Combo of Speed and Muscle Get Put on the Menu for the Vikings as NFL Offseason Gains Momentum
If the Vikings desire to bring speed and/or muscle to town, then that’s now an option due to what’s taking place over in Miami.
The Dolphins, recently a very poor team, have begun a roster purge. Consider some of the details from ESPN’s Adam Schefter: “Sources: Miami’s eight-time Pro-Bowl WR Tyreek Hill is being released. Hill turns 32 on March 1, is recovering from a dislocated knee and torn ACL, and now will be an unrestricted free agent for the first time in his NFL career.”
Schefter then offered some more details about basic roster moves: “Dolphins now have released WRs Tyreek Hill and Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, and G James Daniels.”
Finally, note that edge rusher Bradley Chubb has been shown the door, as well. Some added clarity from Ian Rapoport of The NFL Network: “After his restructure last year, Bradley Chubb had a cap number of more than $31M for 2026. Release was always the plan.”
The Vikings: Speed, Muscle, and The Added FA Talent
A lot of words and quotations above, so boil things down to just the basics. These Miami Dolphins are no longer Miami Dolphins:
- WR Tyreek Hill
- WR Nick Westbrook-Ikhine
- EDGE Bradley Chubb
- OG James Daniels
No doubt, the name that stands out the most is Tyreek Hill, someone of unusual speed. The great issue is that he’s older and has a pile of off-field concerns. Even worse, there’s the recent injury. Shrunk down to just on-field abilities, Hill’s résumé is ultra impressive: he’s five-time first-team All Pro, eight-time Pro Bowler, and a Super Bowl champion.
As far as actual fits go, Nick Westbrook-Ikhine appears to make sense.
He’s only 28 and offers imposing size. The receiver is 6’2″ and 211 pounds, bringing back some memories of Trent Sherfield. Signing the former Titan and now former Dolphin would be about size and muscle, not bringing someone to town to push for the triple crown. Blocking defensive backs into oblivion is what’s desired from the veteran.
Just based on the numbers, Westbrook-Ikhine’s best season (2024) involved offering up 32 catches, 497 yards, and 9 touchdowns. Not too bad. He’s not elite but he can offer some production. Consider, as well, that he turned 25 of those 32 catches into a first down.
A downside is that his role on special teams hasn’t been huge, but he does have a history in this phase of football. Last season, the receiver picked up 149 snaps on specials.
One then thinks of Daniels, the guard.
With the help of PFF, we can see that Daniels has been shuffled around the interior of the o-line. Most prominent has been Daniels lining up at right guard; currently, Will Fries is locking down that spot, meaning Daniels wouldn’t be added for that job.
Do note, though, that Daniels has put in work at left tackle (1 snap), left guard (1,626 snaps), and center (508 snaps) within his career. Could he end up being the replacement for Ryan Kelly, a well-paid veteran who appears to be on the way out?
Possible given the past versatility — ever heard that word coming out of Eagan? — but not particularly likely. After all, those past snaps at center arrived in 2019. That doesn’t mean that Daniels can’t do it again (Blake Brandel played center last season, folks) just that it’s not super likely.
Finally, the Vikings can sign Mr. Chubb, if that’s the desire.
At 29, Bradley Chubb is closer to the end of his career than the beginning. The defender got scooped up at No. 5 in the 2018 NFL Draft, since putting in work for the Broncos and Dolphins. Last season, Chubb offered up 8.5 sacks. That would have led the Vikings, a team that topped out at 8 sacks from Dallas Turner.
The modern NFL means that there’s no such thing as too many pass rushers. Presumably, DC Brian Flores agrees; presumably, DC Brian Flores would welcome any and all pass rushers for the Vikings’ defense.
Part of the issue for the Vikings is that the defense is already older. In particular, there’s Jonathan Greenard alongside Andrew Van Ginkel as the top pair of pass rushers for the Vikings. Does adding yet another veteran make sense? Only on a bargain-bin deal, if at all.
The current vantage point suggests that the Vikings should be most interested in adding Westbook-Ikhine. He has some youth, great size, and a history of offering WR3/WR4 production. Much to be said for that, folks.
NFL free agency begins on Monday, March 9th. The real thing — not just the verbal commitments — begins at on Wednesday, March 11th. That’s when ink gets put down on paper.
Since the cuts have already occurred, though, the four former Dolphins can be signed at any time.
