Vikings OTAs: Former Pro Bowler is making plays and providing answers during the first week of workouts

OTAs are the first step toward training camp and while there's plenty of information to digest, it's easy to overreact and read too much into things.

Still, at the same time, when good things happen on the field - they should be talked about with the appropriate context and analysis. I mean, after all, what happens during OTAs bleeds into mandatory minicamp, which bleeds into training camp, the preseason, and then the regular season. It's all interconnected, at the end of the day.

So, with that being said, let's dive in and talk about a few guys who made some nice plays during the first week of OTAs.

1. CB Shaq Griffin

Adding the former Pro Bowler was an under-the-radar move that not many people outside of Minnesota have mentioned. Griffin has played for three different teams over the last two seasons and has just one interception during that time, but he still has the ability to contribute quality snaps on the outside at corner.

He showed that during the first week of OTAs. According to Inside The Vikings' Will Ragatz, Griffin looked good and even hauled in an interception, at one point.

Defensively, new cornerback Shaq Griffin picked off a deep ball and generally looked impressive. He was a big addition for a Vikings team that needed more experience at corner. - Will Ragatz, Inside The Vikings

If Griffin continues to play well, it would answer a big question for the Vikings defense. Right now, Byron Murphy Jr. is the No. 1 starter at corner, but it's still up in the air when it comes to who starts on the other side. Also, there's the fact defensive coordinator Brian Flores is probably going to move him inside when the team moves to its nickel/subpackages, which naturally opens up another spot on the perimeter.

Griffin effectively occupying one of the aforementioned spots would not only be a big upgrade for the Vikings secondary, it can help the defense get back to the midseason form we saw last year, when it looked like the unit was going to finish top-10 across the board.

2. QB Sam Darnold

Multiple outlets cited Darnold's comfort on the practice field and his arm strength. Even Vikings offensive coordinator Wes Phillips discussed it in detail when he spoke with the media on Tuesday.

"The other thing that you see with Sam is just the arm talent. That gets thrown around a lot, but he was the third pick in the draft for a reason and we've really seen it show up out here really, since day one, since we got on the grass," said Phillips.

Reports had Darnold and Nick Mullens rotating with the starters, while rookie QB J.J. McCarthy and 2023 draft pick Jaren Hall repped with the backups/others. There will be zero surprise if Darnold is the starter by Week 1 and that has nothing to do with McCarthy's development. The coaching staff likes Darnold, he can be effective in the system, and there's plenty of infrastructure around him.

In fact, this is easily the best situation Darnold has been in when it comes to potentially starting. Obviously, his best situation was last year in San Fran, but he wasn't vying for a starting job - it was Brock Purdy's team. This year, in Minnesota, he has a good offensive line and a good cast of skill players - even without T.J. Hockenson.

All of the above is conducive to a successful offseason for Darnold and things are off to a good start.

3. S Theo Jackson

Jackson has impressed ever since he was able to get onto the field, last year. That's carried over into the first week of OTAs, which is obviously good news for a former sixth-rounder trying to break into a crowded safety room.

It's obvious Harrison Smith, Cameron Bynum, and Josh Metellus lead the way. Then, there's Jay Ward, a 2023 fourth-rounder who logged 302 special teams snaps during his rookie year. Jackson fits in somewhere, but he's definitely not at the top. Meaning, every rep matters.

Jackson is only 25. The Tennessee Titans drafted him in the sixth round, waived him and wanted to keep him, but the Vikings scooped him up. He is clearly the No. 4 safety on the depth chart and might be a future option post-Harrison Smith. - Alec Lewis, The Athletic

Jackson needs to have a strong summer, especially since former first-round pick Lewis Cine is on the roster. Even if Cine hasn't been anything close to what the Vikings thought he would be when they drafted him - he was a first-rounder for a reason. If the light ever comes on, he could easily make up all the ground he's lost over the last couple of years.

So far, it sounds like he's doing just that.