Welcome to the beginning of our 2023 season preview content!
Over the next few weeks, we will be looking at each player on the roster in-depth with backgrounds and how they currently project forward on the Minnesota Vikings roster.
What is the best-case scenario? What is the worst-case scenario? What should we expect from them during the preseason and beyond? We will break all of that down here.
As a staff, all of us at Vikings Wire ranked the entire 90-man roster 1-90 and will be releasing player profiles in reverse order.
Background
Name: Malik Knowles
Rank: 79
Height: 6’3″
Weight: 200
Experience: Rookie
College: Kansas State
Stats (At Kansas State): 127 receptions, 1,867 yards, 14 touchdowns; 61 kick returns, 1,691 yards, 3 touchdowns
Votes:
Tyler Forness: 79
Kevin Fielder: 77
Judd Zulgad: 79
Saivion Mixson: 79
Average: 78.5
Best case scenario
Malik Knowles is a unique player who needs to carve out a role on special teams before finding himself a spot on the offense. The good news for Knowles is his experience as a kick returner should give him a leg up on other undrafted free agents.
On the offensive side of the ball, Knowles’ combination of height and athleticism could make him a deep-threat receiver on the outside. That skillset may be intriguing to the Vikings, who have two players (Jordan Addison and Justin Jefferson) who play better in the short and intermediate game.
Worst case scenario
There aren’t a lot of expectations on Knowles coming into training camp. The Vikings clearly like something with his talent, but his status as an undrafted free agent makes it a climb to make the 53-man roster. If Knowles never plays for the Vikings, it’s no harm and no foul, but it is the “worst-case scenario” for his development.
What to expect in 2023
Although Knowles has experience as a kick returner, it will be hard for him to displace Kene Nwangwu and Brandon Powell in that role. As a result, Knowles will likely have to impress in training camp and preseason to make the 53-man roster. Don’t count out a spot on the practice squad, though. Knowles has a combination of size and speed that can play in the NFL, and it may be worth giving him a chance to develop those skills with NFL coaching.
