3 Big-Name Vikings Who Could Be in Final Stretch with Team
The Minnesota Vikings have a week off after falling to the Chicago Bears on Monday Night Football. Next up is a date with the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 14, a club also experiencing a bye.
Minnesota is 6-6 through 12 games and has a 58.3% chance of reaching the postseason, according to ESPN.
3 Big-Name Vikings Who Could Be in Final Stretch with Team
And with five games left, several current Vikings will depart via free agency in three months. The team has scheduled ample turnover next offseason, and the salary cap will be more flexible than in recent years.
Three big-name players could be in their final five games with the team. They’re listed in alphabetical order.
1. Marcus Davenport (OLB)
Davenport has appeared in four Vikings games in 2023 after signing a one-year, $13 million contract last March. During those four contests, the veteran EDGE defender actually played quite well, but Davenport injured his ankle in October and hasn’t been seen since.
In theory, Davenport could hop off injured reserve and play at any time, but little to no enthusiasm has risen on that front recently — like at all.
When the offseason rolls around, Minnesota will likely re-sign Danielle Hunter, perhaps D.J. Wonnum, and then potentially explore the 2024 NFL Draft for a young outside linebacker. Unfortunately, because of injury history, Davenport isn’t really worth a sequel.
2. Greg Joseph (K)
Joseph ranks 27th in the NFL in field goal conversion percentage. Last year, he ranked 28th.
The guy has earned a special place in folks’ hearts because of all the game-winning kicks in 2022, which cannot be understated or taken for granted. However, the Vikings can probably find a kicker who does both — connects on field goals when the game is on the line and during the other 58 minutes.
Joseph has knocked field goals through in the last two years at a bottom-five clip. Someone in Eagan must realize this.
In theory, Joseph could finish 15 for 15 on field goals in the final five games, but that’s a longshot. This could be Joseph’s swan song in purple.
3. K.J. Osborn (WR)
Osborn is on pace to bank 600-700 receiving yards in a season for the third straight year. He’s a decent wide receiver, and Minnesota shouldn’t necessarily kick him out in 2024.
Conversely, Osborn is a free agent in March and will want WR2 money. For this Vikings’ offense, he isn’t entirely worth it. The 26-year-old has grabbed some astoundingly clutch catches out of the air in four seasons for the Vikings, but that doesn’t mandate WR2 money.
Osborn is a tried-and-true WR3 that will ask for WR2 cashflow in March. It’s unlikely the Vikings oblige.
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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