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EAGAN, Minn. -- Some of the ' biggest moves in 2023 have involved saying goodbye to fan favorites and former Pro Bowlers, from to to . The roster reconstruction has been so stark that the rival to unseat the reigning NFC North champions. Just don't tell that to linebacker II, an emergent focal point of new coordinator Brian Flores' defense, who believes Minnesota is "definitely a Super Bowl-contending team.""Honestly I think we have (some of) the best (talent) acro s the board," the second-year veteran told CBS Sports after practice Monday. "We have a lot of young guys that are ready to step into big roles and take advantage of the opportunities given to them. This is definitely a Super Bowl-contending team. We've just gotta connect with one another (and) have good relationships so we can have unique results on the football field."Asamoah wasn't predicting anything, but merely attempting to correct the notion that the Vikings are backtracking from last year's 13-4 finish under new coach Kevin O'Connell. General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, of course, at one point declared this offseason to be a "," but Asamoah had to fight back a playful scoff when presented with the "rebuilding" term at training camp. Some of the reasons were apparent at Monday's practice: quarterback was sharp in red-zone drills against Flores' defense, even while star tight end rested. Rookie wide receiver , meanwhile, showcased what fellow wideout deemed "silky" footwork with three toe-tapping touchdowns. And then there was Asamoah himself, thrust into a multipurpose role at the heart of a reworked front seven, where Flores has deployed some truly diverse looks. "He's definitely utilizing my skill set, which is my speed and my ability to cover," Asamoah said. "And it's been fun, because he's an aggre sive dude. Definitely likes to blitz. I've gotten the opportunity to blitz a lot. My skill set and what he's calling is definitely going hand-in-hand."A third-round pick out of Oklahoma in 2022, Asamoah appeared in 16 games as a rookie, playing sparingly behind Kendricks, the former All-Pro, and veteran holdover . Hailed for his "" coming out of college, the 23-year-old is now penciled in as a full-time Swi s Army knife alongside Hicks. He learned valuable le sons from Kendricks as a rookie, he said, but also trains annually with longtime star , in preparation for his own emergence.The young defender Cody White Jersey 's gentle confidence could be seen in just about every answer he offered Monday. Addre sing his West African roots -- he wears wristbands of the national flag of Ghana, in honor of where his parents grew up -- Asamoah casually called himself a "Ghanaian warrior out here in America." And when asked to identify an underrated teammate? He started with safety before offering an obvious alternative. "Or myself, until I break out."