The Minnesota Vikings stand on the precipice of NFL greatness. While it took a Minneapolis Miracle to get them to the NFC Championship Game this year, their performance was not fluky at all. They get the return of phenomenal sophomore running back Dalvin Cook next year, and there are rumors they may upgrade their quarterback position by snagging Kirk Cousins out of free agency. Yes, as of right now, they have no quarterback on their roster. However, they sit on the precipice of greatness. A disaster draft does not come at the best time for the Vikes, but just like everyone else in Earth B, they have to protect sixteen players and subject the rest to being drafted. Who makes the cut?
Lost to Free Agency: Sam Bradford, Case Keenum, Teddy “Teddy Two Gloves” Bridgewater, Jerick McKinnon
The No Doubters:
| Player | POS. | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 |
| Xavier Rhodes | CB | $13,400,000 | $13,400,000 | $12,900,000 | $14,150,000 | $13,850,000 |
| Andrew Sendejo | SS | $3,500,000 | $5,500,000 | UFA | – | – |
| Harrison Smith | FS | $10,000,000 | $10,750,000 | $10,750,000 | $10,250,000 | UFA |
| Linval Joseph | DT | $8,050,000 | $10,700,000 | $13,300,000 | $12,450,000 | $12,500,000 |
| Everson Griffen | DE | $11,600,000 | $11,900,000 | $13,900,000 | $14,400,000 | $15,500,000 |
| Stefon Diggs | WR | $1,961,929 | UFA | – | – | – |
| Adam Thielen | WR | $5,000,000 | $5,000,000 | $6,500,000 | UFA | – |
| Kyle Rudolph | TE | $7,675,000 | $7,625,000 | UFA | – | – |
| Dalvin Cook | RB | $1,443,939 | $1,732,727 | $2,021,518 | UFA | – |
The strength of the Vikings stout roster is the defense. It’s not surprising, then, that five of the nine no doubters reside on that side of the football, and are the absolute core of the roster. Rhodes, Sendejo and Smith create the core of the defense, with Joseph and Griffen acting as disruptive forces up front. Without a quarterback under contract, the Vikings then turn to securing the weapons for the next signal caller as the no doubters that will stay with the squad. Diggs and Thielen are not only extremely talented, but extremely underpaid. Dalvin Cook is returning from injury, and Kyle Rudolph will be the next QB’s preferred red zone target.
The More-Than-Likely Staying:
| Player | POS. | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 |
| Trae Waynes | CB | $4,118,663 | – | UFA | – | – |
| Anthony Barr | OLB | $12,306,000 | UFA | – | – | – |
| Eric Kendricks | ILB | $1,640,520 | UFA | – | – | – |
| Riley Reiff | LT | $11,400,000 | $11,700,000 | $13,200,000 | $13,950,000 | UFA |
| Danielle Hunter | DE | $2,061,806 | UFA | – | – | – |
| Sharrif Floyd | DT | $6,757,000 | UFA | – | – | – |
| Latavius Murray | RB | $6,350,000 | $5,600,000 | UFA | – | – |
I pretty much had to make sure that there was a break up between the defenders I wanted to keep, though Waynes, Barr and Kendricks are as close to roster protection locks as you can get. Riley Reiff’s contract says all you need to know about his value to the Vikings. Danielle Hunter and Sharrif Floyd work with Joseph and Griffen to keep that Vikings front strong and are strong parts of that defense. Latavius Murray is absolutely overpaid but is also Dalvin Cook insurance. The Vikes stand on the precipice, and losing their running back again would be a terrible way to go out. Mike Remmers could also go in that slot, and he is 16b. It might come down to money, as Latavius Murray could end up an Earth Prime cap casualty in the upcoming weeks.
The Leftovers: The players below are not wanted, and have been discarded to the wolves. Well, not the Timberwolves, but you get the idea. The Conquistadors and Arches can try to build their roster from the players below.
| Player | POS. | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 |
| Jarius Wright | WR | $4,760,000 | $4,760,000 | UFA | – | – |
| Mike Remmers | RT | $4,600,000 | $6,350,000 | $6,700,000 | $7,250,000 | UFA |
| Brian Robison | DE | $3,487,500 | UFA | – | – | – |
| Laquon Treadwell | WR | $2,709,539 | $3,161,132 | – | UFA | – |
| Mackensie Alexander | CB | $1,177,174 | $1,373,370 | UFA | – | – |
| Kevin McDermott | LS | $925,000 | $960,000 | $1,105,000 | UFA | – |
| Pat Elflein | C | $871,210 | $1,043,710 | $1,133,710 | UFA | – |
| Ryan Quigley | P | $790,000 | UFA | – | – | – |
| Jaleel Johnson | DT | $724,588 | $814,588 | $904,591 | UFA | – |
| Ben Gedeon | ILB | $713,286 | $803,286 | $893,289 | UFA | – |
| Blake Bell | TE | $705,000 | UFA | – | – | – |
| Kentrell Brothers | OLB | $688,170 | $778,170 | UFA | – | – |
| David Morgan | TE | $663,864 | $753,864 | UFA | – | – |
| Jayron Kearse | S | $646,056 | $736,056 | UFA | – | – |
| Rashod Hill | T | $630,000 | RFA | – | – | – |
| Stephen Weatherly | DE | $630,000 | $720,000 | UFA | – | – |
| Danny Isidora | G | $605,484 | $695,484 | $785,485 | UFA | – |
| Stacy Coley | WR | $579,170 | $669,170 | $759,170 | UFA | – |
| Aviante Collins | T | $560,000 | $650,000 | RFA | – | – |
| Tashawn Bower | DE | $560,000 | $650,000 | RFA | – | – |
| Eric Wilson | OLB | $558,333 | $648,334 | RFA | – | – |
| Kyle Sloter | QB | $555,000 | $645,000 | RFA | – | – |
| C.J. Ham | RB | $555,000 | ERFA | – | – | – |
| Cornelius Edison | C | $555,000 | $645,000 | RFA | – | – |
| Storm Norton | T | $555,000 | ERFA | – | – | – |
| Antwione Williams | OLB | $555,000 | ERFA | – | – | – |
| Jack Tocho | CB | $555,000 | ERFA | – | – | – |
| Shaan Washington | ILB | $481,666 | $646,668 | RFA | – | – |
| Brandon Zylstra | WR | $480,000 | ERFA | – | – | – |
| Cayleb Jones | WR | $480,000 | ERFA | – | – | – |
| Cedrick Lang | TE | $480,000 | ERFA | – | – | – |
| Dieugot Joseph | T | $480,000 | ERFA | – | – | – |
| Caushaud Lyons | DE | $480,000 | ERFA | – | – | – |
| Ifeadi Odenigbo | DE | $480,000 | ERFA | – | – | – |
| Horace Richardson | CB | $480,000 | ERFA | – | – | – |
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