Are the Vikings Engaging in Risky Business with Bo Richter?
The Minnesota Vikings were forced to trim their roster to 53 players on Tuesday. A handful of notable names were sent packing, but one of the preseason standouts could be the one who gets them. Bo Richter showed up in each game but, for now, survives on the practice squad.
Are the Vikings Engaging in Risky Business with Bo Richter?
There is certainly hope that other organizations will have their eyes on players who performed during exhibition action in their uniforms. For the Minnesota Vikings, it’s hard not to argue that Bo Richter embodied that output. He was a menace up front, and for an edge rusher group being turned over, he looked like a legitimate depth piece.
Brian Flores will start both Johnathan Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel this season. Each player was acquired through free agency, and they have Danielle Hunter-sized shoes to fill. Dallas Turner is also among the threesome, and the first-round pick is looking to compete for Rookie Defensive Player of the Year honors.
The Air Force product had eight tackles this preseason, with a pair of them going for sacks. He consistently disrupted plays and was able to find room in the backfield. It’s hard to ignore what he did against the opposition, but Minnesota will certainly be hoping no other teams decide to sign him.
It’s not as though cutting Richter would register on any grand scale, but what he could become may come back to bite Minnesota. The Vikings are still hoping to revamp their defense as a whole, and the more talented athletes they can employ, the better.
You can once again expect Flores to put significant pressure on the opposition. That will be replicated on a weekly basis, and there’s no reason that talented edge rushers can’t rack up sacks in his scheme. Greenard, Van Ginkel, and Turner must get the job done, and if they do, then depth will become much less of a worry.
If the Vikings can employ Richter as a developmental prospect for a year, there’s a chance he will shine in purple and gold during 2025.
Ted Schwerzler is a blogger from the Twin Cities that is focused on all things Minnesota Twins and Minnesota Vikings. He’s active on Twitter and writes weekly for Twins Daily. As a former college athlete and avid sports fan, covering our pro teams with a passion has always seemed like such a natural outlet.
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