Amidst the Cuts, Will There be an Addition?
Much of the focus among Vikings fans is on who will get cut from the team. However, we ought to remember that the rest of the teams in the NFL are making subtractions. As a result, there will be plenty of players available to sign. Will the Vikings add anyone to their roster in the coming days?
Obviously, bringing someone else in means the team will need to move on from 6, not 5, players. Needing to release another player makes things more challenging but far from impossible.
At times, teams move on from players not because they aren’t of capable playing in the league but, rather, because they aren’t a strong fit. Each team is trying to build an identity. Part of that process involves accumulating and developing players who have the necessary skills to fulfill the coach’s vision. A player who doesn’t work out elsewhere could plausibly do well in Minnesota.
The Vikings now have one preseason game behind them. As a result, the coaching staff will have a better understanding of how certain positions are working out. If they identify a spot on the roster that needs increased competition, the Vikings may reach out to a recently-cut free agent. Keep in mind that the team has more than $10.4 million in cap space. Anyone who is released during the first round of cuts is unlikely to demand a very large salary.
One outside-the-box idea is that the team may consider bringing in someone to help with punt returns. On Sunday, Ihmir Smith-Marsette had two punts returns for -4 yards. It’s only one game, so there’s no need to panic, though it’s fair to wonder if the team thinks it’s necessary to bring in some more competition. The first priority for a punt returner is to field the ball cleanly. Ideally, the returner can then pick up yardage with some consistency. While there looks to be a lot of depth for kickoff return – Ty Chandler, Smith-Marsette, and Kene Nwangwu – the punt return depth doesn’t seem as certain. Perhaps Jalen Nailor will get a chance.
Regardless of what happens at punt returner, it’ll be worth watching what Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, Kevin O’Connell, and the rest of the staff decide to do in the coming days. The Vikings roster is a work in progress, and part of that process may involve adding talent rather than simply subtracting talent.
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