OLB Jonathan Greenard, OLB Andrew Van Ginkel, OLB Dallas Turner, OLB Bo Richter, OLB Gabe Murphy, DT Harrison Phillips, DT Jonathan Allen, DT Javon Hargrave, DT Levi Drake Rodriguez, DT Jalen Redmond, DT Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins
Waived: DT Taki Taimani, OLB Tyler Batty, DT Elijah Williams, DT Travis Bell, OLB Chaz Chambliss
The defensive line, to me, was the most difficult call. Before Saturday, I had the team keeping seven interior defenders (with Taki Taimani) and four edge rushers. My thinking was Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins, the rookie fifth-round pick, can play some edge. Coaches have moved him inside and outside the D-line during camp. But both Gabe Murphy, on defense, and Bo Richter, on special teams, made plays against Houston. The Vikings also had one of the NFL’s best run defenses last year while Taimani, an undrafted run stopper who made the 2024 team, was mostly on injured reserve. Tyler Batty, the Vikings’ top undrafted signee out of BYU, has a strong case, too, as a physical edge rusher who has made his presence known in camp.
Blake Cashman, Ivan Pace Jr., Eric Wilson, Brian Asamoah II, Kobe King
Waived: Austin Keys, Dorian Mausi
Brian Asamoah II, the 2022 third-round pick, gets the nod as a seasoned special-teamer. The Vikings brought back Eric Wilson, the undrafted linebacker who played alongside Anthony Barr and Eric Kendricks in Minnesota from 2017 to 2020, for depth and special teams help. Kobe King, the rookie sixth-round pick, should also make the team and contribute on kick and punt teams.