Predicting which Vikings players will make the 2020 practice squad

Harrison Hand – DB

The Vikings will have a tough decision to make when it comes to which defensive backs they keep this year.

As far as corners go, Jeff Gladney, Cameron Dantzler, Mike Hughes, Holton Hill, and Kris Boyd all appear to be locks to make Minnesota’s final 2020 roster. Undrafted rookie Nevelle Clarke has been impressive in camp so far, and it is entirely possible he jumps Harrison Hand on the depth chart to make the team’s active roster as their sixth cornerback.

As far as safety goes, it looks like Josh Metellus and newly acquired Steven Parker could be the front runners for the backup jobs behind Harrison Smith and Anthony Harris. If both of these scenarios come to pass, it could put Hand on the chopping block and make the practice squad his most likely destination.

This could bode well for Hand in the long run though. If the Vikings do convert him to safety, he can take the time he needs and learn the nuances of the position on the practice squad for a season. He’ll be better prepared to compete for a job in 2021 and potentially make an impact for Minnesota in his second year.

Dillon Mitchell – WR

The Vikings drafted Dillon Mitchell in the seventh round in 2019 and they were excited about the former Oregon Duck. Mitchell boasted good size, good speed, and many figured he’d make the team as the fourth or fifth receiver.

For whatever reason, Mitchell didn’t develop quickly and was surpassed on the depth chart by Bisi Johnson. He did end up on Minnesota’s practice squad, but he was still slow to acclimate to the NFL game. He saw undrafted rookie receivers Davion Davis and Alexander Hollins get called up to play meaningful games before he did.

In a normal year, Mitchell would probably just be cut at season’s end. This year though, the Vikings might as well keep him around, and see if another season on the practice squad does him good.

He does have talent as a pass catcher and he can also provide some return skills. If things finally do click with Mitchell this year, he could become a valuable asset to the Vikings offense.