Minnesota Vikings host ascending player at an emerging position that will evoke memories of Cordarrelle Patterson & Percy Harvin

Vaval is an interesting player. He played his college ball in the state of Minnesota at the University of Minnesota State-Mankato and played in the CFL this season as a rookie. He didn't just play well, but Vaval won the Most Outstanding Rookie and Most Outstanding Special Teams Player awards this past year due to his success as a returner.

Vaval returned four kicks for touchdowns: two kickoffs, one punt, and one missed field goal.

In the CFL, most missed field goals are returned to avoid a one-point rouge, as touchbacks score a single point for the other team. His field goal return wasn't just a long one, but for 128 yards, which is one yard shorter than the longest possible play in the league.

It may not feel like it's a big deal, but the return is becoming more and more prevalent in today's game.

Returns are up significantly year/year at a 135.99% clip. That means more opportunities to flip the field and make an impact play. Special teams matter, and having an elite returner like Vaval could do damage. There is no other team that understands this as the Vikings do. They have had a lot of successful returners, including two All Pros in Cordarrelle Patterson and Kene Nwangwu, along with Percy Harvin and March Sherels, who were great in their own right.

Adding Vaval to a room that already includes Myles Price is a potentially smart move, along with adding a talented depth cornerback who could grow into something more than just a depth player. It's a really smart swing for Kwesi Adofo-Mensah if they are able to sign him to a contract.

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This story was originally published by A to Z Sports on Dec 10, 2025, where it first appeared in the NFL section. Add A to Z Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.