Only One NFL Team Has Younger Roster Than the Vikings
Dustin Baker
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The Minnesota Vikings may be well known for 30-something players like Kirk Cousins, Adam Thielen, and Harrison Smith. But the franchise is not some hodgepodge of players that is on its “last leg” in terms of average player age. That is — the group is not making “one final push” with a slew of older men.
In fact, the Vikings are the NFL’s second-youngest team at the moment. The roster will trim to 53 players in early September. For now, though, Minnesota is infused with youth.
Ironically, the Los Angeles Rams are the league’s youngest squad, and they have not picked a player in the 1st Round of a draft since 2016. That was Jared Goff with the 1st overall selection — yes, the same guy that was recently traded to the Vikings’ interdivision foe, Detroit Lions. The Rams evidently do just fine finding youthful talent outside of the 1st Round.
And then there is the Vikings, who are “tied” with the Carolina Panthers for youth with an average player age of 24.74. For a long time, Minnesota was led defensively by the likes of Everson Griffen, Xavier Rhodes, and Linval Joseph. During the offseason of 2020, those men exited the organization via free agency for other teams. So, the Vikings relative age plummeted. The Vikings have a documented tendency of inserting drafted players into the lineup — more so than free agents (and more frequently than other NFL franchises).
The only players aged 30 or over as of mid-May are: Britton Colquitt (P), Andrew DePaola (LS), Harrison Smith (S), Kirk Cousins (QB), Zach Von Rosenberg (P), Patrick Peterson (CB), and Dakota Dozier (G). When Peterson was signed by the Vikings on St. Patrick’s Day, some derided the acquisition as “another old player.” Yet, truth be told, Peterson is one of the few “old” players. In that vein, his experience and age should be welcomed by the team and its fanbase — not trashed with pessimism. Indeed, Harrison Smith and Patrick Peterson are the only two players currently slated for the 2021 defense that are aged 30 or over.
The rest of the roster is peppered with youth. This is especially true for the upstart offensive line. The Vikings offensive trenches have been a constant source of complaint, creating an aura of “twilight zone” as the pass protection never seems to improve. After the 2021 NFL Draft, however, hope is renewed. General Manager Rick Spielman drafted Christian Darrisaw and Wyatt Davis — two players surmised to start immediately in 2021.
The projected offensive line by age: Christian Darrisaw (21), Ezra Cleveland (23), Garrett Bradbury (25), Wyatt Davis (22), and Brian O’Neill (25).
Overall, the age dynamic for the 2021 Vikings is a bit peculiar, although not disadvantageous. Head coach Mike Zimmer enters his eighth season of service in Minnesota, claiming the NFL’s eighth-best record via wins and losses since he arrived in 2014. In that timeframe, Zimmer’s Vikings have won two playoff games. Under his leadership, the franchise — like clockwork — alternates good, playoff-appearing seasons with mediocre ones. Minnesota reached the postseason in 2015, 2017, and 2019 while underperforming in 2016, 2018, and 2020. 2014 is not included in that metric because it was Zimmer’s maiden voyage, and most reasonable folks gave him a pass for a season that started with Matt Cassel as QB1 and Adrian Peterson suspended for most of the year.
The time is now for Zimmer, regardless of roster age. The Vikings must win a playoff game for the man to solidify employment in 2022 or so goes popular opinion. If he does not bring this to fruition, well, the next guy or gal will inherit a young roster.
A rebuild could be on the horizon if 2021 is not rewarding, but stripping it down to the bones is not required from an age standpoint.