With the release of over 20 players yesterday, the Minnesota Vikings reduced their roster to 53 players.
Some of the highlights from the toughest day on the NFL calendar.
The only real surprise among the moves was the release of defensive lineman Armon Watts. He was seen as a starter in the base 3-4 defense. The move made a bit more sense when it was announced that the Vikings had traded a 2023 sixth-round pick to the Houston Texans for defensive tackle Ross Blacklock and a 2023 seventh-round pick. When it comes to the respective NFL production of Watts and Blacklock, may fans aren’t a fan of the deal. The Vikings clearly didn’t see Watts as an ideal fit in the new scheme. Blacklock was one of the best defensive tackles in the 2020 NFL Draft. The Texans grabbed him with the eighth pick of the second round. He has elite quickness and agility in his pass rush. He’s relentless. That’s a fine start for a defensive lineman. Perhaps the Vikings coaches feel that they can unlock his potential.
The Vikings have had an exhilarating backup quarterback competition this offseason and through training camp. Sean Mannion vs. Kellen Mond. Both contenders were released as the Vikings are going with the quarterback that they acquired last week. Nick Mullens will back up Kirk Cousins. Mond or Mannion could return to the team as a member of the practice squad.
Offensive lineman Jesse Davis was traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers for a 2025 conditional seventh-round pick. 2025!
The last draft class of the Rick Spielman era took some hits. The Vikings had four third round picks in the 2021 NFL Draft.
Kellen Mond, QB
Chazz Surratt, LB
Wyatt Davis, OG
Patrick Jones II, DE
After yesterday’s cuts, only Jones remains from that third round haul. Fourth-round pick Janarius Robinson, fifth-round pick Zach Davidson, and sixth-round Jaylen Twyman were also released. It’s easy to bash Spielman and his final Vikings draft but the draft did bring in Christian Darrisaw, Jones, Kene Nwagwu, Camryn Bynum, and Ihmir Smith-Marsette. That’s a starting left tackle in Darrisaw, a starting safety in Bynum, a rotational pass rusher in Jones, and the team’s likely kick and punt returners in Nwangwu and Smith-Marsette. I wouldn’t be surprised if most, if not all, of the released 2021 draft picks are signed to the practice squad. Their Minnesota days may not be done.
It’s important to remember that an NFL roster is a very fluid thing. The 53 players that survived yesterday’s cuts might not be the 53 players that are on the roster when the season starts.
Minnesota Vikings Roster 53-man Roster
Offense (25)
Quarterbacks (2)
8 Kirk Cousins
11 Kellen Mond
Running Backs (4)
4 Dalvin Cook
2 Alexander Mattison
26 Kene Nwangwu
32 Ty Chandler
Fullbacks (1)
30 C.J. Ham
Receivers (5)
19 Adam Thielen
18 Justin Jefferson
17 K.J. Osborn
15 Ihmir Smith-Marsette
83 Jalen Nailor
Tight Ends (3)
84 Irv Smith Jr.
86 Johnny Mundt
82 Ben Ellefson
Tackles (5)
71 Christian Darrisaw
75 Brian O’Neill
74 Oli Udoh
64 Blake Brandel
63 Vederian Lowe
Guards (3)
72 Ezra Cleveland
67 Ed Ingram
62 Chris Reed
Centers (2)
56 Garrett Bradbury
65 Austin Schlottman
Defense (25)
Defensive Linemen (6)
94 Dalvin Tomlinson
97 Harrison Phillips
92 James Lynch
Ross Blacklock
90 Esezi Otomeow
79 Jonathan Bullard
Edge (5)
99 Danielle Hunter
55 Za’Darius Smith
98 D.J. Wonnum
91 Patrick Jones II
43 Luiji Vilain
Linebackers (4)
54 Eric Kendricks
58 Jordan Hicks
33 Brian Asamoah
45 Troy Dye
Cornerbacks (6)
7 Patrick Peterson
3 Cameron Dantzler
23 Andrew Booth Jr.
21 Akayleb Evans
39 Chandon Sullivan
29 Kris Boyd
Safeties (4)
22 Harrison Smith
6 Lewis Cine
24 Camryn Bynum
44 Josh Metellus
Special Teams (3)
Kicker (1)
1 Greg Joseph
Punters (1)
66 Ryan Wright
Long Snapper (1)
42 Andrew DePaola
***
Reserve/Physically Unable To Perform
13 Blake Proehl, WR
57 Ryan Connelly, LB
Reserve/Injured
89 Thomas Hennigan, WR
81 Olabisi Johnson, WR
76 T.Y. McGill, Jr., DL
79 Kenny Willekes, DL
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