5 players the Minnesota Vikings were right to move on from in 2023

Players the Minnesota Vikings were right to move on from

Eric Kendricks, linebacker

Much like the case with Adam Thielen, it was a bit hard to accept when Eric Kendricks was released by the Minnesota Vikings. It will be hard to imagine a purple and gold defense without the linebacker on the field.

Eight seasons in Minnesota made him a regular in the defense. Last season was the first of his career without an interception since his rookie campaign and he tied for the second-lowest sack output of his career.

Kendricks is on the wrong side of 30 and entering his ninth season in the league. Releasing him saved $9.5 million against the salary cap and allows the Vikings to attempt to get younger at linebacker as they transition to a new scheme.

While it would have been nice to have both Thielen and Kendicks on the roster during the 2023 NFL season, a new era of the Minnesota Vikings is in the works. It will be interesting to see which other players from the previous regime are let go in the future.