The Vikings scored a big win in against the Detroit Lions in Week 9 at Ford Field, and the recognition is still rolling in.
The 232nd selection in the 2024 NFL Draft was awarded the NFC Special Teams Player of the Week. Nose tackle Levi Drake Rodriguez was given the honors for his big-time block of Jake Bates’ 45-yard field goal attempt to bring Detroit within four points with less than seven minutes to go in the contest.
Instead, the ball met with the hand of Rodriguez, whose deflection sent it sideways to a recovering Isaiah Rodgers Sr. (winner of the NFC Defensive Player of the Week in Week 3), who then took the ball to Detroit’s 26-yard line and set up an eventual Vikings field goal by Will Reichard that would put Minnesota up 10 points with three minutes left in the contest.
Levi Drake Rodriguez Becomes 10th Viking to Win Award
Image courtesy of the Minnesota VikingsLevi Drake Rodriguez was the first Viking since 2023 to receive the award.
Christopher Gates of The Daily Norseman noted that Levi Drake Rodriguez became the 10th player in Minnesota Vikings history to earn NFC Special Teams Player of the Week. He joins names like Cordarrelle Patterson, Adam Thielen, Percy Harvin, and Marcus Sherles in the exclusive club, and is the first Viking to win it since former Minnesota return-man Kene Nwangwu did so in 2022 and 2023.
Also per Gates, Rodriguez is the fifth player to win the award under current Minnesota Vikings Special Teams coordinator Matt Daniels. The other winners include Greg Joseph (twice in 2022), Ryan Wright (2022), and Kene Nwangwu (2022, 2023).
Rodriguez Builds Upon His Draft Hype
GettyLevi Drake Rodriguez was once dubbed “Prospect X” by the Athletic.
Levi Drake Rodriguez was the subject of a lot of talk amongst the Vikings’ fanbase when he was drafted towards the end of the 2024 NFL Draft. Dubbed “Prospect X’ by The Athletic, meaning he could be the most overlooked prospect in the draft, a lot of people hadn’t even heard of the defensive tackle.
“He has become a beloved member of the Minnesota Vikings, with a Reddit user going as far to say the following: Levi is possibly my favorite player on the team. Every time he gets in the game and especially when he is in on a play (which seems like the same amount of time, tbh) I get a huge idiot grin on my face. I am sorely tempted to get a no. 50 jersey.”
Reddit User “thinsafetypin”
Rodriguez’ 66.3 overall PFF grade is the 38th in the NFL amongst players at his position. His 14 solo tackles on the season is an impressive 30th in the NFL at defensive tackle, given the context that he has only played 41.68% of the Vikings’ total number of defensive snaps, per Pro Football Reference.
His flash on special teams is also a welcome one; including Sunday’s game in Detroit, Rodriguez has only played 19.03% of special teams snaps, also per Pro Football Reference.
Assuming his role increases with his continued development, the Vikings could have a really great role player on their hands that they got for very cheap.
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