Bleacher Report Has Strange Roster Cut Request for Vikings
Over 1,100 current NFLers will depart teams’ rosters in one week and hit free agency or a practice squad.
The league structured roster cuts to occur on a single day this year, August 29th at 3:00 pm CST.
Bleacher Report Has Strange Roster Cut Request for Vikings
And when the Minnesota Vikings trim the depth chart to the final 53, Bleacher Report has a strange request for a roster cut — wide receiver N’Keal Harry.
Harry already lives on the roster bubble — without the help or suggestion of Bleacher Report — so ‘making sure’ the team doesn’t add him to the regular season plan seems a little alarmist or unnecessary. The former New England Patriot is vying for a WR5 or WR6 job, and it’s a true coinflip whether he gets the 53-man roster nod.
BR‘s Kristopher Knox elaborated on the Harry recommendation, “Earlier this month, the Minnesota Vikings decided to take a flier on former New England Patriots first-round pick N’Keal Harry. While Minnesota should have a strong receiver trio in Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison and K.J. Osborn, it never hurts to get a look at a player with physical tools.”
The Vikings will keep Justin Jefferson, K.J. Osborn, Jordan Addison, and Jalen Nailor as WR ‘locks’ for the active roster, with Jalen Reagor, Brandon Powell, Trishton Jackson, and Harry competing for the ‘other’ jobs.
“Harry has tools. He entered the 2019 draft as a physical 6’2″, 228-pound prospect who projected as a viable NFL possession player. The problem is that his traits have not translated to production. In four campaigns with the Patriots and Bears, the 25-year-old recorded a mere 64 receptions for 714 yards and three touchdowns. He’s unlikely to add much to Minnesota’s offense, and the Vikings haven’t even gotten a good look at what he might bring,” Knox concluded.
Harry has impressed in spots throughout the last month, making Vikings fans change their initial opinion from ‘camp body’ to ‘roster bubble’ candidate. Even if he makes the Vikings regular season depth chart, he won’t command oodles of targets in the passing game, as the aforementioned Jefferson, Osborn, Addison, and tight end T.J. Hockenson have those all but sewn up.
Calling upon the Vikings to ensure they don’t keep Harry for September feels like much ado about nothing.
Knox also urged the Denver Broncos to cut ties with TE Albert Okwuegbunam and the Chiefs to release RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire, among other suggestions.
The Vikings final preseason game occurs Saturday afternoon at U.S. Bank Stadium versus the Arizona Cardinals.
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Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sal Spice. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band).
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
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