Vikings go young with 11 rookies on 53-man roster
The theme of the Vikings’ roster is youth.
The 53-man unit was set Saturday, and 11 rookies made it, including three who were undrafted. And in the surprise move of the day, the Vikings released an eight-year veteran in Alex Boone, 30, who had been their starting left guard.
Boone was let go after declining to take a pay cut. Of Boone’s $6.6 million salary for 2007, $3.4 million of it is guaranteed, and will count against the Vikings’ salary cap. He also already has earned a $100,000 workout bonus.
While the Vikings are going with a lot of young players, not with their specialists. In expected outcomes, kicker Kai Forbath beat out Marshall Koehn and punter Ryan Quigley won the battle with rookie Taylor Symmank.
Other drafted rookies on the 53-man roster are defensive tackle Jaleel Johnson, guard Danny Isidora, wide receivers Rodney Adams and Stacy Coley and tight end Bucky Hodges. Defensive end Tashawn Bower, linebacker Eric Wilson and tackle Aviante Collins made it as undrafted rookies.
Three seventh-round picks from April, though, were cut. They were defensive end Ifeadi Odenigbo, linebacker Elijah Lee and safety Jack Tocho.
http://www.twincities.com/2017/09/02/vikings-go-young-with-11-rookies-on-53-man-roster-release-guard-alex-boone/
Hurry-up Vikings, we ain't getting any younger!
It’s a young middle of the offensive line with Elflein, 23, and Easton, 25, a third-year man who played in his first 11 NFL regular-season games last year. However, NBC analyst Cris Collinsworth said at recent Vikings practice he was “really impressed” with how Elflein looked at center and Easton at left guard in an Aug. 18 preseason game at Seattle.
That game marked the top performance of the preseason by the line, and played a role in Boone’s release. Boone, who signed a four-year, $26.8 million contract with the Vikings in March 2016, sat out that night with knee injury.
There will be a premium on movement skills on the OL...the only thing Boone regularly moved was his jawbone...
Easton Elflein and isadora look to be the starting interior for years to come. Getting them playing together asap will help long term. Can't help but worry about depth though without Boone.
@"PSBLAKE" said: Surprised about Collins making the rosterCollins was a flyer on a physical specimen. 4.81 forty, he ran faster than many TEs. 34 reps. If he made the 53, he's got something more than that. Pretty exciting future for Collins.
Obenigbo should have made the team too. That would have been 12 rookies.
@"MaroonBells" said:Replacement for Beavers? Was surprised Willie didn't make the team as a developmental OT after showing improvement, but that tells me they see more potential that can be coached up faster.@"PSBLAKE" said: Surprised about Collins making the roster Collins was a flyer on a physical specimen. 4.81 forty, he ran faster than many TEs. 34 reps. If he made the 53, he's got something more than that. Pretty exciting future for Collins.
An example of why I hate that crap of trading down from higher picks to get a bunch of 7th rounders who never amount to anything. Quality matters more than quantity
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