5 Vikings players who could be cut before taking a snap in 2021

Mason Cole – G/C

The Vikings gave up a sixth-round pick earlier this year to land the versatile Mason Cole and add some experience to the middle of their offensive line. While he definitely does add position flexibility and some experience, there’s a reason Cole was only had for a sixth-round pick and it’s because he hasn’t been very good in his NFL career.

Last season, he earned an overall PFF grade of just 54.4 while playing center for the Arizona Cardinals. He has been a bit better at guard in his career, but he just looks like another Dakota Dozier or Dru Samia.

Hopefully, if he does make the team this year, that isn’t the case. But he’ll have to earn his spot on Minnesota’s roster with a solid training camp and preseason.

Cole will start out as the primary backup to Vikings center Garrett Bradbury. Minnesota did go out and add Cohl Cabral to their roster last month and he’ll battle for that backup center job with Cole.

Kyle Hinton could also be in the mix, as he’s been tried at center for stretches in his young career. If Hinton makes a big year two jump, he could leapfrog Cole on the team’s depth chart.

While Cole seems likely to make the team this year, the Vikings only gave up a sixth-round choice to get him, and sixth-round picks are by no means a lock.

Cole will have to fend off a couple of young and hungry blockers and if he isn’t able to do so, it’ll mean that Minnesota general manager Rick Spielman has, yet again, given away a late-round draft choice.