Vikings’ Vigorous Competition at TE to Result in a Crowded Roster Spot
Prior to training camp, I’ll be working through a position-by-position roster projection. The third installment in the series is going to consider the tight end spot.
The Vikings’ vigorous competition at tight end largely flows from the absence of T.J. Hockenson, the TE1 who is capable of playing at an All Pro level. He is recovering from a serious knee injury and the word is that he’ll need to miss some time at the beginning of the season. The end result has been to increase the amount of players competing at the position.
The Vikings’ Vigorous Competition at TE Creates a Tricky Roster Battle
Start with Mr. Hockenson at the top. He’s the clear-cut top option and among the team’s most important players overall. Who exists after the tight end with the luscious locks? Take a look:
- TE2: Josh Oliver
- TE3: Johnny Mundt
- TE4: Robert Tonyan
- TE5: Nick Muse
- TE6: N’Keal Harry
- TE7: Sammis Reyes
- TE8: Trey Knox
Kind of wild how the position has exploded, eh? Going into the 2024 NFL Draft, the status quo reigned at TE. The same foursome from last season was back, sparking some optimism that maybe Hockenson would be ready by Week 1.
But then there was the UDFA pickup in Mr. Knox. And then the International Player Pathway Program kicked Reyes over. Tonyan got added and Harry switched positions. All of the sudden, what was four returning tight ends turned into eight total options competing for limited spots on the team.
Within the cluster, there are a pair of near certainties: Oliver and Mundt. Neither is going anywhere.
Oliver is moving into Year 2 of his beefy three-year deal from Kwesi Adofo-Mensah during the 2023 offseason. While playing in seventeen games — starting fourteen — Oliver picked up 22 catches, 213 yards, and 2 TDs. Seeing those numbers swell to around 30-35 catches, 350ish yards, and 3-5 TDs wouldn’t be surprising even if his main role will be to continue being a bully as a blocker.
Meanwhile, Mundt is going to keep being a pass-catching option and be someone who can shine on specials. He’s a good athlete and he picked up 210 snaps on special teams last year. Kevin O’Connell really likes him, so look for him to be kept around.
The question then shifts toward how many other tight ends are going to be retained. Hockenson will likely be out of the mix initially since he’ll be hurt. Oliver and Mundt are very likely to reclaim spots on the roster. Are there one or two more openings?
The sheer number of options at the position suggests that Minnesota intends on featuring the position. Tonyan recently received some strong praise from OC Wes Phillips, suggesting he is a leader in the race to snag an open roster spot.
And then one thinks about giving the upper hand to Mr. Muse. He has been around since the start of the O’Connell era, bouncing back and forth between the active roster and practice squad. He’s well-liked and offers a bit of upside as a pass catcher. Continuing to show that he can be a productive player on special teams — where he has picked up 137 snaps across a pair of seasons — is going to make the difference.
In Week 1, look for Josh Oliver, Johnny Mundt, Robert Tonyan, and Nick Muse to be the tight ends on the roster.
Before training camp arrives, I’ll be doing a position-by-position roster projection in an effort to understand what the final 53-man roster could look like. Once training camp and the preseason unfold, we can swing back around to the projections to see about any adjustments. Entries: Quarterback, Running Back.
Editor’s Note: Information from Pro Football Reference and Over the Cap helped with this piece.
K. Joudry is the Senior Editor for Vikings Territory and PurplePTSD. He has been covering the Vikings full time since the summer of 2021. He can be found on Twitter and as a co-host for Notes from the North, a humble Vikings podcast.
