5 new Vikings who could be cut before the 2022 season

Nate Hairston – CB

The Vikings cornerback group was painfully thin a season ago, and really devoid of talent for the most part. Sure, they got some solid play out of Patrick Peterson, and maybe a little from Cam Dantzler too, but players like Bashaud Breeland, Mackensie Alexander, and Kris Boyd were downright putrid.

Minnesota addressed this position in free agency and the draft and now the competition and talent level will be much improved creating an interesting battle royale for potentially six spots on the roster.

Nate Hairston is one of the new faces the Vikings brought in and he’ll be an interesting one to watch. He is 6-foot and can play inside or out, which should help his chances of sticking around.

He also played with Ed Donatell last year with the Broncos so he is familiar with the defense. For Hairston to make the team, it could come down to a numbers game.

Minnesota is definitely keeping Peterson, Dantzler, Andrew Booth Jr., and Akayleb Evans. Chandon Sullivan is likely safe as well, so Hairston will be competing with players like Boyd, Harrison Hand, Parry Nickerson, and Tye Smith for the final spot or two.

He does have a good chance to beat those guys out, but it is also possible that Boyd or Hand could be the choices over him. If that does happen, Hairston will be another free agent addition who never plays a meaningful snap in Minnesota.