Minnesota Vikings make initial cuts to their 2024 final roster

To soften the blow and workload, the Vikings moved on from 14 players Monday morning. None of the names are surprising, but they do include some familiar names, like Mohamed Ibrahim, who was signed just prior to the final preseason game this weekend. Chuck Filiaga is another former Gopher who was waived, per Adam Schefter (ESPN).

• (QB) Matt Corral
• (RB) DeWayne McBride
• (TE) Sammis Reyes
• (RB) Mo Ibrahim
• (CB) Jaylin Williams
• (TE) Neal Johnson
• (WR) Justin Hall
• (OLB) Owen Porter
• (OL) Chuck Filiaga
• (OL) Doug Nester
• (OL) Matt Cindric
• (OL) Spencer Rolland
• (DL) Tyler Manoa
• (CB) A.J. Green III (contract terminated)

After these moves, the Minnesota Vikings still have to cut 24 names before tomorrow’s 3 PM deadline. DeWayne McBride is one of the more disappointing cuts made today. Yes, the RB room is much improved from what it was in 2023. Still, McBride was drafted in the 7th round last year (2023), as a high-talent big upside running back.

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He was almost immediately tagged as a guy who could earn a future lead role in the league. Unlike other NFL position groups, 3rd day draft picks quite frequently rise through RB depth charts, quite quickly.

Unfortunately, that never happened. McBride finished the 2024 preseason with 68 yards on 20 carries and wound up being usurped by Myles Gaskin, in his fight to make the roster. Now, it seems he isn’t even a candidate for the practice squad.

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The addition of Aaron Jones gives him a legitimate RB1, to take some pressure off him. Meanwhile, RT Brian O’Neill and LT Christian Darrisaw make for one of the best bookend combinations football. In other words, the Vikings’ offense is flush with high-end talent… except in the middle of the offensive line.

Blake Brandel will start at left guard. It’s the first time he has held a starting OL job in the NFL, coming out of training camp. At right guard, the default starter is Ed Ingram. Dalton Risner is still hurt and the Vikings don’t have anyone else who can really challenge the 2022 2nd round pick for playing time.

Minnesota Vikings add iOL competition, including Chuck Filiaga

On Wednesday, though, the Minnesota Vikings signed two more interior offensive linemen, to their training camp roster. The first (and already announced) signing was former Cal center, Matthew Cindric. He originally signed with the Vikings, as an undrafted free agent, back in April.

The Cindric signing came after general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah waived injured CB Najee Thompson and T Jeremy Flax. Then, later in the day, reports surfaced, per MLFootball, that Kwesi Adofo-Mensah is also bringing in former Michigan Wolverine, turned Minnesota Gopher, Chuck Filiaga. The 26-year-old was most recently with the San Antonio Brahmans, of the UFL.

BREAKING: UFL standout offensive lineman Chuck Filiaga is signing a one-year deal with the Minnesota #Vikings, league sources exclusively tell @_MLFootball.@CFiliaga, a former player at @UMichFootball, is 6-foot-6, and 337 pounds. pic.twitter.com/HOk1pjFzoI

— MLFootball (@_MLFootball) August 21, 2024

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Chuck Filiaga played four seasons of football for the University of Michigan, where he played in 39 games, before transferring to Minnesota for the 2022 season, his fifth and final. Chuck started all 13 games he played for the Gophers, posting a 74.3 overall blocking grade (72.3 RBLK, 75.1 PBLK) in 786 snaps, over at PFF.

Vikings interior offensive line could hold them back in 2024

The lack of stability inside isn’t due to lack of care by the front office or any refusal to address such a glaring weakness. The Minnesota Vikings have just failed to execute, when evaluating and developing talent, there.

In 2019, Rick Spielman drafted Garrett Bradbury with the No. 18 pick. He’s started pretty much every game since, but his effectiveness in that time is highly questionable. Then, in 2022, Kwesi Adofo-Mensah shot his shot in the 2nd round, choosing Ed Igram No 59 overall.

The LSU alum has started just about half of every game since, and the results have not been satisfactory. That’s why the Vikings cemented Blake Brandel at left guard, early in training camp. Then, they moved Dalton Risner (a 2023 in-season signee with five seasons of starting experience) to the right side.

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The goal was to provide competition for Ingram, either to push him or usurp him. Unfortunately, that didn’t work either. Risner has been sitting out of training camp practice for weeks now, due to injury. Vikings fans should be well aware, by now, that good offensive linemen do not grow on trees.

So, when your premier talent (1st/2nd/3rd round picks) OL evaluations and development fails you, it can oftentimes set a franchise back. And we are certainly seeing that play out, to some degree, with the 2024 Vikings. We’ll see if Filiagia can move the needle for Kevin O’Connell & Co.