Takeaways from Vikings cutdown day

Aug 9, 2025; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Houston Texans wide receiver John Metchie III (8) evades Minnesota Vikings defensive end Elijah Williams (99) in the fourth quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images

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By Matthew Coller

Chaz Chambliss made the team over Gabe Murphy

This one came as a surprise because Murphy played on the second unit all summer long and seemed to have success rushing the passer on a regular basis. He also picked up eight QB pressures in two preseason games. So why did they go with a 2025 UDFA instead?

A few possible explanations:

1)Special teams. In the preseason, Murphy was only on the field for seven special teams plays and Chambliss played on every single special teams unit, totaling 44 snaps. That matters when you are OLB4 or OLB5. It matters even more when the NFL has made the kickoff play a major emphasis this year.

2)Coverage. In Brian Flores’ defense, outside linebackers have to be able to capably drop into coverage. Even Jonathan Greenard occasionally drifts back into a zone when called up and Andrew Van Ginkel did it more than any other edge rusher in the NFL last year. Chambliss dropped into coverage on 18 plays per PFF, whereas Murphy only had five coverage snaps. Chambliss was a coverage player 162 times in college but Murphy had only 29 coverage snaps in his two years of major college football at UCLA.

3)Versatility. Chambliss played 10 snaps at inside linebacker in the preseason and lined up 47 times on the left side and 59 times on the right side, per PFF. A player that might have some inside/outside versatility is right up Flores’ alley. He might even come across as a big Van Ginkel-esque in that way. Murphy is much more of a pure edge player.

4)Upside. Sometimes teams feel that they have a pretty good idea of what a player is going to be in the NFL and decide they are going to favor a player who might have more potential. Murphy seems really young because he’s only in Year 2 but he will soon be 25 years old. For context, Murphy is 842 days older than second-year OLB Dallas Turner.

Let’s also keep in mind that the Vikings can probably bring Murphy back on the practice squad. It has been pointed out by several folks on the interwebs that less than 5% of players who are waived

The cornerback room is pretty light

The other surprise cut was Zemaiah Vaughn. The former Utah cornerback took second-team reps throughout camp as an outside corner and appeared to be a player that the team was high on. However, his preseason left a lot to be desired. He finished with a 47.2 PFF coverage grade on 15 targets and only played one snap of special teams. Vaughn is another player who has a very good chance to get to the practice squad.

That left only four corners on the initial 53-man roster: Byron Murphy Jr., Isaiah Rodgers, Dwight McGlothern and Jeff Okudah.

There has to be more help on the way. With dozens of cornerbacks around the league getting cut on Tuesday, it’s tough to guess which players Flores might see as a fit. Stephon Gilmore has not signed anywhere yet and has not announced his retirement. He waited until the last minute to sign with the Vikings last year, so that might be possible. Veteran Rasul Douglas is reportedly signing with the Dolphins and veteran Mike Hilton was reportedly visiting the Colts.

There was a report from ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler that Asante Samuel Jr. is looking to sign with a team for the second half of the year as he’s still recovering from a neck injury.

The wide receiver room does not include Lucky Jackson

When Justin Jefferson suffered a hamstring injury in camp, the receiver to fill in for his reps with JJ McCarthy and the first team was Lucky Jackson. The former XFL’er and practice squad receiver over the last two years had his ups and downs in the first-team role, including catching three passes for 30 yards in the first preseason game and then dropping two easy layups in the second game. The Vikings decided to go with veteran Tim Jones instead alongside kick/punt returner Myles Price, who emerged in the second preseason game with an 81-yard kick return and several quality punt returns.

Jones is the only experienced receiver on the back end of the roster — and that’s a loose term since he has 17 career receptions.

Meanwhile in Carolina, the Panthers cut Hunter Renfrow, leaving us to wonder if the possibility of Adam Thielen becoming a Viking has faded. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported late on Monday that there was interest and Thielen wants to return to Minnesota but the two sides have struggled to find an agreement on compensation for No. 19’s services. The clock is ticking if that deal is going to happen.