Which notable Minnesota Vikings rookies might not make the final roster?
The Minnesota Vikings had a ton of draft picks to work with last April. When the smoke cleared, they added 15 new players and 10 more undrafted free agents after it was all over.
Many of these new Vikings players are locks to make the team. Justin Jefferson, Jeff Gladney, Ezra Cleveland, and Cameron Dantzler are just a few who are pretty much guaranteed a spot on the final roster. Some of these guys won’t just have a spot, but they’ll also have key roles on the team this season.
No matter where they were drafted, some Minnesota rookies were generating a lot of buzz following their selections or signings this year. These players were thought to have very strong chances of making the team and even seeing significant playing time throughout the season.
After a few weeks of this year’s Vikings training camp though, those optimistic feelings have begun to sour. Some of these players have had injuries or they just have not come close to living up to the hype they had back in April and early May.
Some have fallen so far, there are questions about whether they’ll actually make Minnesota’s final roster or not. Who are some of these highly-touted rookies that might end up on the chopping block this year?
Kenny Willekes – DE
Sure he was a seventh-round pick, but this was a player who many projected to go higher. Kenny Willekes fell in the draft due to a lack of overall athletic ability, but he’s a hard-working, high character guy, whose motor doesn’t stop.
Many figured the Vikings got a steal with this former Michigan State Spartan and he was someone who could make the team’s final roster this year despite his low draft billing.
Willekes did have his moments in camp this summer for Minnesota. He got some reps with the second-team and he was able to get pressure on the quarterback. Unfortunately, he left the Vikings’ recent scrimmage on crutches, but the extent of his injury hasn’t been publically revealed as of this point.
The injury could actually be a blessing in disguise for Willekes and Minnesota. The way things were going, he looked like he was a pretty big long shot to make the final roster this year.
He had players like Eddie Yarbrough and D.J. Wonnum ahead of him on the depth chart, and the Vikings’ recent trade for Yannick Ngakoue pushed him down even further.
Minnesota was always wary of trying to stash this guy on the practice squad, as another team could come in and snap him up. Now they can choose to place him on injured reserve, keep his rights for a year, and not worry about trying to sneak him through waivers.
Willekes is a player the Vikings can develop and he could turn into an asset down the road. Just don’t expect to see much from him in 2020.
James Lynch – DT
The Vikings chose James Lynch in the fourth round of this year’s NFL Draft and many figured with him being that high of a pick and at a position of need, that he’d be a lock to make the team as a rookie. After his underwhelming performance at camp this summer, him making the team is now not such a sure thing.
Minnesota took this player because of the ability he showed in college to be a disruptive interior force. He accumulated 13.5 sacks during his senior season at Baylor and he looked like a great fit as at least a rotational inside pass rusher for the Vikings this year. While that could still happen, Lynch finds himself buried on the depth chart right now.
He is currently behind Jaleel Johnson, Armon Watts, Jalyn Holmes, and Hercules Mata’afa on the roster. Things got worse for Lynch and his chances too after Minnesota traded for Yannick Ngakoue.
Following the trade, Ifeadi Odengibo might move back inside as an interior pass rusher which could push Lynch right off the roster.
The Vikings would probably try to get him on the practice squad this year, where he could continue to learn and develop. At this point, the only thing that gives Lynch a chance to make the squad is his relatively early draft status. But his play on the field so far, or lack thereof, has spoken otherwise.
Quartney Davis – WR
Being highly-touted and undrafted may seem like an oxymoron, but that is exactly what Quartney Davis was.
After this year’s NFL Draft, the Vikings went out and signed this big-bodied pass catcher and many already gave him a spot on the 2020 roster. He was a player many figured would’ve been drafted in the fourth or fifth round and the fact he was available after the draft made it quite surprising.
Davis said all the right things after the draft and he appeared hungry and ready to make the most out of his opportunity with Minnesota. His training camp performance hasn’t backed up those words or the confidence he expressed though.
Davis has struggled with an injury and he’s missed a handful of practice days this summer. He also seems to be behind players like K.J. Osborn, Chad Beebe, and Alexander Hollins on the Vikings depth chart.
With little time remaining to make up ground, it looks like Davis’ best bet this season will be to get stashed on Minnesota’s practice squad.
Assuming he clears waivers, that could be the best case for the big receiver. Davis can continue to work on his routes and his understanding of the Vikings offense. Perhaps he could even get called up later in the season if someone were to get hurt or sick and he works his way onto the team that way.
Harrison Hand – CB
Harrison Hand was a fifth-round draft choice of the Vikings this year and like a few other players on this list, he is having a very quiet training camp.
When Minnesota drafted Hand, rumors were swirling about that he was a candidate to be converted into a safety. With the thin depth behind Anthony Harris and Harrison Smith there, many assumed he’d be one of the young players backing them up.
So far there hasn’t been much more than a peep about Hand and whether he’s playing cornerback, safety, or both in Vikings camp this summer.
We’ve heard reports about undrafted rookie Nevelle Clarke at corner and with Cameron Dantzler standing out, Hand seems like the odd man out in the cornerback group.
At safety Josh Metellus, Myles Dorn, and new addition Steven Parker seem to be getting the reps behind the starters. Undrafted wide receiver Dan Chisena is reportedly switching to safety as well, but there has been no mention of Hand doing so.
If Hand remains a corner, he likely won’t make the team this year. He’s got Mike Hughes, Holton Hill, Jeff Gladney, Kris Boyd, Dantzler, and Clarke ahead of him on the depth chart. The Vikings aren’t going to keep seven cornerbacks and Hand will likely end up on their practice squad.
Assuming he makes it through waivers, that could be the best case for him as he can continue to develop his skills as a cornerback and even begin to get acclimated with the safety position.