5 new Vikings who could be cut before the 2022 season

Jullian Taylor – DT

Jullian Taylor was a free agent the Vikings added just before the draft and one who hasn’t seen an NFL snap in three years. He is a player that general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah is familiar with as he was with the 49ers the last time Taylor played a game.

So the fact that Kwesi wanted him does tilt the arrow a bit in his direction for sticking with the team, but if he makes the final 53-man roster, it will be a big-time upset.

Taylor has played just 12 games in the league with zero sacks and 16 total tackles. He does have experience playing in a 3-4 front and that could give him a leg up on a few players on the roster who will be new to this alignment.

While that experience does help, it is extremely hard seeing him being kept over a young player who still has loads of upside.

Some of the players Taylor will be trying to beat out for a job are James Lynch, Armon Watts, Patrick Jones, Esezi Otomewo, and Jaylen Twyman. A few of those players have recent NFL experience, and the rest are dripping with potential.

At face value, all are more attractive options to keep than a player who hasn’t played in three years and hardly produced when he did. The chances are very high that Taylor never gets to wear a Vikings jersey in a game that will matter.