The Viking Age
FanSided

5 players Minnesota Vikings will miss most in 2020

By Nik Edlund

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - OCTOBER 13: Everson Griffen #97 of the Minnesota Vikings pumps up the crowd during the game against the Philadelphia Eagles at U.S. Bank Stadium on October 13, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings defeated the Eagles 38-20. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - OCTOBER 13: Everson Griffen #97 of the Minnesota Vikings pumps up the crowd during the game against the Philadelphia Eagles at U.S. Bank Stadium on October 13, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings defeated the Eagles 38-20. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /
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Dallas Cowboys Defensive End Michael Bennett (79) blocked by Minnesota Vikings Offensive Guard Josh Kline (64) (Photo by Andrew Dieb/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Dallas Cowboys Defensive End Michael Bennett (79) blocked by Minnesota Vikings Offensive Guard Josh Kline (64) (Photo by Andrew Dieb/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Former Minnesota Vikings Player No. 2: G Josh Kline

It’s been two months and it is still mind-boggling the Minnesota Vikings cut offensive guard Josh Kline to save just over $1 million in cap space. He was their second-best offensive lineman a season ago, and was strong both in run blocking and in pass protection.

The Vikings are going to desperately miss Kline during the 2020 season. His replacement is either going to be a longtime backup player like Dakota Dozier, or an inexperienced second-year player like Dru Samia or Oli Udoh. While those two have plenty of potential, neither has more than one game of NFL experience. The Vikings are taking a huge gamble replacing a player who was very good, with one who has little to no experience.

If Samia wins the job but proves to be about as effective as fellow lineman Pat Eflein has been in recent years, quarterback Kirk Cousins will be running for his life all game long, and Kirk is no runner.

The ground game could also take a step backward, and that would be catastrophic, not just to the Vikings offense, but to their entire 2020 campaign.

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