Exhilarating, isn't it! The Numbers Game. Each player on the roster analyzed, from Kyle Sloter to Danielle Hunter. Below, you'll hear the #92Noon segments we did on this group, following the brief synopsis.
61 - C Brett Jones -- He was acquired from the Giants last offseason to fill in until Pat Elflein returned to health after his injuries late in 2017. Jones even started the first 3 games of the season. Once Elflein was back, though, Jones was on the shelf. It's the final year of Jones' contract and he'll be paid $720K. If he was cut, the team eats about 90 of that. He'll be fighting for a reserve spot. Trying to determine how Vikings would handle it if Bradbury did sustain an injury....plug Jones in? Move Elflein back to center and plug in someone at left guard? My early prediction is that Jones is indeed on the team in September.
62 - DE Anree Saint-Amour -- 6'3" 245lb undrafted rookie DE from Georgia Tech...All you Gophers fans probably knew that already since he faced our college squad in the Quick Lane Bowl last December, tallying a couple tackles and a TFL in the 34-10 blowout loss to MN. Not the beefiest pass rusher I've ever seen. Tough sledding for a guy trying to make the team in this position group.
63 - G Danny Isidora -- Unless Isidora really flashes some kind of competence at the position in camp, I'm ready to chalk him up to the long list of mid-late round OL draft picks that just didn't work. Thus far, he hasn't shown us any reason to believe that he's going to be a reasonable contributor to the position, either now or down the road. BUT! That doesn't mean he's an obvious cut...he could take a leap, which could kick ass, or...think about how many they keep on the final roster: Reiff/Elflein/Bradbury/Kline/O'Neill start, Dru Samia makes it 6, then Rashod Hill, Brett Jones, a healthy Aviante Collins ...that's 9. Maybe Isidora in 10? Not confident in that one.
64 - G Josh Kline -- Our big free agent addition! 3 year/$15.5M contract for the former Titan & Patriot. He won a Super Bowl with New England(was active but didn't play a snap) after the 2014 season. After leaving Belichick, Kline started 46 games for the Titans over the last 3 seasons. Solid player, certainly an upgrade from 2018. Positive comments on Josh's game so far at camp in working with the Vikings offense. He'll be the day 1 starter at right guard.
65 - G Pat Elflein -- Excited for Pat's third season. Great during his rookie year in 2017, he spent his entire offseason rehabbing two surgeries into 2018. He didn't do a single thing on a football field until after training camp was underway, which I think led to a very pedestrian season last year. Now, he moves to guard. He won a national title with Ohio State playing guard, so he's familiar with the situation. And, physically, he's got the perfect athleticism to get out and block for Dalvin at the second level. I keep hearing that he's a great "move guy." Sounds like he's got his groove back and he should fit in just fine in 2019, starting at left guard.
66 - DT Curtis Cothran -- 2nd season with Vikings after spending 2018 on the practice squad. UDFA from Penn State, where he started in 21 games and played in 37 total. All Big Ten honorable mention his senior year. I don't see how he'll make the team this year behind the guys on the interior ahead of him.
67 - C Cornelius Edison -- "Cornelius Edison" is a badass name, so I like him. He received the FCS Rimington award in 2014 as the country's best FCS center. Feels like a long time ago. Edison had a chance to step up a year ago, but the team opted to go get Brett Jones from Shurmur's Giants instead. I believe he played or was active for 6 games with the Bears in 2016 before joining the Vikings. I don't believe he'll be playing in or be active for any games with the Vikings in 2019.
68 - DE Ade Aruna -- He came from Nigeria to the US to pursue basketball, but it turned out he was better at sacking QBs. Nice career at Tulane, and was the Vikings' 6th round selection in 2018. But then he tore up his knee in the preseason. Physically, he's a mountain at 6'5" and 265lbs. He's going to need to put together a terrific camp and preseason to sneak onto the final roster. The unfortunate injury to Tashawn Bower opens a door for another pass rusher. I'm kind of intrigued by Aruna.
69 - T Rashod Hill -- Rashod is not an all-pro, he's probably not bound for Canton, but he's proven useful. Useful enough for the Vikings to sign him to a 1year, $2M contract to keep him around in 2019. Started 7 games in 2017, and another 8 games in 2018 before Brian O'Neill took over at RT. He has stepped in at both guard and tackle and has also offered something that many Vikings offensive linemen have not over the last few years from a health standpoint...availability! He'll be in a backup role in 2019 and I'm cool with that.
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