Questions Answered: A Westbrook Reunion, Now What after Akiem Hicks, Johnny Mundt
Dustin Baker
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The following questions are about current Minnesota Vikings topics, answered by PurplePTSD. Today is the May 31st edition, addressed in a from-the-hip fashion. If you have questions, please email them to [email protected].
Also, please note: These are opinion-based responses. Some answers will be incorrect from time to time. But we’ll try to keep that to a minimum.
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Q: What is your opinion of the Vikings potentially re-signing Dede Westbrook after he worked out for the team on Tuesday?
A: It certainly isn’t as “exciting” as last summer when the team desperately needed a WR3.
Minnesota now has K.J. Osborn and Ihmir Smith-Marsette for WR3 and WR4 duty, so a possible Westbrook acquisition this time should be perceived as what folks should’ve realized, in retrospect, last year — bringing Westbrook aboard would be a special teams move.
Westbrook ranked 11th in the NFL last year per punt return yardage. He was safe. For Vikings doings, sometimes safe is smart.
Q: With Akiem Hicks heading to the Buccaneers, who can the Vikings still target for defensive tackles?
A: Yes, Hicks was whispered in Vikings chats for about 2.5 months.
With Hicks off the board — and if the Vikings even want more DT help — Kwesi Adofo-Mensah could kick tires on Ndamukong Suh, Sheldon Richardson, or Star Lotulelei.
The Vikings may be perfectly content with the current group of Dalvin Tomlinson, Armon Watts, and Harrison Phillips. Jaylen Twyman and rookie Esezi Otomewo are the reservist players.
Q: Is Johnny Mundt really the TE2 plan or even the TE1 plan if Irv Smith gets hurt?
A: Yes, he is the plan right now.
If the Vikings didn’t like Mundt for TE2, they would’ve signed Eric Ebron or Jimmy Graham by now. Mundt comes over from Kevin O’Connell’s Rams. There must be something quasi-special about him.
And remember, too, if Smith Jr. got hurt again, Adofo-Mensah would probably quickly be on the horn with an Ebron or Graham.
You just have to hope he doesn’t fire off a trade with the New York Jets.
And, who knows? Have you considered Mundt might be a good football player?
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sally from Minneapolis. His Viking fandom dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ and The Doors (the band).