The Vikings Roster is Changing
Dustin Baker
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Because the process has spanned a few weeks, onlookers of the Minnesota Vikings depth chart may not have noticed the gravity of the team’s roster changes in 2021.
But the changes are profound – and they aren’t done yet.
Free agency informally commenced on Monday with legal tampering. Tuesday was the midsection of the three-day period when deals are continually finagled. On Wednesday, tidbits of finality are evident as players’ deals cement to the salary cap. The process is robust and fast-moving.
Some of the big transactions: Guard Joe Thuney joined the Kansas City Chiefs after several years with the New England Patriots. Hunter Henry and Jonnu Smith – two damn good tight ends – also trekked to Massachusetts. Center Corey Linsley left the Green Bay Packers for the Los Angeles Chargers. EDGE rusher Carl Lawson spurned the Cincinnati Bengals for the New York Jets (for some reason). And so forth.
As of Tuesday at noon, the Vikings added a beefy 3-technique defensive tackle from the New York Giants named Dalvin Tomlinson. Minnesota now employs the only two Dalvins in NFL history. Then, the team inked a linebacker from Chargers – Nick Vigil. He could feasibly replace Eric Wilson — if Wilson is signed by a different NFL team during his free agency.
Stephen Weatherly also rejoined the team a few weeks ago after a short stint with the Carolina Panthers in 2020.
Releases
While the inbound players are sparse so far (Tomlinson, Vigil) the list of outgoing folks is plentiful.
Kyle Rudolph was released by the team, and he will sign elsewhere any day – seeking more playing time. His absence from the team already feels weird, and it will get even weirder in Week 1 of 2021 when Rudolph wears a different helmet.
Kicker Dan Bailey doesn’t play for the team anymore. He was jettisoned due to a lousy 2020 campaign. The Vikings will have a new kicker next season – probably Greg Joseph or the man that joins him via kicking competition this summer.
Riley Reiff – who spent four years in Minnesota – will be seized by a LT-needy team before too long. For the Vikings, Reiff was way too expensive, and he evidently wanted to try a new gridiron pathway. Maybe Reiff will venture outside of the NFC North for the first time.
And Shamar Stephen was released on Tuesday. His exit was long forecasted by everybody in the orbit of the team. Stephen was a serviceable player, but at $5 million for 2021, he was grossly overpaid.
The Vikings are trimming financial roster fat, from Rudolph to Stephen.
No Tender Action as of Yet
Arguably more surprising? Restricted free agents have not been that important to the Vikings. In fact, general manager Rick Spielman placed tenders on none of them – they can all walk into unrestricted free agency.
RB3 from 2020, Mike Boone, will find a new home. He is a talented, fast halfback. Keep in mind: All of these one-restricted free agents could escape unrestricted free agency and return to Eagan, but there are no guarantees. Some team will likely scoop Boone. He is exciting.
Wide receiver Chad Beebe was not tendered, although whispers have circulated that the team will find a way to bring him back for 2021. Regardless, Spielman said no thanks to the tender.
Chris Jones – a maligned-tackling corner from last season – wasn’t re-upped. He’s gone, barring a practice-squad-like addition in a few months.
Finally, in the most stunning non-tender of the week, Minnesota said no thanks to Ifeadi Odengibo. The starting defensive end from 2020 and some of 2019 can play wherever he wants.
Totally Reconditioned Defensive Line
Odengibo’s possible departure really changes the menu upfront for the Vikings. Last season, the team fielded Odenigbo, Shamar Stephen, Jaleel Johnson, and Jalyn Holmes. There is a real chance that none of those men will start next year – and they may not even make the 53-man roster. It’s wild to ponder.
While the additions to the roster are slowly developing because of a teensy budget, the seeds of change are visible. No Rudolph, Bailey, Reiff, Stephen, Odenigbo, Boone, and Beebe – is a big development. Unless those players flock back to the team, the 2021 roster is already about 20% different – through subtraction.
Too, names like Anthony Harris, Eric Wilson, Todd Davis, Brett Jones, and Sean Mannion have not been re-signed by the team. Those players could still return to Minnesota, but there is no movement yet.