Kevin O'Connell: Vikings UDFA Andre Carter II Is Like 'An Extra Draft Pick'

Despite going undrafted, Carter's length and skill gives him significant upside.

Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell is a big fan of rookie edge rusher Andre Carter II, who the team signed as an undrafted free agent despite most analysts predicting that he'd be selected at some point during Day 3.

Carter had a huge 2021 season at Army, ripping off 15.5 sacks and getting buzz as a potential early-round draft pick in 2023. Then his production fell off in 2022 (just 3.5 sacks) and he ended up going undrafted. The Vikings gave the 6'6" Carter $340,000 in guaranteed money to land him as a UDFA.

"He was under consideration for us to be drafted a couple times, and through the dialogue and really trying to figure out how we still get him here, we felt like we gained an extra draft pick with him, we really did," O'Connell said on Friday. "Obviously the length, the athleticism, his production — when you watch him on tape you see a guy that is arrow up, gonna ascend, and how good can that be is what we challenge all of our guys here to do."

Carter has the length and athleticism to potentially make the Vikings' roster and become a contributor down the line. He just needs to continue developing his arsenal of pass rush moves and add some mass and strength to his lanky frame. Because Carter had a busy life at the U.S. Military Academy, he wasn't able to focus completely on football, which is something O'Connell alluded to.

"For a guy like Andre, we're really looking forward to seeing him build on the career he had at Army," O'Connell said. "He's a professional football player now, he gets to focus in on that as his job and really thrive in that with some great coaching. He's a great kid, really excited to have him a part of our team, and looking forward to seeing what he's able to do."

Carter was ranked by PFF as the second-best UDFA signing this year, behind only Ivan Pace Jr., his new Vikings teammate. He's a bit raw and slender, but the upside is absolutely there. O'Connell isn't too concerned about Carter's 2022 numbers, saying it's possible he received major attention from opposing offenses after his huge 2021.

"A lot of times, just like in our league, a dynamic pass rusher can have a ton of production but what happens? They get circled in the scouting report," O'Connell said. "If we're coaching against a double-digit sack type player, we're gonna have a plan for that guy, whether it's chips, whether it's taking the slide to him, matchups when you can, and trying to put him in less ideal situations than just rushing downhill one on one. 

"Don't know for sure if that was always the case, I'm sure there were some things that, looking back on it, he's looking forward to improve, add to his pass rush move catalog," the Vikings' coach added. "He's got one of the best position coaches in the league in Mike Smith to do that, (DC Brian Flores) has a great plan for him. Can't wait to see him get a ton of reps in the preseason."

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