5 VIKINGS WHO COULD BE SURPRISE CUTS THIS OFFSEASON
The Minnesota Vikings continue to be a fascinating team to look at during the offseason. They just drafted their quarterback of the future in J.J. McCarthy and a super-talented edge rusher in Dallas Turner.
The Vikings are in a state of transition. They let Kirk Cousins and Danielle Hunter leave this offseason to replace them with McCarthy and Turner, along with Jonathan Greenard. These moves are set up to mold the team in the image of general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and head coach Kevin O'Connell.
The roster has more quality at the top than overall depth. They still have some heavy needs across the roster and those positions won't see major cuts. However, some players at the deeper positions on the team could see a surprise cut or two.
Potential surprise Minnesota Vikings cuts
WR Jalen Nailor
The wide receiver position is an interesting group after Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison. Once you get past those two, it's like a mystery box. Brandon Powell and Trent Sherfield are the likely WR3 and WR4, but Nailor has a chance to earn one of those spots.
Why is he included on this list? Injuries have massively hindered his development. Nailor injured his hamstring on the first day of training camp in July of 2023 and didn't return until November. Yes, wide receivers coach Keenan McCardell pounded the table for Nailor in the 2022 NFL Draft, but in year three, if he doesn't take the step necessary, Nailor could end up looking for a new team.
OLB Pat Jones II
Going into his fourth season, Jones has some talent but has never really figured it out and put it all together. Now, he could end up doing so this year but there are some intriguing options behind him that could cost Jones his job. Andre Carter II and Gabriel Murphy could end up winning the EDGE 4 and EDGE 5 roles due to their upside, which Jones doesn't likely have in the same way.
ILB Brian Asamoah II
Linebacker is not exactly a deep position for the Vikings. You have Blake Cashman, Ivan Pace Jr. and massive question marks. Asamoah was drafted in 2022 to be a middle linebacker in a Vic Fangio-style defense where you don't have to be a great tackler. Well, under Brian Flores, you need to be. Pair that with his aggressiveness being too reckless and it explains a lot about why he hasn't played yet. If Asamoah can't take a step forward, he could end up cut come the end of training camp.
CB Andrew Booth Jr.
This is the one that I don't see happening. Booth is a talented player and ended the season playing his best football as a professional. Now, he hasn't quite lived up to his college potential. Some minor injuries have hindered his career but there is still a lot of talent to work with. However, if he bottoms out in camp, it's not an impossibility, especially with Khyree Jackson being selected in round four.
S Lewis Cine
Cine has had a brutal start to his career. After playing just two defensive snaps in his rookie season, Cine saw his leg snapped in half in London. He did return for offseason workouts in the 2023 offseason but never ended up climbing the depth chart. Cine only played in eight defensive snaps in 2023 with all of them being during garbage time against the Green Bay Packers in week 17. Now, cutting Cine would bring a dead cap charge of $6,792,001 because his first-round pick contract is fully guaranteed. Watch him potentially get traded instead of cut, but don't be surprised if Cine isn't on the roster in 2024.