Vikings Make 1st Roster Move in a Month
The last time the Minnesota Vikings conducted any roster business was March 20th, adding free-agent defenders Jihad Ward and Kamu Grugier-Hill.
Vikings Make 1st Roster Move in a Month
The hiatus concluded Thursday when Minnesota waived offensive tackle Coy Cronk with a non-football injury designation. Details of the injury were not shared.
Anytime Minnesota announces a roster move, fans speculate that an accompanying transaction could be on the way. That is, a theory that the club is clearing a space for an incoming player. But the Vikings’ roster can expand to 90 players, especially with the draft six days away, so the Cronk waiver shouldn’t be interpreted as much of anything.
On the other hand, the purple team will need more offensive line depth, either from the draft, undrafted free agency, or regular free agency. At the moment, Christian Darrisaw, Brian O’Neill, and David Quessenberry are the only tackles on the roster. Usually, heading into spring and summer, an NFL team will employ 5-7 offensive tackles.
Cronk’s exit could indicate that Minnesota will draft an offensive lineman in the later rounds next week or scour the undrafted wire for an OT commodity. No matter what, more OT bodies will be on the way.
Cronk, an Indiana native, joined the NFL in 2021 as an undrafted free agent with the Green Bay Packers. He didn’t make it through the summer to Green Bay’s 2021 active roster, released during summer trimdowns three years ago.
Cronk then joined the Jacksonville Jaguars in October 2021, staying until August 2023. The Vikings scooped Cronk last November and actually re-signed the man three months ago to a futures deal.
Before turning pro three years ago, Cronk spent three seasons at the University of Indiana from 2016 to 2018 and transferred to the University of Iowa for the 2020 collegiate campaign. He was a teammate of Sam LaPorta and Ihmir Smith-Marsette during his final season as a Hawkeye before making the jump to the NFL.
Offensive tackle isn’t considered a grave roster need among Vikings fans, chiefly because the aforementioned Darrisaw and O’Neill hold down the edges of the offensive line. In that vein, losing Cronk to waiver isn’t grim.
Nevertheless, Minnesota holds nine draft picks heading into next week, and the later rounds may be used to pluck a Cronk replacement.
Cronk turned 26 in January.
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 MIN 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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