3 Vikings Who Are Fighting For Their 2022 Roster Spot: Offense Edition
Earlier, I offered up three names to consider as defensive players who are likely fighting for their purple future. To my mind, Michael Pierce, Nick Vigil, and Cameron Dantzler need to show something to the franchise. The next step, quite evidently, rests in considering the 2022 Vikings offense by looking at who will be around next year.
With that goal in mind, I pass along these names as ones to consider.
Adam Thielen
Suggesting a purple future without Adam Thielen will be controversial among many.
The issue, of course, rests with the price tag. Next year, Thielen will come with a $17 million cap hit. Can the team justify such an expense with the budget looking so tight? Moreover, the team can also roll with an impressive trio of pass catchers on their rookie deals: Irv Smith Jr., KJ Osborn, and Justin Jefferson. Thielen hasn’t been featured like in past years. At times, he has been a luxury rather than a necessity.
One thing working in Thielen’s favor is how poorly the Vikings offense has looked these past couple weeks, an indication he may be necessary for 2022 success. If he returns against the Rams – which seems likely given that he almost played in the Bears game – and gives the offense a much-needed spark, then Minnesota may not be able to afford to lose him. He’ll be supremely important over these next three games.
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Mason Cole & Garrett Bradbury
I’m treating this as a two-for-one deal.
Three sports on the OL seem clear. Christian Darrisaw and Brian O’Neill will be the team’s starting tackles. Ezra Cleveland has been having a fine season, and he was perhaps the team’s best offensive player against the Bears. What the team will do at center and RG remains a mystery.
Neither player inspires a ton of confidence, though most fans would likely lean toward Cole at this stage. A couple above average games from Bradbury doesn’t mean he isn’t a bust. The team may be wise to see if there are any trade partners out there for the former first-rounder. Getting extra cap space and anything from a mid-to-late round pick would be worth it. Cole, ideally, could be retained for cheap as good depth along the iOL.
Of course, these next games will tell us a lot about these two. Aaron Donald, Von Miller, and Leonard Floyd will present a difficult challenge in the Rams game. Kenny Clark – perhaps the most underrated player in the NFL – awaits in the GB game. After that, it’s the Bears once again.
These two need to show Minnesota’s leadership they’re worthy of sticking around. They can do so by hanging with these formidable defensive linemen.
CJ Ham
Like Thielen, Ham is a fan favorite, someone who embodies what it means to be a Viking. Originally an UDFA, Ham has worked his way into being a starter for the Vikings. He is a tough, hard-working, smart leader. Teams win with players like him.
The issue, as it often is, revolves around money. Can the team justify having him account for nearly $3.5 million next season? If not, they’ll need to work toward a restructure or a cut. A trade for a well-paid veteran FB seems supremely unlikely.
Plus, the impending coaching change (which may not happen) will impact things. Not every team uses a FB with any consistency. A new head coach may look at a strong FB as a luxury the team simply can’t afford. That roster spot could be used for another wideout if the team is looking to run more 11 personnel, or perhaps an extra offensive linemen to increase the competition within the front five.
Don’t be surprised if the Vikings move on from Ham, a tremendous fullback who I want to stick around.
The Honorable Mentions
Perceptive readers will have noticed one glaring omission in the above list of players: Mr. Kirk Cousins.
The 2022 Vikings offense will look quite different without Cousins. These next three games will certainly factor into the equation for Minnesota’s decision makers. What happens if Cousins absolutely torches his next three opponents, leading the Vikings to an unlikely 10-7 record and a playoff birth? The chances of him being gone would be very low. The opposite is also possible. He has had two straight weeks of poor play. What if that continues as he mostly sinks Minnesota’s shot at the playoffs?
As with everything else surrounding Cousins, the actual reality of what occurs will fall somewhere in between the two extremes I detailed above. He’ll do some really good things; he’ll do some really poor things. He’ll miss wide open receivers in favor of a checkdown; he’ll be forced into a checkdown because his OL couldn’t hold up.
Nothing is straightforward with that guy. Just know that these next three games will be very, very important for Kirk Cousins and the direction of the franchise.
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