Minnesota Vikings: 7 Veterans They Should Move on from Sooner Rather Than Later

The Minnesota Vikings were the fifth-oldest team in the NFL entering the 2011 season. The average player on their roster was 26.76 years old.

With that average age and given that Minnesota posted the third-worst record in the league, the Vikings need to get younger and begin to build a squad for the future.

These are seven veterans Minnesota can afford to be without in 2012.

Steve Hutchinson, G

When the Vikings signed Steve Hutchinson six years ago, they acquired the best guard in the NFL. And for four seasons, they had the best guard in the NFL.

The past two seasons has been different. Hutchinson hasn't aged well, and injuries have taken their toll.

Hutchinson is due $7 million this season—an unreasonable number given his performance the past two years. If Hutchinson is willing to take a pay cut, then he's worth keeping. As someone who has been a top-tier NFL guard, he has wisdom to impart onto younger offensive linemen.

The ball should be in Hutchinson's court as to whether he's in Minnesota come September 2012.

Cedric Griffin, CB

Anyone who watched a Minnesota Vikings game in 2011 came away with one thing if nothing else: the Vikings pass defense was putrid.

It was more than just Cedric Griffin who disappointed in the 2011 secondary, but few players looked older than Griffin.

By the end of the season, Griffin wasn't even starting. He was relegated to the bench.

After showing real promise early in his career, injuries have taken their toll. Two ACL surgeries will do that to a player.

He and Minnesota need to part ways. The secondary needs a makeover.

Anthony Herrera, G

Much like Steve Hutchinson, injuries have taken their toll on Anthony Herrera. He missed four games in 2011 and six games in 2010. Of his eight years in the league, he's only played all 16 games twice in his career.

The offensive line was Minnesota's second-worst unit in 2011, and Herrera wasn't overly productive while on the field.

He had a good eight-year run with Minnesota, but it's time for it to end.

Greg Camarillo, WR

Since posting back-to-back 50-plus catch seasons, Greg Camarillo caught a combined 29 receptions over the previous two seasons.

The sure hands that made him desirable when Minnesota acquired him in 2010 are gone. And there's not much else that makes him attractive. He's not very quick, doesn't run amazing routes and he doesn't do well over the middle.

At 29 years old, Minnesota can find a younger receiver who has some potential to fill his spot on the roster.

It's time to move on.

Benny Sapp, CB

Benny Sapp was forced into Minnesota's starting lineup at the end of the season with injuries and poor play by other defensive backs.

And like the majority of the back seven, Sapp underwhelmed in 2011. He doesn't have any long term potential to excite the Vikings moving forward.

He's never posted more than three interceptions nor has he recorded over 45 tackles in any season.

Time for Sapp to find his way onto a different roster as a veteran backup.

E.J. Henderson, MLB

E.J. Henderson was one of the many Vikings who showed their age in 2011. Henderson made his career as a run-stopping middle linebacker. He still does that well enough. But his run-stopping skills have regressed.

His pass defense was never stellar, and in 2011, it regressed to the point of no return. Henderson is a serviceable middle linebacker, but at 31 years old and given his injury history, his best years are behind him.

Minnesota should continue its youth movement with getting younger at the middle linebacker position.

Visanthe Shiancoe, TE

Two years ago, Visanthe Shiancoe helped make Minnesota's offense one of the best in the NFL with his 11 receiving touchdowns. Now, it's time for Shiancoe and Minnesota to part ways.

Shiancoe was unable to be a great help to quarterback Christian Ponder in his rookie season, posting the fewest receptions (36) since he recorded 27 in his first year with Minnesota.

Not only is Shiancoe an elder statesman, 31 years old, but the Vikings have their tight end of the future in 2011 second-round pick Kyle Rudolph.

Minnesota will go young in 2012, and that will include starting Rudolph.

Shiancoe's gone.