Take a poll of Vikings fans and writers. The conclusion would likely be quite conclusive: Brian Asamoah is trending toward becoming a Vikings draft bust.
Snagged at No. 66 in the now infamous 2022 NFL Draft, Asamoah hasn’t been able to build on some promising moments in his rookie season. The young linebacker looked fast and physical at various points while operating under Ed Donatell, sparking hope that he would function as a replacement for Eric Kendricks (massive shoes to fill). Instead, the linebacker has mostly been on the bench since Brian Flores has taken over. Is that going to change soon?
Brian Asamoah:
Vikings Draft Bust & The Opportunity Ahead
Turn back the clock. The summer of 2023 was a time of great optimism for Mr. Asamoah.
In fact, there was a prophecy about the speedy defender being a key piece on Brian Flores’ chess board. There was praise for his athleticism and upside while noting that he could be a “chess piece.” In other words, a versatile defender who gets deployed in various ways to help nullify what the offense is trying to do.
Keep in mind that the 6’0″, 226-pound linebacker ran a 4.56 forty. That’s a faster time than someone like Kendricks, Jordan Hicks, and Anthony Barr. Running a 4.5 is great speed for a linebacker.
The thinking, then, is that Mr. Asamoah could be a menace. One could envision a scenario where he flies over to the flats to extinguish short passes to the running back. So, too, could he hang with a lot of the NFL’s athletic tight ends since he has a bit more size than the average defensive back while nevertheless being able to move well.
But while that potential exists, the opportunities do not. Is that going to change soon? Blake Cashman has been out of the mix for weeks and is again limited. Meanwhile, Ivan Pace Jr. wasn’t able to practice on Wednesday, suggesting that the next best option may not be ready to roll on Sunday.
The clear-cut LB3 in Minnesota is Kamu Grugier-Hill, a veteran journeyman who is going to turn 31 in the spring. Folks, it’s a bad sign when a low-level veteran signing decisively hops above the 3rd-Round draft pick.
As it stands, Brian Asamoah is sitting on just 13 defensive snaps. In fairness, he has been active for all eight games and has soaked up 138 snaps for Matt Daniels’ special teams. Within those opportunities, Asamoah has a pair of tackles.
Next up on the docket is a game against the 2-7 Jacksonville Jaguars. Losing in Florida would qualify as a major disappointment for a Vikings team that got back on track last week against the Colts, largely due to the defense playing so well.
In order to replicate that strong performance from the defense, Flores is going to need his linebackers to play ball. Some of the burden will get shifted to the versatile edge rushers (Andrew Van Ginkel, Dallas Turner) and safeties (Josh Metellus, Harrison Smith), but true linebackers are still needed.
Brian Asamoah may not get his shot on Sunday. Maybe Cashman and Pace are ready to roll. During this week’s practices, though, Asamoah should be extra motivated to show that he’s capable of getting tossed into the mix for Flores’ defense on Sunday. There may not be a better opportunity for the young defender in Minnesota.
Editor’s Note: Information from Pro Football Reference helped with this piece.
K. Joudry is the Senior Editor for Vikings Territory and PurplePTSD. He has been covering the Vikings full time since the summer of 2021. He can be found on Twitter, as a co-host for Notes from the North, and as the proprietor at The Vikings Gazette, a humble Vikings Substack.
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