Vikings Must Part Company With Adam Thielen, Danielle Hunter In 2023

If the Vikings are going to make moves on defense during the offseason in an effort to build a more complete team and one that has a legitimate chance to win the Super Bowl, it’s not just a matter of adding big-name players.

The NFL salary cap is a factor for every player on the roster. The Minnesota Vikings and all their competitors will have a salary cap of $224.8 million for the 2023 season, and that’s a figure that the Vikings are more than $20 million over at this point.

General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has his work cut out for him, since he is in charge of putting together the roster that head coach Kevin O’Connell is going to work with. The two men appear to have a good rapport, and paring down the roster so the Vikings can add new and better players – particularly on defense – has to be a collaboration between the two.

O’Connell has to give his evaluation on what individual players bring to the roster and Adofo-Mensah must give those evaluations strong consideration before making his moves.

In this piece, we will look at four players who may be at risk during the offseason. The examination consists of their strengths and weaknesses, along with the Dead Cap Hit the team will have to endure if it lets that player go and a recommendation of how to proceed..

(For those who are wondering about quarterback Kurt Cousins, he is not under consideration for anything but an extension. Cutting the team’s No. 1 quarterback would force the Vikings to endure a dead cap hit of $48.75 million, and that’s out of the question.)

WR Adam Thielen, $13.5 million dead cap hit

Strengths: Thielen has been a valuable receiver who can make big plays on third down and in the red zone. He has the skill to set up defensive backs with sharp moves and he has dependable hands. He was at his most productive in 2017 and 2018 when he had back-to-back seasons of 1,276 and 1,373 receiving yards. While those numbers slipped to 726 and 716 yards the past two seasons, he is still a sharp red zone performer.

Weaknesses: Thielen is a possession receiver at this point in his career. While he was never a burner, he was fast enough to set up defensive backs and deliver big plays with frequency during his prime years. He has an issue separating from defenders.

Recommendation: While Thielen has value, the belief here is that K.J. Osborn can step up and fill his role. Cut him.

S Harrison Smith, $11.7 million dead cap hit

Strengths: Fine all-around player who is as instinctive a player as the Vikings have on defense and clearly fits the description of coach on the field. Smith is a big-time hitter when he tackles and he finished the 2022 season with 85 tackles, 5 interceptions, 10 passes defensed and 1 forced fumble.

Weaknesses: The 34-year-old has been throwing his body around the NFL for the last 11 seasons. He may understand what to do on each play and can point his teammates in the right direction, but he is not as athletic as he once was, and that has to be considered.

Recommendation: Every defense needs a safety with brilliant instincts, and Smith fills the bill. He is part of the solution. Keep him.

RB Dalvin Cook, $6.2 million dead cap hit

Strengths: Cook has been a top-3 running back in the NFL for the last 4 seasons, and he has the skill and ability to beat opposing defenses by running by or through tackles. He has run for 1,135 yards or more in each of the last 4 seasons with a career-best of 1,557 yards in 2020. He is also an excellent receiver who can break the long plays.

Weaknesses: The 27-year-old Cook has gone past the shelf life of the average NFL running back as he prepares for his 7^th year. He was less of a factor in the gameplan in 2022 than he was in previous years

Recommendation: The belief here is that he is still a special player. Keep him.

DE-OLB Danielle Hunter, $18.8 million dead cap hit

Strengths: When Hunter is inspired and at his peak, he can take over a game with his pass rush ability. He had 10.5 sacks last season for a defense that lacked creativity and aggressiveness.

Weaknesses: Hunter was at his best in 2018 and 2019 when he had 14.5 sacks in each of those seasons. He had two injury-plagued seasons in 2020 and 2021. He was healthy last season, but he did not have the same impact or energy that he did in his earlier years.

Recommendation: It’s a huge cap hit, but he can’t dominate a game the way he did in the past. Cut him.