Vikings Wide Receiver Gets Cut Ahead of OTAs

Josh Frey |

May 7, 2024

Nov 27, 2023; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; A Minnesota Vikings helmet sits idle on the field before the game between the Minnesota Vikings and the Chicago Bears at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports

The Minnesota Vikings are set to get back on the field shortly, with their first slate of OTAs scheduled to begin in less than two weeks.

Heading into the month of May, Minnesota employed a whopping 14 wide receivers on their 90-man roster after their acquisitions in undrafted free agency following the draft. With OTAs approaching, one of these Vikings wide receivers has been cut: Daylen Baldwin.

Vikings Wide Receiver Gets Cut

May 13, 2022; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Giants wide receiver Daylen Baldwin (15) practices a drill during rookie camp at Quest Diagnostics Training Center. Mandatory Credit: John Jones-USA TODAY Sports

Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 had the scoop, tweeting, “Vikings cut wide receiver Daylen Baldwin per a league source.”

Baldwin split his collegiate time between Morgan State, Jackson State, and Michigan before going undrafted in the 2022 NFL Draft. During his sole season with the Wolverines in 2021 (the first season of J.J. McCarthy’s collegiate career at Michigan) he put together 17 receptions for 256 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

After spending a portion of his first NFL offseason with the New York Giants, Baldwin was cut and caught on with the Cleveland Browns.

Vikings Wide Receiver — Dec 4, 2021; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Michigan Wolverines wide receiver Roman Wilson (14) celebrates scoring a touchdown with teammate Daylen Baldwin (85) during the first quarter against the Iowa Hawkeyes in the Big Ten Conference championship game at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Baldwin appeared in one game for the Browns during the 2022 season in their Week 15 win over the Baltimore Ravens, and he caught two passes for 25 yards, earning a first down on each of the catches.

The receiver was then waived by Cleveland ahead of the 2023 season because of an injury, and in November, Minnesota signed him to their practice squad for the remainder of the season. However, he did not appear in any games for the Vikings and signed a reserve/future contract for 2024.

Michigan Wolverines quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) celebrates with wide receiver Daylen Baldwin (85) after throwing Baldwin a touchdown pass during second half action Saturday, Sept. 4, 2021. Kirthmon F. Dozier/Detroit Free Press

Now, Baldwin is back on the hunt for a new team ahead of his third NFL season. He will turn 25 years old in November.

Editor’s Note: Statistics for this article were found via Pro Football Reference.

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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.