According to Tommy Armstrong on Twitter, the Minnesota Vikings will not sign the former Nebraska Cornhuskers quarterback to the 90-man roster.
Armstrong participated in the Vikings’ recent rookie minicamp, where he shifted from quarterback to running back, and then again to safety.
Despite being recruited as a safety out of high school, Armstrong became a decorated signal-caller in college. He finished his Cornhuskers career first in Nebraska history in passing yards (8,871) and touchdowns (67). Armstrong is a natural athlete that should latch on with another NFL team before training camp begins in August.
The current depth chart at safety has Harrison Smith and Andrew Sendejo penciled in as the starters with Anthony Harris, Jayron Kearse, Jack Tocho and Antone Exum competing for roles as backups and special teams contributors. The way things stand now, the position is practically set. Harris has shown he can be versatile and reliable when called upon, and Kearse could be pushing Sendejo for a starting role as soon as this season.
The Vikings coaching staff, and in particular defensive backs coach Jerry Gray, must have felt that Armstrong was too raw at the position to unseat any of the current players. Because of the team’s depth at safety, Armstrong would have had very little chance of making the roster.
It’s reasonable to speculate that Spielman made a classy move by not signing Armstrong so the rookie may find a better opportunity elsewhere. Spielman is quite familiar with the Nebraska program since his son, J.D., is redshirting with the team. However, one could also speculate that Armstrong was never really a serious prospect for the Vikings.
At this point, it’s unlikely the Vikings will sign any tryout players from the minicamp. Players such as Willie Beavers and Moritz Böhringer remain on the roster despite previously being waived. The team appears comfortable with the competition in place on its current offseason roster.
On a side note: offensive lineman Nick Fett was released to make room for wide receiver Michael Floyd, who was signed Wednesday to a one-year, $1.5-million contract.