Tai Felton may not have put up eye-catching numbers as a rookie, but the Vikings are clearly giving him a path to matter in 2026.
As Minnesota gets ready for Saturday’s preseason opener, Felton is one of the names worth watching closely. The Vikings spent a third-round pick on him in the 2025 NFL Draft even though the roster had other obvious needs, and at the time the move looked unusual. A year later, the early signs are a lot more encouraging.
Felton appeared in all 17 games last season, but his offensive role was tiny. He finished with three catches for 25 yards on just three targets, though two of those grabs moved the chains. Where he really found a place was on special teams, logging 293 snaps there and finishing with nine combined tackles, including five solo stops.
That kind of work doesn’t jump off the page, but it matters. Felton found ways to contribute whenever the Vikings put him on the field, and that same theme is carrying into his second season.
The challenge now is that the receiver room is crowded again. Minnesota added former 49ers wideout Jauan Jennings, while Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison are both back, which means there still may not be many offensive openings for Felton. Even so, he’s been turning heads at training camp.
According to Vikings OnSI’s Jason Harmon, Felton has impressed in camp, including a one-handed touchdown grab from Minnesota starting quarterback Kyler Murray during 7-on-7 work. The six-foot-one, 186-pound receiver has flashed enough to keep the conversation going.
That matters because Felton is not just fighting for a bigger role - he’s also fighting to stay ahead of a pack of challengers. Myles Price, Donte Fleming, Dillon Bell and other receivers are all trying to earn a spot on the 53-man roster and climb the depth chart.
For Felton, the latest sign of trust came Wednesday when the Vikings released their unofficial depth chart. He was listed as the first backup to Justin Jefferson and also as a backup at both kick returner and punt returner.
That gives him a real chance to build on his momentum in the preseason, especially with many starters unlikely to play. If Felton keeps showing the staff what he can do, he should get more than the 46 offensive snaps he played last season.
The opener against the Giants could help him keep that push going. New York allowed the 13th-most catches and ninth-most receiving yards to wideouts last season, and it also gave up 16 touchdowns, tied for 12th.
Felton’s rookie year showed he can make the most of limited chances. If his role expands this fall, the payoff could come fast in 2026.
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Jaxson Dart Took A Brutal Hit And Vikings Fans Noticed Fast
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The hit did not end his night, and the larger concern around Dart is less about one preseason snap than the pattern that has followed him into 2026. Even in an exhibition setting, every trip to the sideline raises the same questions about durability and concussion evaluation, and that kind of attention will follow him as long as he keeps getting knocked around. [Read more 🡒]