Minnesota Vikings: 5 surprise cut candidates ahead of 2022 season

Greg Joseph, kicker

When the Minnesota Vikings placed a restricted free agent tender worth $2.43M on kicker Greg Joseph for the upcoming season, it felt like the team was comfortable in having him return for the kicking and field goal duties.

Confidence grew for Joseph after the Vikings didn’t take a kicker in the draft, but then they signed Gabe Brkic as an undrafted free agent and things immediately got interesting as a position battle is imminent.

Unlike most contracts for undrafted free agents that are expected to be camp bodies or stashed on the practice squad, Brkic signed a three-year contract and that signaled that the former Oklahoma kicker might be a real candidate to unseat Joseph this preseason.

Expect a big battle between Joseph and Brkic to be competitive. The new coaching staff isn’t tied to either of these kickers and that means Kevin O’Connell and crew could be fine rolling with a rookie at such a key position.