5 Minnesota Vikings roster spots up for grabs in the 2021 preseason

Weakside Linebacker

The Vikings’ linebacking corps was decimated by injuries a season ago. They lost a couple of starters in Anthony Barr and Eric Kendricks and then their backups went down. The team was signing guys off the street and it showed with dismal defensive performances. Things will be different this season.

The Vikings have a healthy Barr and Kendricks returning but who will man the weakside linebacker position is up in the air. The Vikings used a third-round pick on Chazz Surratt. He’s a versatile and exciting player who can play any of the three linebacking spots and will be in the mix. They also went out and signed Nick Vigil formerly of the Chargers and Bengals. He has reportedly looked great in coverage and could win the job outright.

Ryan Connelly is also in the mix. The team picked him up after final cuts last year but he was hurt early in the season and didn’t get a chance to show his abilities. Troy Dye was a fourth-round pick last year who was thrust into the starting lineup. He’s a little undersized but has high-end athletic ability and will be eager to prove himself after a disappointing and injury-plagued debut season. Cameron Smith is the last player who will be competing for this job. He is coming back after heart surgery and will want to make the most of the second chance he’s been given at an NFL career.

Weakside linebacker isn’t the most important position on Mike Zimmer’s defense, but it is one spot that will be highly contested this preseason.