5 Minnesota Vikings who could be shocking cuts in 2023

Player No. 2

D.J. Wonnum - OLB

D.J. Wonnum being a surprise cut largely hinges on what happens with these rumored Danielle Hunter trade talks.

If Hunter ends up staying in Minnesota, then Wonnum could end up being a shocking cut candidate. But if Hunter is dealt, then the odds of him sticking around for another season in purple go up tremendously.

Wonnum has always been a solid pass rusher. He is explosive off the snap, has good bend, and can close in on the quarterback quickly. His 15 career sacks prove he is a viable option as a situational pass rusher.

If Hunter sticks around, Wonnum becomes the third man in the pass-rushing rotation, as Marcus Davenport was brought in during free agency this offseason to start in 2023. That's great for Wonnum, but it may not matter much.

New Minnesota defensive coordinator Brian Flores loves to put a handful of pass rushers on the field at the same time, making the order of the depth chart irrelevant.

The Vikings do have a handful of young edge rushers on the team. Patrick Jones II is an emerging player who is entering his third season. Minnesota also gave a bunch of money to secure the services of undrafted edge rusher Andre Carter II, and they have young players like Luiji Vilain and Benton Whitley chomping at the bit.

Knowing that Wonnum will be a free agent at season's end, the Vikings could just opt to cut ties with him now, giving more snaps to their young players who are likely to be on the team beyond the 2023 season.