Vikings Part Ways with Longtime Defender
Minnesota Vikings linebacker Brian Asamoah will get a jump on the open market — early.
The Vikings have parted ways with Brian Asamoah, a former 3rd-round pick in 2022, as the team continues shaping its 2025 roster for the regular season.
Oodles of Vikings fans expected his release amid roster shavedowns in two weeks, but the move arrived sooner than expected, as the franchise that drafted him in the 3rd Round three years ago cut ties on Tuesday.
Asamoah will now hit waivers.
Vikings Move on from 2022 3rd-Round Draft Pick
The 2022 draft class continues to die off for Minnesota.
The End of the Road for Brian Asamoah in Minnesota
Asamoah lasted three seasons from cover to cover in the Twin Cities.
Vikings.com‘s Craig Peters broke the news this week: “The Vikings on Tuesday announced they have waived linebacker Brian Asamoah II. Minnesota also announced receiver Rondale Moore has been placed on Injured Reserve and center Zeke Correll has been waived with an injury designation.
“Asamoah played 23 defensive snaps and six special teams snaps Saturday in Minnesota’s 2025 preseason opener against the Houston Texans.”
Any team can now claim Asamoah, and if no team takes the plunge, he’ll hit the open free-agent market later this week.
Two Weeks Early?
The Vikings, along with 31 other NFL teams, will reduce their rosters from 90 players to 53 on August 26th. About 1,200 players either become unemployed or practice squad-bound that day.
If Asamoah were to be released, the consensus suggested he’d last until that moment — not two weeks before. In the past, franchises gradually pruned their roster throughout August, so Asamoah’s release on Tuesday almost feels like a throwback to five years ago.
Thirty-six more Vikings players will receive an Asamoah-like fate in two weeks.
Many Expected Asamoah’s Release
Almost every fan and purple writer/analyst had forecasted Asamoah’s release. Why? Well, the team doesn’t use him on defense — outside of a few sweet plays as a rookie in 2022 — and habitually finds “another guy” to play middle linebacker when injuries emerge.
For example, rather than letting Asamoah accrue playing time during the 2023 season, Minnesota quickly signed Anthony Barr to fill those snaps. Last year, veteran Kamu Grugier-Hill seized the role that many thought Asamoah would handle when drafted in 2022.
Then, during the draft four months ago, Minnesota selected Penn State’s Kobe King, a fellow off-ball linebacker, sealing Asamoah’s fate that very day.
His release on Tuesday felt like fruition.
The Putrid 2022 Draft Class
From the now-notorious 2022 Vikings draft class, only two men are left: running back Ty Chandler and wide receiver Jalen Nailor.
These men no longer work for Minnesota:
- Lewis Cine (Round 1, S)
- Andrew Booth (Round 2, CB)
- Ed Ingram (Round 2, G)
- Brian Asamoah (Round 3, LB)
- Akayleb Evans (Round 4, CB)
- Esezi Otomewo (Round 5, DT)
- Vederian Lowe (Round 6, OT)
- Nick Muse (Round 7, TE)
It’s one of the worst Minnesota draft classes in team history, and the aforementioned Chandler could be waived in two weeks, too.
More on Asamoah
Fansided‘s Cody Williams was one [of the many] to project Asamoah’s fate.
He wrote last month, “Brian Asamoah II likely already pushed off the Vikings roster before training camp. At best — and of course barring injuries — Asamoah would likely be a backup in the Vikings current linebacker room. Blake Cashman has been a great pickup already for the Minnesota defense at inside linebacker, while former UDFA signing Ivan Pace Jr. has emerged as one of the most exciting young players at the position in the NFL.”
“They all but have the two starting spots at linebacker locked down. What makes the plight of the fourth-year linebacker even more difficult, though, is that the Vikings also made two additions at the position this offseason. First, they signed veteran Eric Wilson to a free agent contract that will bring him back to Minnesota, where he began his career before stops with Houston, Philadelphia and Green Bay.”
It’s worth noting that Asamoah will be scooped from the open market before too long. He’s that young.
“The team also selected former Penn State linebacker Kobe King in the sixth round of this year’s draft, and he’s impressed thus far in rookie minicamp. Given that we’re talking only about inside linebackers, it’s likely that the Vikings keep a maximum of four players at the position on the final 53-man roster. That ostensibly means that Asamoah will be battling with Wilson and King for one of those spots,” Williams added.
“But, just thinking logically, would the Vikings rather have an oft-injured player in the final year of his contract or either a veteran with plenty of plus experience and a late-round rookie who has upside and is ultimately cheaper? The choice seems obvious.”
Asamoah won’t turn 26 until next offseason.
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