Go with four safeties
The Vikings surprised quite a few folks last year when they only kept two safeties on the active roster. While they got away with this gamble for the better part of the season, there was an instance when it bit them in the butt.
Harrison Smith was ejected in the Week 4 game against the Houston Texans, and an unprepared George Iloka was thrust into the lineup. This allowed the Texans to climb back into the game, and it made Minnesota fight and scrap for what should’ve been an easy win.
The Vikings likely aren’t going to make the same mistake next season. After drafting Cam Bynum in the fourth round this year, the chances of Minnesota holding onto three safeties is basically 100 percent. However, they could also keep a fourth.
The Vikings have some talented young safeties on the roster. Josh Metellus played mostly on special teams last year, but he has had all offseason to study the defense, and he could be ready to make a big jump in 2021.
Myles Dorn is an undrafted player from last year’s class who missed the 2020 season with an injury. Minnesota thought enough of him to put him on injured reserve, and if he has a solid preseason, he could be a player the Vikings deem worth keeping, putting the number of safeties on the active roster at four.