Vikings' recent first and second round draft picks are one bad training camp away from getting cut

We are smack dab in the middle of the dead period, which means rosters/depth charts are constantly being poured over in efforts to further analyze players and storylines as training camp draws near.

There are players whose jobs are set in stone and there are those who don't have the same luxury - they're fighting, tooth and nail, to either win or keep a job. Figuring out who ends up on top is all part of the roster evaluation, at the end of the day.

In this specific case, we'll go over three Minnesota Vikings draft picks, all of them having been selected since 2022, that are on track to get cut when final decisions are made on August 27.

1. S Lewis Cine

The first, biggest, and most obvious name on this list, a bad injury derailed Cine's rookie season and then he was never able to catch on in Brian Flores' defense, last year.

Flores is obviously still around, which means Cine is going to have to figure out a way to become an effective player in the Vikings' defensive system. He hasn't had a good offseason, so far, and reports state he's buried on the depth chart. All the way down to S6, to be exact.

Flores loves to utilize a bunch of defensive backs, but it's unlikely he needs six safeties to get things done - especially when the top-5 of Harrison Smith, Cam Bynum, Josh Metellus, Theo Jackson, and Jay Ward are playing as well as they are.

The Vikings would only incur $5.4 million in 2024 with Cine's release and they'd be on the hook for $1.38 million in 2025, thanks to Cine representing a post-June 1 cut in this hypothetical. The stage is set for him to exit right - we'll see if he can reverse course over the coming weeks.

2. CB Andrew Booth Jr.

Cine was the Vikings' first-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft and Booth Jr. followed him in the second round. Both players have a legit shot of not making the team heading into 2024.

Injuries are a big reason the former Clemson product fell in the draft and they limited him to just six games in 2022. However, he responded with a 17-game season in 2023, but the production didn't follow.

There were a few bright spots for Booth Jr., last year, but not enough to where he should be considered as a candidate to win a roster spot. The Vikings have a ton of questions at cornerback, so it'll be interesting to see if Booth Jr. can be part of the solution. As of right now, that seems doubtful.

3. QB Jaren Hall

Hall was part of the Vikings' QB carousel last year and he had the shortest experience out of everyone thanks to an injury and then an awful first half of play that saw him get benched in favor of veteran Nick Mullens.

The second-year player is athletic and mobile, but struggles with reads, as expected with a fifth-round pick. To be honest, his future largely rests on Mullens' performance over the next several weeks.

Mullens' propensity for turnovers will drive you crazy, but the guy can also sling the rock and move an offense. He showed that on numerous occasions, last year, as the Vikings averaged 22.7 points per game in his three starts. He also threw a combined six touchdowns to eight interceptions over the course of those contests.

Mullens' success, or lack thereof, throughout camp could easily fuel certain scenarios. He could play so well that he conjures up enough trade value to where, along with a solid camp from Hall, the Vikings feel good with trading him and letting Hall be QB3. He could play well enough to where Hall is simply let go, or, he could turn the ball over enough to where he's cut, himself.

Either way: Hall needs to have a good camp. Don't rely on the outside factors - make it happen yourself. And good things should ultimately come.