The Minnesota Vikings made some hard decisions this offseason by letting several talented veterans go. 

Dalvin Cook, Patrick Peterson, Za'Darius Smith, Eric Kendricks, and Adam Thielen are just some of the popular names that have moved on. Danielle Hunter is the latest impact player rumored to be on his way out.

The team is aiming to get younger and raise their ceiling. Will there be more surprise cuts this summer? I believe there could be a few. Let's identify some options. 

Jonathan Bullard, DT

Bullard started a career-high seven games in 2022 for the Vikings. The veteran tackle was brought in to help against the run, and he served that purpose well. Bullard ended the season with 23 tackles and five tackles for loss. 

However, the Vikings have a ton of talent on the defensive line and there may not be a spot for Bullard. Dean Lowry was brought in from the Packers and Jaquelin Roy was drafted in the fifth round of the 2023 NFL Draft. 

TJ Smith, Sheldon Day, Ross Blacklock, James Lynch, Esezi Otomewo, and others are also competing for a spot, meaning some will be left out. The Vikings could also save a little over $1M by releasing the veteran Bullard. 

D.J. Wonnum, OLB

Wonnum had a fantastic 2021 season and looked on his way to becoming a staple on the Viking defense. Wonnum finished that season with eight sacks, 47 tackles, seven tackles for loss, and four passes defended.

However, the linebacker followed that performance with a major step back in 2022. Wonnum collected just four sacks and 38 tackles and only started in one game. This could signify that Wonnum has fallen out of favor with the current regime in Minnesota. 

It doesn't help Wonnum that Marcus Davenport was brought in this offseason to man the edge. Even with Danielle Hunter likely on the outs, the team still has rookie Andre Carter II, Pat Jones II, Luiji Vilain, and Curtis Weaver. It would not be surprising to see Wonnum playing elsewhere in 2023. 

Jalen Reagor, WR

At this point, it’s fair to label Reagor as a bust. While he could potentially still develop into a quality receiver, it just has not come together yet for the receiver. The former first-round pick has collected just 72 catches for 799 yards through three NFL seasons.

Reagor's release would be surprising for a couple of reasons. For one, the Vikings traded for Reagor, surrendering a fifth and seventh-round draft pick. While not a high price, the team may not be willing to part with the player just yet. Additionally, the Vikings need a complimentary option behind Justin Jefferson. Jordan Addison will likely need time to adjust to the NFL, and KJ Osborn is a solid receiver, but there's not much behind that trio. This may be enough to keep Reagor around.

However, veteran Brandon Powell was brought in in free agency and is a better returner than Reagor. If one of Jalen Nailor, Lucky Jackson, or Trishton Jackson has a good summer, Reagor might be on the chopping block. 

Featured image via © Jeffrey Becker | 2023 Jan 15