The 5 Oldest Players on the Vikings | 2024
Minnesota Vikings mandatory minicamp is about one week away after an offseason rife with change.
General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah added over 15 new veteran free agents, said goodbye to more than 20 men from the 2023 roster, and added 24 rookies from the NFL draft and undrafted free agency.
The 5 Oldest Players on the Vikings | 2024
And per the current roster, these are the five oldest players on the Vikings roster as of May 27th, ranked in ascending order (No. 1 = oldest).
5. Jonathan Bullard (DT)
Birthdate = October 22, 1993
Age = 30
Bullard will turn 31 before too long, joining the NFL in 2016 from the 3rd Round as a Chicago Bears’ draft pick. He’s bounced around since then, playing for the Bears, Cardinals, Seahawks, Falcons, and Vikings for the last couple of years.
He’s also in line to start in Minnesota for a third consecutive season, though he’s never the tried-and-true starting DT out of the gate. Bullard usually just finds his way to the job sometime during a season. Ironically, he could also be on the roster bubble this August. Stay tuned.
4. C.J. Ham (FB)
Birthdate = July 22, 1993
Age = 30
One of the longest-tenured Vikings on the current roster, Ham should be back in 2024, barring a surprise summer roster cut. Minnesota extended his stay last offseason, scheduling his deal through the end of 2025.
Ham doesn’t play much on offense anymore, but he’s a culture guy, a special teamer, and the fourth-oldest player on the depth chart.
3. David Quessenberry (OT)
Birthdate = August 24, 1990
Age = 33
This man played quite well in reservist duty last year, his first with the Vikings — so much so that when Quessenberry filled in for Brian O’Neill, he didn’t seem like a terribly noticeable downgrade.
How did Minnesota reward the veteran lineman? A second contract. He’s back in the saddle for 2024 and will serve as the primary backup for O’Neill once again and might even be able to play left tackle in a pinch.
2. Harrison Smith (SS)
Birthdate = February 2, 1989
Age = 35
The old war horse and Vikings legend, Smith is really old for an NFL safety. This year or next will probably be his final hurrah, so cherish the man while he’s still around.
Moreover, Smith fired up one of his career’s best games against the Carolina Panthers in Week 4 of 2023, a contest Minnesota desperately needed to tread water after an 0-3 start. Brian Flores’ arrival rejuvenated his career, and Smith will be back for Year No. 13 in September.
1. Andrew DePaola (LS)
Birthdate = July 28, 1987
Age = 36
This two-time Pro Bowler became a Viking right before the pandemic season and intermixed into the team’s fabric. He currently seems like “one of those guys” who’s been around forever, but nope — 2024 will be his fifth season in purple.
Thankfully, long snappers can play forever, so age really isn’t a huge concern for DePaola.
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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