5 surprising Vikings players who could make the 2020 roster

Hardy Nickerson Jr. – LB

The Vikings have been going through a plethora of linebackers during training camp this summer. They’ve lost Cameron Smith for the year (potentially for good) and Ben Gedeon hasn’t been able to play yet either.

So Minnesota signed Quentin Poling, David Reese II, and Hardy Nickerson Jr. during the last few weeks. Of these three, Nickerson could be the one that sticks, and it might not even be of his own doing.

Nickerson could make the Vikings’ final roster by default. It really depends on if Gedeon comes back this year. The guy has had multiple concussions and he failed his pre-training camp physical.

It isn’t out of the realm of possibility that Gedeon decides to hang up the cleats for good. If that’s the case, Nickerson should be the favorite to be the fifth linebacker.

The top three are set with Eric Kendricks, Anthony Barr, and Eric Wilson. Rookie linebacker Troy Dye should make the team since he’s a highly touted fourth-round pick, and then one spot will be up for grabs. At this point, it is Nickerson versus three undrafted rookies.

While Nickerson hasn’t lit up the world during his career so far, he does have 81 career tackles, one tackle for a loss, and two pass breakups. So he does offer some veteran experience and that could be enough to land him a spot on Minnesota’s final 2020 roster.