Once-Promising Former Viking Starting to Catch On

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Jaquelin Roy might’ve turned the corner.

Once-Promising Former Viking Starting to Catch On

The Minnesota Vikings used a 5th-Round pick on the LSU alumnus in 2023 but didn’t welcome him back to the active roster in 2024. He missed the cut at the end of August and later joined the rebuilding New England Patriots.

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And for Roy in the northeast, it’s so far, so good.

Roy began accruing playing time in New England two weeks ago, and with 44 defensive snaps to his name, the ex-Viking has 2 sacks in 2 games. Not bad. He also has a decent 64.3 Pro Football Focus grade through two showings.

Thankfully for his sake, he exists on a depth chart that will likely afford him ample playing time down the stretch of 2024. The Patriots’ playoff chances are already almost dead, and the franchise has turned to quarterback of the future Drake Maye, who was coincidentally linked to the Vikings during the 2024 NFL Draft lead-up. With 2 sacks in 2 games, Roy should experience even more playing time, perhaps morphing into a starter by year’s end.

Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images.

Roy played 31 games at LSU, tabulating 97 total tackles, 4 sacks, and 3 fumble recoveries. He joined the Tigers the year after Justin Jefferson left for the Vikings in the 2020 NFL Draft. Last summer, Roy competed for playing time in the regular season and landed a 53-man roster spot.

Some late-rounders spend their first season on a practice squad, but Roy avoided such a fate and appeared in 12 games as a rookie. He played 96 defensive snaps and tabulated 8 tackles. Roy also officially started one game in Minnesota.

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The Vikings’ defense ranked 11th per DVOA in 2023, a 13-spot improvement from 2022 when the group checked in at No. 24 per the same metric. During the 2024 offseason, in addition to retaining the uber-aggressive Brian Flores as defensive coordinator, Minnesota added new defensive personnel: Jonathan Greenard, Andrew Van Ginkel, Blake Cashman, Jerry Tillery, Shaquill Griffin, and 1st-Round rookie Dallas Turner. Roy was the odd man out with all the new veteran additions.

Roy and the Patriots next play the Jacksonville Jaguars on the road, a battle of two lousy 1-5 teams that is more about 2025 draft order and Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson’s job security. The former Viking should see playing time yet again in Week 7.

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The Patriots also employ ex-Vikings players Vederian Lowe (OT) and K.J. Osborn (WR), though those men are not standing off the page quite like Roy.

Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The show features guests, analysis, and opinion on all things related to the purple team, with 4-7 episodes per week. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band). He follows the NBA as closely as the NFL. 

All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.