2022 Is a Make-or-Break Year for Multiple Vikings
2022 will be an important season for multiple Vikings. They have to play well to ensure the continuation of employment in Minnesota. The first impression is always essential, and for most players, their 2022 play will be the first impression they make on the new coaching staff and the front office.
Irv Smith Jr.
The tight end was a second-round pick in the 2019 draft. At first, the move was viewed as an immediate replacement for Kyle Rudolph. However, the Vikings extended Rudolph after the draft. In his first two career seasons, the former Alabama player was stuck on the depth chart behind the veteran.
He appeared in 29 games over those two seasons and started 14 of them. The number of his receiving yards was 311 as a rookie and 365 in his second year, combined with seven overall touchdowns. These numbers weren’t bad but not worthy of a second-round tight end.
[brid autoplay=”true” video=”1016708″ player=”26279″ title=”Vikings%20Players%20Slated%20for%202023%20Free%20Agency” duration=”964″ description=”Dustin Baker goes through players on final years of contracts in 2022.” uploaddate=”2022-05-21″ thumbnailurl=”https://cdn.brid.tv/live/partners/19437/snapshot/1016708_th_1653117460.jpg” contentUrl=”//cdn.brid.tv/live/partners/19437/sd/1016708.mp4″ width=”16″ height=”9″]
Kyle Rudolph was cut in the 2021 offseason, and Smith was primed for a big role in the offense. Before the season even started, it ended for the tight end, as he had to undergo meniscus surgery. He missed the whole season on injured reserve.
To this point, he still has more potential than production. That is not great for a highly drafted tight end. If he can even come close to his potential, he’ll sign a big extension or draw the franchise tag next offseason. If he can’t, he’ll probably be looking for a new team. Health will be a huge factor for Smith in 2022.
Kirk Cousins
Most people say that Kirk Cousins is who he is. Therefore, he shouldn’t be on the list. However, from a different viewpoint, his name belongs on the list.
Every year Cousins plays at about the same level. Top-10 play for most parts of the year with a few bad games sprinkled in. That will not be enough in the first season under the new regime. They are not married to Cousins and can move on without looking bad because they didn’t bring him in. And that’s the reason why Cousins has to play well to continue as the Vikings quarterback.
If he doesn’t at least play like his 2021 self, he’ll most likely meet his future replacement in the 2023 training camp. The scenario of drafting a passer in the next draft, letting him sit for one year behind Cousins, and then just moving on is tempting. On the other hand, if he can play at an MVP level, the organization has to offer him another extension.
Kevin O’Connell’s job will be to fully unlock his quarterback. He is an elite thrower of the deep ball with limited mobility and improvising skills. The new coach has to scheme around the flaws and use the strengths. His future with the franchise will be decided in the 2022 season.
Garrett Bradbury
No center heard his name called earlier in an NFL draft than Garrett Bradbury since 2000. He was the 18th overall pick. That is why there were high expectations for the center from North Carolina State. In the first three years of his career, Bradbury is a disappointment, especially in the passing game.
In pass protection, the choice of the word ‘disappointment’ doesn’t even go far enough. He has been a disaster in protecting the expensive investment at quarterback, Kirk Cousins. His PFF grades in pass protection were 38.7, 38.8, and 43.7. The undersized center is regularly overpowered by powerful nose tackles. The old regime benched him in 2021 for Mason Cole. The new regime talks him up, and he is expected to start another year. The fifth-year option was declined, and therefore, he is in a contract year. Bradbury doesn’t face real competition, which is somewhat concerning. None of the new additions has a lot of experience in the middle of the line. Ed Ingram took some reps there at the senior bowl, and maybe Chris Reed, the signing from the Colts, can compete with Bradbury.
The hope is that some scheme changes and the new coaches can help him to reach the potential that Rick Spielman saw in him when he drafted him very high. If that’s not the case, the chance is high that he won’t be part of the organization after the upcoming season.
Cameron Dantzler
Entering his third campaign in the league, Dantzler is not in a contract season. However, after a promising start to his career, especially at the end of his rookie campaign, when he regularly shut down the top opposing receiver, he disappeared in his second year. Bashaud Breeland started over him and, despite his atrocious play, didn’t lose his job to Dantzler for a long time. Reports suggest that he was in Mike Zimmer’s doghouse.
Confidence is a huge part of a cornerback´s game. If he can get his confidence back, he has a chance to start and even be the top cornerback, despite the addition of second-round pick Andrew Booth and the presence of veteran Patrick Peterson.
One of his most significant weaknesses was his frame when he came into the league with just 182 pounds. That’s why his nickname is “The Needle.” However, he is gaining weight.
If he can get his mind and body in perfect shape, he has a good chance to bounce back. The sky is the limit, as he was the top cornerback on the Vikings roster in back-to-back seasons, per PFF. In 2020, he was the 22nd ranked CB, and in 2021 the 17th of 116 eligible players at his position.
K.J. Osborn
In his rookie campaign, the receiver didn’t see the field on offense and only played as a kick returner, with underwhelming results. Before the start of his second season in 2021, fans thought he was on the roster bubble and might even be cut. However, he was one of the surprises of last season and was a solid third receiver.
The Vikings are expected to use more sets with three receivers, and therefore, his role will be important. It will be significant because Osborn has to prove how good he really is. Was his breakout season the start of a big career or just a one-year fluke? He has to show that he can build on his second season and be more than ‘just’ a WR3 long-term. If he can’t, he has to show if he even is a trustworthy third receiver.
Danielle Hunter
Hunter’s ability is unquestioned. He is one of the elite pass rushers if he’s on the field. But that is the problem. Availability is the best ability, and he hasn’t been available in the last two seasons. After a record-breaking start to his career, Hunter missed all but seven games in the previous two seasons. That means he missed more than 78% of games.
Hunter has to prove that he should really be ranked in the tier of elite pass rushers. If he can’t stay healthy, there’s a good chance that he won’t be on the roster much longer. He restructured his contract and is under contract for 2023. However, he’ll probably not play on that deal after the upcoming season. To earn another big extension, he has to stay healthy.
All of those players have something to gain and something to lose. The new front office and coaching staff have to decide what they’re doing with the players next offseason. The level of play in the 2022 season will have a considerable impact on the following roster moves for each Viking.
Janik Eckardt is a football fan who has a fable for numbers and stats. He chose the Vikings as his favorite team, despite Christian Ponder being the quarterback at the time. He is a walking soccer encyclopedia and Classic rock is his music genre of choice. Arguing about the Vikings on Twitter is one of his favorite things to do. Follow him on Twitter if you like the Vikings: @JanikEckardt
You must be logged in to post a comment.