How will the Vikings finish filling out their 2021 roster?
By Ali Siddiqui
Following the conclusion of the 2021 NFL Draft, how will the Minnesota Vikings fill the remaining holes on their roster?
The 2021 NFL Draft is now over. The Minnesota Vikings once again were very busy. They did not have 15 picks like last year, but they still had plenty with 11.
The Vikings could still add more pieces in what has already been a very busy offseason. Adding a starting defensive end opposite of Danielle Hunter and a wide receiver behind Adam Thielen and Justin Jefferson would certainly help this team heading into next season.
Who are some of the guys Minnesota could look to add to their 2021 roster during the next few months?
Still plenty of players available on the market for Minnesota Vikings to sign
Among the names still remaining on the free-agent market, includes defensive ends Ryan Kerrigan, Justin Houston, and Melvin Ingram in addition to wide receivers Dede Westbrook and Golden Tate. The Vikings certainly have the money to sign multiple free agents if they choose to.
Next season, this year’s first-round pick, Christian Darrisaw, will definitely be Minnesota’s starting left tackle and third-round pick Wyatt Davis will very likely be one of the team’s starting guards. So they very well may not sign an offensive lineman during the next few months.
The Vikings are reportedly interested in defensive tackle Geno Atkins according to KSTP’s Darren Wolfson, which is not a surprise given the time he spent with Mike Zimmer and Paul Guenther in when they were all with the Cincinnati Bengals.
Wolfson also said Minnesota has interest in both Kerrigan and Westbrook. Would the Vikings also be interested in a reunion with Sheldon Richardson?
Westbrook would be an intriguing option for Minnesota. When healthy he can contribute as both a wide receiver and a punt returner. He also spent time with current Vikings wide receivers coach Keenan McCardell in Jacksonville.
Larry Fitzgerald is also available and he would make a very good third wide receiver at this point in his career. Will the Minnesota native and former Vikings ball boy want to come to play in purple? Maybe not, but you never know.
Tate caught eight touchdowns in 23 games during the past two seasons. Given he spent four and a half seasons in Detroit, it would not be a shock if he had interest in returning to the NFC North if Minnesota gave him a call.
Olabisi Johnson and Chad Beebe are not locks to be the team’s third or fourth receivers and this year’s fifth-round pick, Ihmir Smith-Marsette, could give them some good competition too.
The Vikings will have plenty of competition at defensive end this summer and D.J. Wonnum could be a long-time starter someday, but that day might not be now. Stephen Weatherly is also not starting material. They also drafted Patrick Jones II and Janarius Robinson.
Kerrigan is not the same player he was before when he tallied 84.5 sacks from 2011 to 2018. But he would still be a good addition to Minnesota’s defense as he had 11 sacks in the past two seasons. The Vikings pass rush would have gladly welcomed that last year. He also is very durable, missing only four games in 10 seasons.
Ingram missed nine games last season due to a knee injury and he did not notch a sack. But he did have 14 in the previous two seasons and 10.5 in 2017. Houston tallied 19 sacks in his last two seasons.
There is a reason why these players are still available as they are no longer what they used to be. But they would still help this team both with their play and veteran leadership.
This Minnesota roster is very talented right now and if they once again have a good draft class, they could go pretty far in 2021. Adding two or three more pieces could make them that much better.
Training camp is less than three months away. Fans are going to be absolutely stoked to head down to Eagan again after a year off. Lots of competition to keep an eye on as well.