Minnesota Vikings Roster Churn

Perhaps regrettably, Minnesota Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah termed his molding of the team’s roster as a “competitive rebuild.” The media and fans grabbed and ran with the term. Through two offseasons, he hasn’t heard the end of it. There has been considerable roster churn since Adofo-Mensah and head coach Kevin O’Connell were hired after the 2021 season. Here’s a look at the players on the roster before Kwesi and the players added after Kwesi.

Minnesota Vikings Roster Churn

Offense

Quarterback

  

Before Kwesi:

Kirk Cousins

After Kwesi:

Nick Mullens

Jaren Hall

Running Back

Before Kwesi:

Alexander Mattison 

C.J. Ham

Kene Nwangwu

After Kwesi:

Ty Chandler

DeWayne McBride

Zach Ojile

Wide Receiver

Before Kwesi:

Justin Jefferson

K.J. Osborn

After Kwesi:

Jordan Addison

Jalen Reager

Jalen Nailor

Brandon Powell

Trishton Jackson

Blake Proehl

Thayer Thomas

Malik Knowles

Cephus Johnson II

Lucky Jackson

Garrett Maag

Tight End

Before Kwesi:

After Kwesi:

T. J Hockenson

Josh Oliver

Johnny Mundt

Nick Muse

Ben Sims

Offensive Linemen

Christian Darrisaw

Ezra Cleveland

Garrett Bradbury 

Brian O’Neill

Blake Brandel

Oli Udoh

After Kwesi:

Ed Ingram

Austin Schlottman

Chris Reed

Vederian Lowe

Josh Sokol

Alan Ali

Jacky Chen

Sam Schlueter

Defense

Defensive Line

Before Kwesi:

James Lynch

After Kwesi:

Dean Lowry

Harrison Phillips

Khyiris Tonga

Esezi Otomewo

Jaquelin Roy

Jonathan Bullard

Ross Blacklock

T. J. Smith

Sheldon Day

Calvin Avery

Junior Aho

Outside Linebacker

Before Kwesi:

Danielle Hunter

D.J. Wonnum

Patrick Jones

After Kwesi:

Marcus Davenport

Luiji Vilain

Benton Whitley

Curtis Weaver

Andre Carter  II

Inside Linebacker

Before Kwesi:

Troy Dye

After Kwesi:

Brian Asamoah

Jordan Hicks

Troy Reeder

William Kwenkeu

Ivan Pace Jr. 

Wilson Huber

Abraham Beauplan

Cornerback

Before Kwesi:

After Kwesi:  

Byron Murphy Jr.

Akayleb Evans

Andrew Booth Jr.

Mekhi Blackmon

Joejuan Williams

Tay Gowan

Kalon Barnes

John Reid

Jaylin Williams

NaJee Thompson

C. J. Coldon 

Safety

Before Kwesi:

Harrison Smith

Camryn Bynum

Josh Metellus

After Kwesi:

Lewis Cine

Jay Ward

Theo Jackson

Special Teams 

Kicker

  

Before Kwesi:

Greg Joseph

After Kwesi:

Jack Podlesny

Punter

Before Kwesi:

After Kwesi:

Ryan Wright

Long Snapper

Before Kwesi:

Andrew DePaola

After Kwesi:

Final Tally:

22 of the 90 players on Vikings roster were on the roster before Kwesi arrived.

68 of the 90 players on the Vikings roster were added after Kwesi arrived. 

The greatest gifts left for Adofo-Mensah and O’Connell were Justin Jefferson and Christian Darrisaw.