6 biggest takeaways from the Vikings loss to the Packers in Week 17
By Adam Carlson
![(Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) Kellen Mond (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) Kellen Mond](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/https-3A-2F-2Fthevikingage-com-2Fwp-content-2Fuploads-2Fgetty-images-2F2018-2F08-2F1362472052-850x560-4f97a2260b4d684830cb72ff5170fcd843b9359a172347598621a6b2daa1cc6f.jpg)
It’s time to evaluate some younger players
Fans of the Minnesota Vikings know what the team has in many of its veteran players. Guys like Eric Kendricks, Harrison Smith, Patrick Peterson, Xavier Woods, and Anthony Barr have all been around long enough to know what they have to offer.
Sadly, there haven’t been a lot of young players who have made a name for themselves by making plays on a regular basis. For that reason, starting guys like Camryn Bynum, Wyatt Davis, Kellen Mond, and Chazz Surratt makes a lot of sense in Week 18.
Minnesota will also need to make some moves to free up some salary cap space and it will be necessary for some of their younger players to step into starting roles and play at a high level as soon as the 2022 season.
Since a loss doesn’t hurt the team so much, getting to know some of the players who haven’t been evaluated very much can get a chance to show what they can do against an opposing team and let them earn their way onto the team or practice squad next season.