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5 Players the Minnesota Vikings Should Cut During 2016 Offseason

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5 Players the Minnesota Vikings Should Cut During the Offseason

5 Players the Minnesota Vikings Should Cut During the Offseason Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
With a win on Sunday, the Minnesota Vikings can move back into first place in the NFC North by themselves. Regardless of how this season ends, the offseason is going to bring some tough decisions for the Vikings looking toward 2016. Here are five players the Vikings should cut during the 2016 offseason.

With a win on Sunday, the Minnesota Vikings can move back into first place in the NFC North by themselves. Regardless of how this season ends, the offseason is going to bring some tough decisions for the Vikings looking toward 2016. Here are five players the Vikings should cut during the 2016 offseason.

5. CB Jabari Price

CB Jabari Price Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Price's 2015 campaign was derailed early by a two-game suspension, and then a shoulder injury ended his season before he played a game. Roster cuts are often driven by finances or age, but in Price's case it comes down to simply not having a place on Minnesota's 2016 roster.

Price's 2015 campaign was derailed early by a two-game suspension, and then a shoulder injury ended his season before he played a game. Roster cuts are often driven by finances or age, but in Price's case it comes down to simply not having a place on Minnesota's 2016 roster.

4. OT Phil Loadholt

OT Phil Loadholt Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports
A preseason Achilles' tear sidelined Loadholt for this entire season, and he missed the last five games of 2014 with a torn pectoral. At 30 years old (Jan. 21) and due $5.4 million in base salary in 2016, the Vikings would be better off cutting Loadholt and going with 2015 fourth-round pick T.J. Clemmings as their permanent right tackle next season.

A preseason Achilles' tear sidelined Loadholt for this entire season, and he missed the last five games of 2014 with a torn pectoral. At 30 years old (Jan. 21) and due $5.4 million in base salary in 2016, the Vikings would be better off cutting Loadholt and going with 2015 fourth-round pick T.J. Clemmings as their permanent right tackle next season.

3. DE Brian Robison

DE Brian Robison Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
Robison will turn 33 shortly in April, and his surface statistics so far this year (24 total tackles, one sack) don't justify the $9 million in base salary he is due over the next two seasons. Danielle Hunter deserves a chance to start next season, so the Vikings should make a tough decision and let Robison go during the offseason.

Robison will turn 33 shortly in April, and his surface statistics so far this year (24 total tackles, one sack) don't justify the $9 million in base salary he is due over the next two seasons. Danielle Hunter deserves a chance to start next season, so the Vikings should make a tough decision and let Robison go during the offseason.

2. WR Cordarrelle Patterson

WR Cordarrelle Patterson Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports
Patterson will have one year remaining on his rookie contract in 2016, and his potential his hard to ignore. But the way the last two seasons have gone, the Vikings don't need to keep a guy that only contributes as a kickoff returner.

Patterson will have one year remaining on his rookie contract in 2016, and his potential his hard to ignore. But the way the last two seasons have gone, the Vikings don't need to keep a guy that only contributes as a kickoff returner.

1. WR Mike Wallace

WR Mike Wallace Dave Reginek-Getty Images
Wallace has not produced anywhere close to expectations this year, with just 28 receptions for 318 yards and one touchdown through 10 games (two catches for 26 yards over the last four games). Paying a clearly declining, 30 year-old wide receiver $11.5 million next year is not plausible, but none of that money is guaranteed and the Vikings can easily move on from Wallace during the offseason.

Wallace has not produced anywhere close to expectations this year, with just 28 receptions for 318 yards and one touchdown through 10 games (two catches for 26 yards over the last four games). Paying a clearly declining, 30 year-old wide receiver $11.5 million next year is not plausible, but none of that money is guaranteed and the Vikings can easily move on from Wallace during the offseason.

Brad Berreman is a writer for RantSports. Follow him on Twitter and like him on Facebook.
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