Each year, several veterans end up cut by their teams before the start of the regular season. That will likely be the case this year for the Minnesota Vikings. The Vikings are trying to win now, but they could still release a few notable players who survived the pre-free agency cuts.
The Vikings would likely try to trade most of these players before cutting them, but more often than not, the players are simply cut. This list only focuses on some of the more notable players, which means we're ignoring the undrafted free agents or other players who don't quite move the needle enough. With that in mind, here are five players the Vikings could cut before the season.
OT T.J. Clemmings
There's a common theme with the Vikings players on this list: their futures aren't totally in their control. Clemmings has been awful as a starter for Minnesota, perhaps the worst in the NFL. Despite being a 2015 fourth round selection, the Vikings could elect to cut ties with Clemmings. That will largely depend on how Rashod Hill plays in the preseason and if the Vikings prefer Hill to Clemmings. Plus, there's also the matter of where Willie Beavers and Jeremiah Sirles play (both could play guard or tackle) and if they make the roster. There's just over $745K in savings if Clemmings is cut. Clemmings was put in a bad position and forced to play before he was ready, but that's life in the NFL.
DT Sharrif Floyd
This one might not be up to the Vikings, unfortunately. Floyd is dealing with nerve damage in his knee that could cost him his career. The Vikings would like to have Floyd back, even though he hasn't reached the expectations that came with being a first round pick. The Vikings don't save any money by cutting Floyd, so if he's healthy, he likely makes the roster. But if the nerve doesn't heal, Floyd's time in the NFL might be over.
LB Emmanuel Lamur
The Vikings poached Lamur away from the Bengals to help out at LB last year, but he barely made an impact. Now, he might not even make the roster. Chad Greenway needs to be replaced, but Lamur will need to beat out some combination of 2017 fourth round pick Ben Gedeon, 2016 fifth round pick Kentrell Brothers and 2017 seventh rounder Elijah Lee to win the job. And if he's not starting or at least one of the first backups, Lamur could be cut. Doing so would save $2.75 million.
CB Marcus Sherels
Sherels' spot on Minnesota's roster is an interesting one. He doesn't bring much to the corner depth chart, but he's a solid return man. So there's a good chance he's back on the roster, but it's not set in stone. If one of the younger corner proves to have more upside, the Vikings might keep him to help eventually replace Terence Newman. And if Rodney Adams, the fifth round rookie, proves to be a really good return man, then perhaps Sherels isn't needed on the roster anymore. I think it's more likely Sherels makes the roster, but cutting him would save $2 million.
WR Jarius Wright
If everything goes right for the Vikings, they probably don't have Wright on the roster this year. His production has dropped two straight years and the Vikings are hoping younger players like 2016 first rounder Laquon Treadwell, 2016 sixth rounder Moritz Boehringer, the previously-mentioned Adams and 2017 seventh rounder Stacey Coley take a step forward. Plus, there's Michael Floyd, Adam Thielen and Stefon Diggs on the roster. That's a lot of bodies and since Wright's release would save $2 million, he might not make the 53-man roster.
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