6 players who could end up on the Vikings roster in 2022
By Adam Patrick
Hayden Hurst – TE (Atlanta Falcons)
Availability: Free agent in 2022
For the 2021 season, the Vikings are banking on Irv Smith Jr. to emerge as their top tight end following the departure of Kyle Rudolph earlier this year.
The feelings surrounding Smith’s chances to step up his play in 2021 seem to be fairly optimistic, but there’s also still a possibility of him not meeting his expectations. Even if he does, Minnesota might still be in need of another reliable tight end in 2022 since Tyler Conklin will be a free agent after the upcoming season.
Hayden Hurst is a former first-round pick of the Baltimore Ravens who is coming off a 2020 campaign with the Atlanta Falcons in which he hauled in 56 passes for 571 yards and six touchdowns.
At 27-years-old, he’s still got a lot of good football left in him, and he even has the potential to emerge as the Vikings’ No. 1 tight end if he winds up signing with them.