3 Minnesota Vikings veterans could have their roster spot in jeopardy with Nolan Teasley taking over
There are multiple players the Minnesota Vikings could consider moving on from who would come as somewhat of a surprise.
The Minnesota Vikings are just weeks away from the start of training camp, and roster construction questions are mounting. Several veterans find themselves on the bubble heading into the 2026 season, and they all have multiple questions. New general manager Nolan Teasley has a lot of important questions to answer, especially since he has been on the job less than a month. Who could be on the move? There are some veterans who could have their roster spot in jeopardy.
Wide receiver Tai Felton faces an uphill climb
If the Vikings truly believed in 2025 third-round pick Tai Felton, they wouldn’t have made such a concerted effort to sign Jauan Jennings. That move spoke volumes about the organization’s confidence in Felton, who contributed primarily on special teams with only a couple of catches during his rookie season.
Felton’s speed and 6-2 frame give him the tools to work with, but his route-running needs significant refinement. His cuts on in-breaking and out-breaking routes lack fluidity, and he hasn’t shown enough on the offensive side of the ball to feel secure about his future. With Dillon Bell, Dontae Fleming, and Jeshaun Jones also pushing for a roster spot, a trade for a late-round pick (similar to the Mekhi Blackmon deal) isn’t out of the question.
It may feel odd to have Felton as a possible cut, but there is precedent. Former general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah did the same thing with three players from the 2021 draft class (the final Rick Spielman draft), cutting quarterback Kellen Mond, linebacker Chazz Surratt, and offensive guard Wyatt Davis at final cuts in August of 2022. The only third-round pick who survived was edge rusher Pat Jones II. None of those players were good, and Adofo-Mensah had zero investment in them. Felton, selected 102nd overall, fits a similar profile as a pick from a previous regime.
Teasley has already brought in undrafted receivers he liked from his time in Seattle, and, while they don’t necessarily preclude moving on from Felton, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him move on from anyone.
Theo Jackson’s role has eroded
When the Vikings let Cam Bynum sign with the Indianapolis Colts on a four-year, $60 million deal, the idea was that Theo Jackson could step into that starting role, but it didn’t go that way.
Jackson got quietly benched for Jay Ward last season in November. He did produce a game-winning interception against the Seattle Seahawks in 2024 over the course of his 100 snaps, but the consistent production never followed in 2025. The gap between his training camp performances, where many called him a fourth starter at safety, and his regular-season output has been concerning.
The financial picture adds another layer. Cutting Jackson saves $390,000 this year while creating roughly $1 million in dead money next season as a post-June 1 cut. If the Vikings were able to facilitate a trade, it would save $1.28 million this year and $3,495,000 in cash for 2027. That math becomes relevant when considering the Vikings drafted Jacobe Thomas in the third round and have an undrafted free agent, Jacob Thomas, out of James Madison, who has looked impressive by all accounts. Jackson could be on the block before considering the possible return of Harrison Smith, and if that happens, it becomes more likely
Ivan Pace Jr. could be an expensive luxury
Ivan Pace Jr.’s role has diminished, culminating in being benched for Eric Wilson last season. While he does a lot well, the problem is what happens when he’s asked to play outside of those positive traits in the Vikings’ base 3-4 defense.
Pace excels at attacking downhill, filling gaps, and getting underneath offensive guards and penetrating the backfield. However, his struggles as a lateral mover and being poor in coverage are detrimental. Those limitations explain why Wilson took over as a starter in a breakout year once Blake Cashman got healthy. The Vikings played a significant amount of base defense last season, which exposed Pace’s weaknesses more than if they had played more nickel.
Entering year four at a $3.52 million cap hit with zero guaranteed money, it could be a mostly financial decision. If an undrafted free agent like Bengally Kamara (making $885,000) proves he can handle special teams duties at a high level, the Vikings could pocket roughly $2.7 million in cap savings. That isn’t a fortune, but it’s slightly over 1% of the cap, and that adds up, especially with the Vikings trying to flip the script with their salary cap space.
