Tag: D.J. Wonnum

Early training camp thoughts: Purple Access

After the first day of Minnesota Vikings training camp practice, there is a lot to discuss, including the cornerback battle.

The first day of Minnesota Vikings training camp practice is in the books and there is a lot to discuss.

On the latest episode of Purple Access, hosts Judd Zulgad and Tyler Forness of Vikings Wire and Declan Goff discuss the biggest takeaways from the first day of practice.

All of that and more on the latest episode of Purple Access on the Purple Daily YouTube channel.

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Vikings state of the roster: Edge rusher

The Minnesota Vikings traded Za’Darius Smith and signed Marcus Davenport to replace him. Will the production be the same in 2023?

The 2023 season is inching closer and closer by the day and we here at Vikings Wire are previewing the season from every angle. Today, we continue profiling the Minnesota Vikings roster on the defensive side of the football.

We are currently writing player profiles on each Viking on the roster with projections for what their 2023 season could look like. How things look projecting forward is where the real intrigue lies.

Leading up to training camp, we will be looking at each position from a more in-depth perspective. Today, we will be looking at the edge rushers.

Vikings 90-man roster player profile: OLB D.J. Wonnum

A fourth-round pick of the Minnesota Vikings in 2020, D.J. Wonnum could find himself on the roster bubble with a poor traning camp.

Welcome to the beginning of our 2023 season preview content!

Over the next few weeks, we will be looking at each player on the roster in-depth with backgrounds and how they currently project forward on the Minnesota Vikings roster.

What is the best-case scenario? What is the worst-case scenario? What should we expect from them during the preseason and beyond? We will break all of that down here.

As a staff, all of us at Vikings Wire ranked the entire 90-man roster 1-90 and will be releasing player profiles in reverse order.

1 veteran player on roster bubble at each position group for the Vikings

We’re looking at one veteran player on the roster bubble for the Minnesota Vikings ahead of training camp

The Minnesota Vikings are set to kick off training camp with the rookies set to report on Sunday, July 23rd and veterans on Tuesday, July 25th. With training camp brings a lot of positional battles.

Throughout training camp, there will be dozens of players fighting to take a roster spot from a veteran and some of them will succeed.

We took a look at each position and highlighted one veteran that is on the roster bubble.

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98 days until Vikings season opener: Every player to wear No. 98

D.J. Wonnum currently wears the number, but who else has worn No. 98 for the Vikings?

It’s the final countdown…

Well, sort of.

The Minnesota Vikings will kick off their 2023 regular season in 98 days at home against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sept. 10.

From now until then, we will take a trip down memory lane and count each day by revisiting the players that have worn that specific jersey number.

Edge rusher D.J. Wonnum currently wears the number for the Vikings and has worn it since 2020. Players like defensive tackle Linval Joseph and Letroy Guion have also claimed the number.

With 98 days until kickoff, here’s a look at every player to wear No. 98 with the Vikings (via Pro Football Reference):

5 veterans the Vikings could cut this offseason

With the addition of 21 rookies to the 90-man roster, there are some veterans who could be on the chopping block.

After the Minnesota Vikings selected six players in the 2023 NFL draft and signed 15 undrafted free agents, things become a little harder for some veterans on the roster.

Every year, there is usually a surprise cut or two from each team each year due to the talent acquired in the offseason.

Who could be on the chopping block? Here are five veterans the Vikings could cut before week one with contract numbers from Over the Cap.

5 Vikings that could be traded before week one

The Minnesota Vikings have made 5 player trades in the last year. Who could be the next player involved in a trade?

The offseason program is in full swing with the 2023 NFL draft in the rearview mirror. Players were on the practice field for the first time since the Minnesota Vikings were eliminated from the playoffs.

With all of the new talent coming into the fold, some of the veterans on the roster might be viewed as expendable. That could be for talent, playtime or financial reasons. Offseason and training camp trades happen, especially with the Vikings. General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has made five player trades since he took over in January of 2022.

Who could be on the move before week one begins? Here are five Vikings that could be traded.

4 Minnesota Vikings get performance based raises

After playing in the league for three season, four Vikings draft picks from 2020 received performance-based raises

When the National Football League instituted the rookie wage scale in 2011, it was just about first-round picks. That leveled off how much rookies would make on their first contract.

In the 2020 CBA, the league set up provisions for when non-first-round picks outperform their contract, they get raised to compensate for their performance on the field.

According to Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press, the NFL Players Association came out  with those figures today and four Vikings saw raises.

  • LG Ezra Cleveland: $1.365 million to $2.99 million
  • CB Cam Dantzler: $1.154 million to $2.743 millino
  • OLB D.J. Wonnum: $1.01 million to $2.743 million
  • WR K.J. Osborn: $1.01 million to $2.743 million

These escalators are available to second-round picks and later and have levels, which are based on playing time and Pro Bowl selections.

Over The Cap had the Vikings a shade above $23 million over the salary cap with these already factored into their projections. In essence, they aren’t adding any extra money to the salary cap.

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10 Vikings who could be salary cap casualties

The Vikings will have some hard decisions to make with the salary cap

With the Minnesota Vikings season over, it’s time to face realities about where this team is going.

The Vikings decided to go somewhat all-in on making the 2022 team competitive for a playoff spot and they won the NFC North division title. Unfortunately, they now sit in a less-than-ideal spot with the salary cap. They are projected to be $24,431,507 over the salary cap for next season.

In order to get under the salary cap and make some moves in free agency, the Vikings will have to get creative. Here are 10 players they can cut to make their salary cap situation better.

OLB D.J. Wonnum leads Vikings inactive list vs Dolphins

D.J. Wonnum headlines the Vikings inactive list for Sunday’s game

The Minnesota Vikings have released their inactive list ahead of Sunday’s game against the Miami Dolphins and it includes outside linebacker D.J. Wonnum who will miss the game after missing practice twice this week with an illness.

There aren’t many surprises on the list. Defensive back Theo Jackson just joined the roster on Tuesday so being inactive for him isn’t a surprise.

Offensive lineman Chris Reed, defensive lineman Esezi Otomewo and offensive lineman Vederian Lowe have been constants on the inactive list for the Vikings.

Defensive lineman Khyiris Tonga has been with the Vikings for just over a week and will not be on the gameday roster leaving the Vikings with only five defensive lineman on the active roster for the game. It has been the standard for the Vikings to have only five defensive lineman active on gameday.

The game kicks off at noon on Fox. Make sure you don’t miss it.