The Vikings’ Demoted Players and The Curious Upside that Follows
Due to the offseason’s many roster additions, the Vikings’ demoted players are plentiful.
Maybe the one who stands out the most is Blake Brandel, someone who served as the LG1 in 2024 but who was already in a competition to start again even before the draft. What happens now that No. 24 pick Donovan Jackson has been added to the mix? Very likely, Mr. Brandel — a great pro who works hard, is tough, and intelligent — is going become a backup yet again.
The Vikings’ Demoted Players & The Upside that Follows
Hockey is a matchup sport.
Consider, for instance, what happens when a hockey team gets a true top pair for the defense. All of the sudden, players who were struggling higher in the lineup get more favorable looks in their ice time, better allowing those defenders to thrive. The true D1 & D2 can neutralize the other team’s most potent players while the newly-minted D3 & D4 can win their minutes against the other team’s middle-six players.
Something similar happens when a team lands a true C1, an elite centerman who can get tossed onto the ice in all situations. Every other center gets bumped down. These centers then get better matchups in the faceoff dot, an easier time dominating possession in the offensive zone, and maybe even have a lesser burden defensively.
In like manner, football is all about matching up well.
Consider what happens when a team has a corner who is capable of operating as a true CB1, someone who can travel with the other team’s most formidable receiver and still come out on top. The DC can thus shift coverage toward the second-most dangerous pass catcher, doubling that option so that the QB has a difficult time proceeding through his reads as the pass rush works on collapsing the pocket.
The single domino falling — having a top-tier corner — can ripple throughout the rest of the defense.
One wonders if Byron Murphy Jr. and Isaiah Rodgers can combine to be the kind of corners who allow the Vikings to matchup well. Giving Brian Flores enough confidence to leave each on an island with the other team’s top pass-catching twosome would mean the DC can allocate resources elsewhere, shifting the safeties somewhere else on the field to aid in neutralizing the other pass catchers.
Kick it back to the offensive line. Blake Brandel appears to be the underdog in the battle to be the LG1, as Kevin O’Connell appears to hint. Bad news for the individual, no doubt, but good news for the team as a whole. Mr. Brandel slides down into being one of the game’s most versatile offensive lineman, capable of jumping into any of the front five spots. Goodness, he even has some history as a jumbo tight end.
Consider, as well, the addition at receiver with Tai Felton. The No. 102 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft isn’t guaranteed of much in his rookie season, though he is a near lock to make the roster. What happens if he fully lives up to his potential? Well, he could snatch the WR3 job away from Jalen Nailor. Again, that’s bad news for Mr. Nailor, but it means that the new WR4 would get better matchups when there are four receivers on the field.
Adding upside talent has a domino effect that involves moving players down the hierarchy, potentially allowing for roles that are better-suited to their talent level. Jalen Redmond can be an upside DT4 now that Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave have been added, better allowing Redmond to keep his legs and lungs fresh. In so doing, Redmond may offer more efficient snaps than if he were tasked with being the DT2.
Something similar could occur with Blake Brandel, Jalen Nailor, and others on the roster.
The Vikings’ demoted players aren’t going to be pleased with losing their spots within the team’s roster hierarchy. The hope, though, is that Minnesota’s team finds more success as a result of the shuffling that’s taking place.
Gaining an edge by having both top-tier talent among the starters and overqualified backups is one of way of pushing for fourteen wins yet again. Even better, of course, would be the chance to make some noise in the final tournament.
Vikings Take Care of a Major Offseason Item
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 Bluesky (@VikingsGazette). If you feel so inclined, subscribe to his Substack, The Vikings Gazette, for more great Vikings content.