The Road to 53: Will TE Nick Muse Make the Roster This Year?
The Vikings roster is just about set for training camp this summer, and with that, the offseason moves past the roster construction phase and into the roster evaluation phase. As we get our first glimpses of the Vikings roster in action throughout the summer, it’s time to evaluate which players should be candidates to make the final 53-man roster during training camp. Today, we continue the “Road to 53” by discussing TE Nick Muse.
Background
Nick Muse was barely even on the radar of a number of colleges after his high school years, not registering on any of ESPN, On3, Rivals, or 24/7 Sports recruiting rankings. As a result, he committed to William & Mary University for his freshman season of college football.
He spent the 2017 and 2018 seasons in the program, recording a total of 34 receptions, 508 yards, and 2 TDs over the course of 13 games. After that 2018 season, having a 30-reception 2018 season under his belt, he transferred to South Carolina where he spent the remainder of his college career.
Muse’s first season with the Gamecocks was spent largely as a reserve, starting just one of the eight games that he played in. He caught 17 passes for 158 yards that season. After the departure of Kyle Markway from the program, he took over the starting role in 2020 and 2021.
Over those two seasons as a starter, Muse appeared in 23 games, catching 50 passes for 647 yards and 3 TDs. After a pair of eight-loss seasons in 2019 and 2020, South Carolina went 7-6 in 2021 and won the Duke’s Mayo Bowl against North Carolina.
After a couple strong seasons against the SEC, Muse proved to do just enough to sneak into the 2022 NFL Draft as the Minnesota Vikings selected him in the seventh round with the 227th overall pick. However, he was the only draft pick from the Vikings class that did not make the final 53-man roster, being waived in August.
However, the Vikings were able to keep him around on the practice squad, and after Irv Smith’s ankle injury, Muse was able to get onto the field in nine of Minnesota’s final 10 regular season games. He did not play with the offense at all last season, but he saw 108 snaps with the special teams. Now, he enters the 2023 season hoping to make his way onto the roster after getting a reserve/future contract with the team this winter.
How Muse Can Impact the 2023 Vikings
Especially with Ben Ellefson’s retirement this spring, the door has opened up for Muse to make the roster this season. If the Vikings commit to playing more 12 personnel, it makes a lot of sense for Minnesota to keep four tight ends on the roster. Assuming Muse ranks higher than Ben Sims, that is his easiest pathway to the final 53.
If Muse makes the roster, he can continue to play with the special teams, but he certainly is capable of being a contributor on offense as well. Muse was a decent blocker throughout his collegiate career, with PFF giving him run-blocking grades of 74.5 in 2020 and 68.4 in 2021.
Obstacles in His Way
At the end of the day, the top three tight ends seem pretty clear cut with T.J. Hockenson, Josh Oliver, and Johnny Mundt. Muse’s only hope of making the roster is Minnesota keeping a fourth tight end. It could be possible, but given the production of the top three and other areas that could use extra depth, it may be another instance of Muse just narrowly missing the cut.
The Prediction
Ultimately, it seems that Muse is destined to be a practice squad player once again unless an injury takes time away from a tight end above him again. He isn’t the biggest tight end in the world, which could impact his blocking ability at the NFL level, and both Hockenson and Oliver should eat up most of the targets at the position offensively. Muse should see time on the field again, but it will once again be from the practice squad.
Josh Frey is a Class of 2020 graduate of The College of Idaho and managing editor of PurplePTSD.com. When he’s not writing about the NFL, Josh enjoys running, gaming, or rooting for the Milwaukee Brewers and Bucks. Check out his Twitter account: @Freyed_Chicken.
