“We got a lot of stuff on our plate,” Metellus said. “He came in and showed right away, even when he wasn’t getting the reps, that he can pick up the scheme, learn, diagnose and sound confident. That was kind of the first test for coaches.”

Thomas’ opportunities have grown as he’s built trust with the coaching staff. Injuries have also opened up a path.

Thomas has been the next man up with the starting defense.

“He brings a calm presence,” Metellus said. “You never feel like, ‘Oh my gosh, that guy on the other side doesn’t know what he’s doing.’ You feel comfortable when he’s in because mentally he has it all, and he’s a ball player.”

How the Vikings discovered Jacob Thomas

Flores credited Vikings second-year Northeast scout Michelle Mankoff for getting Thomas on the team’s radar.

Coaches watched his game film from JMU, where he lined up all over the field in a Flores-style system under current UCLA coach Bob Chesney.

Thomas had 12 tackles for loss, five interceptions and 2½ sacks over the last two seasons. In his final year in college, James Madison finished 12-2 and reached the College Football Playoff.

His versatility made him a fit for the Vikings. He spent 359 snaps in the box and blitzed 40 times last season, but he also had 358 snaps in the slot or in deep coverage, according to Pro Football Focus.

“They did a lot of things similar to what we do,” Flores said. “Max blitz, vision on the quarterback.”

In Minnesota, Thomas has been “really smart, really instinctive; he’s a good communicator,” coach Kevin O’Connell said.

“He is really good in the deep part of the field,” O’Connell added. “He’s really been a good fit, a great find, and a guy who’s taken advantage of his opportunities for sure.”

Flores noted that Thomas has “done a really nice job” picking up the graduate-level studies required to play safety for the Vikings.

“Football, conceptually, comes pretty naturally to him,” Flores said. “In this particular system it’s more conceptual learning … because guys are in different spots and roles so much.”

Thomas has long starred in different roles.

Thomas said he got no FBS offers despite his success. That was in part because he didn’t consistently play one position in high school — other than safety, which he played his final three years at Stone Bridge.

Thomas hopes to prove his worth to the Vikings the same way he did in college.

“Undrafted route to the NFL kind of feels the same way,” Thomas said. “Just trying to stick my head down and keep working.”

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