Vikings Surprise Starter Is Turning Heads

A Minnesota Vikings helmet rests on the turf at TCO Performance Center during organized team activities on Jun 11, 2019, in Eagan. Images like this are common during the early offseason as players prepare for camp and roster battles begin to take shape. Mandatory Credit: Harrison Barden-USA TODAY Sports.

The Minnesota Vikings will mitigate safety Camryn Bynum’s free-agent departure this fall and winter, his first detached from the purple team’s roster since 2020.

A surprise Vikings starter is earning attention before training camp even starts. Here’s why fans and analysts are already buzzing and who could win the job.

Bynum used free agency in March to join the Indianapolis Colts, grabbing a handsome contract over the next four seasons worth $60 million.

As a result, Minnesota will likely promote veteran backup Theo Jackson to Bynum’s role, and thanks to recent summer chatter, folks learned that the Vikings are quite high on Jackson.

It’s Theo Jackson Time in the Twin Cities

Don’t expect a big summer battle at safety; it’s Jackson’s job to lose.

Minnesota Vikings safety Theo Jackson (26) wraps up Houston Texans wide receiver Steven Sims (82) during a second-quarter play on Sep 22, 2024, at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. The open-field tackle was part of a strong early-season showing for Jackson, who’s pushing for more snaps in a crowded defensive backfield. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images.

Theo Jackson as a Starter Is Not That Mysterious

While most fans have assumed Jackson will earn the starting job based on depth chart standing at the moment, The Athletic‘s Alec Lewis provided some clarity this week.

He told KFAN during a radio appearance, “I’ve had so many conversations with people that there’s not that much of a question mark with me about Theo Jackson’s ability.”

Because Jackson is relatively unproven, some have chosen a “believe it when I see it” approach regarding Jackson as a starter. But based on Lewis’ comments, plus general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah’s actions this offseason — or lack thereof in signing more safeties — Jackson isn’t some big question mark at training camp and in the preseason.

He’s just “the guy.”

A Promotion after Camryn Bynum Left

Adofo-Mensah actually extended Jackson’s contract right before the free-agent window opened on March 10th. The deal wasn’t massive — three years and $9.3 million — but it was enough to hint at a starter’s job in 2025 and beyond.

Minnesota needed a new safety following Bynum’s free-agent skedaddle, and after not pursuing big names like Jevon Holland, Jackson became the obvious choice inside Brian Flores’ 2025 defense.

Truth be told, promoting Jackson, with Bynum picking the Colts, might’ve been the plan all along.

Theo Jackson Bided His Time

This man has patience.

Minnesota onboarded Jackson at the dawn of the Adofo-Mensah and Kevin O’Connell era — three years ago. Because the safety room has remained stuffed to the gills with Harrison Smith, Josh Metellus, and the aforementioned Bynum, the Vikings haven’t needed Jackson to start or play that much, in general.

Theo Jackson (26) of the Minnesota Vikings lines up on defense during an NFC Wild Card matchup against the Los Angeles Rams at State Farm Stadium on Jan 13, 2025, in Glendale. It marked Jackson’s postseason debut and continued a season of quiet contributions on defense and special teams. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images.

Yet, he’s stuck around for three seasons, culminating in an elevation this summer. It took multiple offseasons after getting dropped by the Tennessee Titans in 2022 for Jackson to climb the depth chart.

Now, he’s done it, and per roster navigation, Jackson is a trade “rags to riches” story.

Draft Evidence

From late January to late April, commonly known as the build-up to the NFL draft, many pundits believed Minnesota would select a safety in Round 1, oft-connected to South Carolina’s Nick Emmanwori and Georgia’s Malaki Starks.

Georgia defensive back Malaki Starks (24) warms up ahead of the SEC Championship against Texas on Dec 7, 2024, in Atlanta. Starks entered the game as one of college football’s most dynamic safeties, drawing attention from scouts ahead of the 2025 NFL Draft for his range and ball skills. © Joshua L. Jones Athens Banner-Herald USA TODAY NETWORK / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images.

The Vikings did no such thing, instead drafting Ohio State guard Donovan Jackson in Round 1. Thereafter, Adofo-Mensah picked zero safeties, which bolstered the case for Theo Jackson as a starter.

And here we are.

Other Jackson Takes

Zone Coverage‘s Nelson Thielen examined the Vikings’ safety room last month, including Josh Metellus and Jackson, and the symbiotic relationship between them.

He opined, “If your roster deficiencies force you to pigeonhole him into a single role, such as when they were short on bodies at linebacker last season and Metellus had to fill in there, the Vikings lose his versatility. What remains is a subpar player in a role he’s not perfectly suited for.”

“Metellus needs Theo Jackson to play well. If Jackson struggles and can’t live up to some facsimile of Bynum’s production on the backend, then they may have to slide Metellus back there more often. That makes him less versatile, which means he struggles more at that singular role, making the entire defense worse.”

Minnesota safety Theo Jackson (25) pursues Philadelphia Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert (88) after a catch during a Thursday night game at Lincoln Financial Field on Sep 14, 2023. Jackson filled in during key moments early in the season, showing his versatility in run support and coverage. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports.

It’s worth noting that if the Vikings decided this summer that Jackson isn’t quite cut out for the big job, veteran safeties, such as Justin Simmons, are routinely available on the free-agent wire.

Thielen added, “It’s an under-the-radar story to monitor headed into this season. If this defense fails to live up to expectations, I’d bet the secondary is the reason. The more glaring hole in the secondary is at corner, but Jackson coming up short would have a cascading effect down the roster.”

“Jackson is a young player who’s flashed in his limited opportunities, and this coaching staff clearly thinks he’s ready for this. It’s not dissimilar to the jump Bynum himself made when the Vikings elevated him to full-time starter. Jackson has the potential to do the same and thrive in this role.”

Vikings training camp is one week away.