Viktor
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- Mar 19, 2019
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On the Roster: Chad Beebe, Stefon Diggs, Bisi Johnson and Adam Thielen
Diggs and Thielen each posted 1,000 receiving yards in 2018 and undisputedly are one of the top tandems in the NFL. Beebe’s sample size is small, but he’s shown an ability to beat man coverage and a willingness to do anything to help the team. Johnson committed to learning every receiver position in the offense. The Vikings rested all four players for Thursday’s preseason finale, hinting at the status for Beebe and Johnson.
Number of players kept:
On the Roster: Tyler Conklin, Brandon Dillon, Kyle Rudolph and Irv Smith, Jr.
Rudolph is back for his ninth season. The most-tenured player on offense is joined by rookies Smith and Dillon, as well as a 2018 fifth-round pick in Conklin, who is poised for another step after some flashes as a rookie.
Smith was selected in the second round nine years after the Vikings tabbed Rudolph in the same round.
Dillon, an undrafted free agent out of Marian (Indiana), shined Thursday in Buffalo and finished as Minnesota’s leader in receiving yards (95) this preseason.
Offensive line
Number of players kept:
On the Roster: Garrett Bradbury, Dakota Dozier, Pat Elflein, Rashod Hill, Brett Jones, Josh Kline, Brian O’Neill, Riley Reiff, Dru Samia and Olisaemeka Udoh
The Vikings set their starting five (from left to right) of Reiff, Elflein, Bradbury, Kline and O’Neill early this offseason and didn’t budge until an injury to O’Neill led to Hill stepping in at right tackle for the first three games of the preseason.
Dozier was brought in as a guard during free agency but started at left tackle Thursday. Jones was acquired during training camp in 2018. Samia and Udoh were drafted in April and spent quite a bit of time together at right guard and right tackle this offseason.
Defensive line
Number of players kept:
On the Roster: Everson Griffen, Jalyn Holmes, Danielle Hunter, Jaleel Johnson, Linval Joseph, Hercules Mata’afa, Ifeadi Odenigbo, Shamar Stephen, Armon Watts and Stephen Weatherly
The starting front four is likely to be Griffen and Hunter at defensive end, Joseph at nose tackle and Stephen at the other defensive tackle spot.
Weatherly had career highs in multiple categories last season and could be assigned a variety of tasks in 2019. Holmes and Johnson got valuable experience as they filled in for Joseph and Stephen this preseason.
Mata’afa is an intriguing prospect, particularly as a situational pass rusher. Odenigbo has continued improving since his selection in the seventh round of the 2017 NFL Draft. Watts was a sixth-round selection in April.
Linebackers
Number of players kept:
On the Roster: Anthony Barr, Kentrell Brothers, Eric Kendricks, Ben Gedeon and Eric Wilson
Barr’s decision to return to the Vikings in spite of offers elsewhere could prove to be one of the most-impactful developments across the NFL this year. Kendricks is a dynamic tackling machine who has led the team in each of his four seasons.
Gedeon and Wilson have shown their individual strengths for the past two seasons, and Brothers has been a core special teams player since his selection in 2016.
Defensive backs
Number of players kept:
On the Roster: Mackensie Alexander, Kris Boyd, Marcus Epps, Mark Fields, Anthony Harris, Mike Hughes, Jayron Kearse, Xavier Rhodes, Harrison Smith and Trae Waynes
The Vikings have Rhodes and Waynes again on the outside for their seventh and fifth seasons, respectively. Smith is back for his eighth season, and Harris has worked his way up from undrafted in 2015 to a starting role at safety.
Alexander has embraced ownership of the nickel position, and Kearse had a really impressive preseason, giving the defense more options for special packages. Hughes recently cleared a milestone in his rehab of a torn ACL that ended his rookie campaign.
Boyd and Epps were late-round picks in April, and Fields became the newest Viking on Saturday when the undrafted rookie was acquired via trade.