Vikings Shuffle Through Receivers in Final Cuts

Filed under: Vikings, NFC North, Minnesota

The Vikings final cuts are in and while Ciatrick Fason and Artose Pinner are probably the two biggest surprises among the cuts, it’s the long list of now ex-Vikings wide receivers that jump out. Martin Nance, Billy McMullen, Cortez Hankton and seventh-round pick Chandler Williams were the losers in the giant wide receiver spot sweepstakes, while quarterback Tyler Thigpen, another seventh-round pick, saw his chance at a roster spot disappear when the Vikings traded for Kelly Holcomb. Thigpen will likely sign with the Vikings practice squad now.

Fason’s role disappeared once the Vikings drafted Adrian Peterson while Pinner lost out to Naufahu Tahi even though the second-year fullback had a grand total of two carries this preseason.

On defense, Dovonte Edwards was also victim in a way to a draft pick. The emergence of Marcus McCauley bumped Edwards down the depth chart where he lost out to Ronyell Whitaker because of Whitaker’s special teams’ abilities. If the Vikes don’t draft McCauley, Edwards probably makes it as a cover corner.

The Vikings kept six of their eight draft picks which is a very respectable hit rate, especially as the two cuts are both seventh-round picks. The Vikings also kept two undrafted rookies in offensive linemen Chase Johnson and Brian Daniels, although one of them could get cut if Minnesota can find a veteran on the waiver wire to shore up a scary right side of the line.

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