Welcome to the beginning of our 2023 season preview content!
Over the next few weeks, we will be looking at each player on the roster in-depth with backgrounds and how they currently project forward on the Minnesota Vikings roster.
What is the best-case scenario? What is the worst-case scenario? What should we expect from them during the preseason and beyond? We will break all of that down here.
As a staff, all of us at Vikings Wire ranked the entire 90-man roster 1-90 and will be releasing player profiles in reverse order.
Background
Name: Josh Sokol
Rank: 71
Height: 6’3″
Weight: 290 lbs
Experience: 2nd year
College: Sacred Heart
Stats (at Sacred Heart): 41 games, two-year captain
Votes:
Tyler Forness: 71
Kevin Fielder: 71
Judd Zulgad: 70
Saivion Mixson: 70
Average: 70.50
Best case scenario
Going into his second season with the Vikings, Sokol has a chance to earn the backup center job. Austin Schlottmann is coming off of a broken ankle and was right around replacement level. Sokol spent the 2022 season on the practice squad and performing at the same level as Schlottmann would give the Vikings some savings on the salary cap with a younger, healthier player.
Worst case scenario
As he did last offseason, Sokol looks like an undrafted rookie that shouldn’t be on an NFL roster. He couldn’t handle power well on the interior and got bullied regularly. Fixing that will be the most important thing in helping him make an impression on the coaching staff, but that is a tough ask.
What to expect in 2023
Expectations for Sokol are about the same as they were last year. He is likely to compete for a spot on the practice squad. His biggest competition will be 2023 UDFA Alan Ali who has a lot of experience at the center position, while also having some experience at guard. Along with Schlottmann and Chris Reed also looking for snaps at the backup center spot, that will be a battle worth watching in training camp.
Previous player profiles
90-Garett Maag
89-Jack Podlesny
88-Zach Ojile
87-NaJee Thompson
86-Thayer Thomas
85-Sam Schluter
84-Jaelyn Williams
83-Jacky Chen
82-Cephus Johnson III
81-C.J. Coldon Jr.
80-Junior Aho
79-Malik Knowles
78-Abraham Beauplan
77-Wilson Huber
76-Lucky Jackson
75-Andre Carter II
74-Curtis Weaver
73-T.J. Smith
72-Alan Ali
