 punts the ball to the Texas Longhorns during the first half in the 2024 SEC Championship game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images</p>
<p>” data-large-file=”/cdn-cgi/image/width=1180,height=787,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/USATSI_24935046.jpg”><figcaption><span>Dec 7, 2024; Atlanta, GA, USA; Georgia Bulldogs punter Brett Thorson (92) punts the ball to the Texas Longhorns during the first half in the 2024 SEC Championship game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images</span></figcaption></figure>
<p>When free agency opened, the most notable name the Minnesota Vikings lost was wide receiver Jalen Nailor.</p>
<p>They never intended to keep him at an inflated contract to be their third wide receiver, but he did well in his deal from Las Vegas.</p>
<h2>Brett Thorson Brings Legitimate Competition to Vikings Punter Room</h2>
<p>Potentially getting lost in the shuffle from Nailor moving teams was punter Ryan Wright flying the coop as well. He left Minnesota for greener pastures with the New Orleans Saints. While his career traditionally bounced between good and bad years, he was coming off a season in which the Vikings would have liked to keep him.</p>
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veteran punter Johnny Hekker. However, Hekker has been trending down for some time now, and he is very clearly at the end of the line.
It would have been a shock to see the Vikings use a draft pick on a punter. Despite grabbing Will Reichard with a late-round pick, he has the utility of being a kicker. However, Brett Thorson came into The Draft as the nation’s best punter, and Minnesota was clearly enamored.
They didn’t need to use a draft pick on him, and wound up getting him anyway. Signed as an undrafted free agent, the Georgia Bulldog racked up accolades in the SEC. He now comes to what will be a punting competition in Minnesota, but even with Hekker’s presence, it’s one he could very well win.
Ted Schwerzler is a Minneapolis based blogger that covers the Minnesota Twins and Vikings. Sharing thoughts constantly on Twitter, … More about Ted Schwerzler
