3 Vikings candidates to be cut going into the summer

Head coach Kevin O'Connell of the Minnesota Vikings looks on against the Arizona Cardinals in the second quarter of the game at U.S. Bank Stadium on October 30, 2022 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings defeated the Cardinals 34-26. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images) /

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Johnny Mundt #86 of the Minnesota Vikings celebrates a touchdown during the second quarter against the Arizona Cardinals at U.S. Bank Stadium on October 30, 2022 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Adam Bettcher/Getty Images) /

Vikings cut candidate No. 2: Johnny Mundt

The Vikings going out to get T.J. Hockenson in the middle of the 2022 season pretty much said all they needed to say about their tight end unit.

Hockenson enters 2023 as the clear No. 1 pass-catching tight end on the depth chart with former Ravens’ Josh Oliver and Johnny Mundt behind him with more blocking-heavy duties.

Yet the Vikings also have a host of depth in Ben Ellefson, Nick Muse, and 2023 UDFA Ben Sims, so other than Hockenson, no tight end’s job is definitely secure. Those top roster spots are anybody’s for the taking.

Oliver gave a productive two years to Baltimore blocking behind Mark Andrews, and he currently seems like the better pick to support Hockenson.

Mundt, the former Rams tight end, has more experience but is going into his age-28 campaign and is recovering from a torn ACL that he suffered late last year.

Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell dabbled on the Rams back in his day as an assistant and may have a slight bias for Mundt in that regard — still, he would be foolish to let his prejudices get in the way of building an elite and complete roster.

Mundt caught 19 passes for 140 yards and a touchdown, numbers that other tight ends on the roster could also feasibly produce. All eyes will be on this tight end training camp battle in Minnesota.