Picking 53: Very Little Drama for Vikings Special Teams
K. Joudry
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We’re now at the end of the roster prediction series. Fifty players have gone to the offense and defense. That last three spots are being reserved for the three specialists: kicker, punter, and long snapper. How much of a competition can we anticipate on the Vikings special teams? Let’s find out.
Vikings 53-Man Roster: The Special Teams Competition
Let’s start with perhaps the most simple one: long snapper. Andrew DePaola. Currently, the veteran is carrying a cap hit that just exceeds $1 million. He can be cut with no financial consequence. Unless something unforeseen happens, that won’t be happening. DePaola has been in Minnesota since 2020 when he took over for the struggling Austin Cutting (a rookie LS who was drafted). I see very little reason to cut the veteran. He has been easy to overlook, a good thing for a long snapper. Generally speaking, we only notice the position when snaps are off. So far, that hasn’t been a major issue.
Greg Joseph successfully fended off the first threat to his job in Minnesota. Rookie kicker Gabe Brkic was with Minnesota during the early portion of the offseason, but he has since been cut. As it stands, Joseph is running unopposed for the K1 position. Does he have what it takes to earn the job once again? I believe he does, but I’m not the one he has to convince. There’s a new coaching staff in Minnesota and the journeyman is playing on a contract that is completely unguaranteed, per OTC. If a notable name gets cut during training camp, perhaps Minnesota decides to increase the competition for Joseph by bringing in another kicker. Until then, assume it’s Joseph’s job.
Finally, the Vikings have a competition for the punter position. Similar to DePaola and Joseph, veteran Jordan Berry is playing on an unguaranteed deal. Ryan Wright is the other option, a UDFA who played at Tulane. His 51 punts last season had an average distance of 47.5 yards; Berry averaged 46.5 yards per punt last year, the most of his career. It’s plausible that the rookie has greater upside and that the coaching staff believes he can help with field position. Even still, I lean toward the vet simply because he has proven to be a solid option.
The Send Off
If things go as expected, the Vikings will have the same main three on their special teams: Greg Joseph, Jordan Berry, and Andrew DePaola. One thing to monitor, though, is if the coaching staff feels like there needs to be increased competition for the three specialists. If that happens, Kwesi Adofo-Mensah will look to add someone during training camp and preseason.
Editor’s Note: This piece is part of a larger roster prediction series. The previous pieces have covered QB, RB, WR, TE, OL, DT, DE, OLB, MLB, CB, and S.
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