Among the 34 players cut by the Vikings on Saturday was veteran left guard Alex Boone, which came as a pretty big surprise considering he was entering the second year of a four-year, $26.8 million contract that he had signed in 2016.
Boone’s release means the Vikings are starting five new faces on the offensive line. Last year, the line went like this:
- LT: Matt Kalil
- LG: Alex Boone
- C: Joe Berger
- RG: Brandon Fusco
- RT: T.J. Clemmings
The new line features these starters:
- LT: Riley Rieff
- LG: Nick Easton
- C: Pat Elflein
- RG: Joe Berger
- RT: Mike Remmers
Berger is the only starter from also last season back in the starting mix, but he’s moved from center to guard. Easton and Elflein were battling for the starting center job, but Boone’s release opened the door to start both.
Elflein is a rookie third-round pick out of Ohio State.
Here’s the 53-man roster broken down by position, according to Vikings.com.
QB (2)
Sam Bradford
Case Keenum
RB (4)
Dalvin Cook
Latavius Murray
Jerick McKinnon
C.J. Ham
Wide Receivers (6)
Stefon Diggs
Adam Thielen
Laquon Treadwell
Jarius Wright
Rodney Adams
Stacy Coley
Tight Ends (3)
Kyle Rudolph
David Morgan
Bucky Hodges
Offensive Line (9)
Riley Reiff
Nick Easton
Pat Elflein
Joe Berger
Mike Remmers
Aviante Collins
Rashod Hill
Danny Isadora
Jeremiah Sirles
Defensive Line (9)
Everson Griffen
Linval Joseph
Tom Johnson
Danielle Hunter
Brian Robison
Stephen Weatherly
Tashawn Bower
Jaleel Johnson
Shamar Stephen
Linebackers (6)
Anthony Barr
Eric Kendricks
Kentrell Brothers
Ben Gedeon
Emmanuel Lamur
Eric Wilson
Defensive Backs (11)
Xavier Rhodes
Trae Waynes
Terence Newman
Harrison Smith
Andrew Sendejo
Mackensie Alexander
Tramaine Brock
Marcus Sherels
Antone Exum Jr.
Anthony Harris
Jayron Kearse
Kicker (1)
Kai Forbath
Punter (1)
Ryan Quigley
Long Snapper (1)
Kevin McDermott
Injured reserve:
DT Datone Jones
Physically unable to perform list:
QB Teddy Bridgewater
Reserve/Non-football injury list:
DT Sharrif Floyd
Suspended:
WR Michael Floyd
