Kentrell Brothers Suspended Four Games

Linebacker depth has been an area of concern for the Minnesota Vikings as they head into next week’s draft. After Friday’s news, that area just got a little larger. Linebacker Kentrell Brothers has been suspended for the first four games of the 2018 season for violating the NFL PED policy:

While Brothers played only nine defensive snaps for the Vikings in 2017, he proved to be one of the most important special teams players on the team in his second season. Only Ben Gedeon and Marcus Sherels played more special teams snaps than Brothers’ 307 according to Football Outsiders.

The suspension will cost Brothers just under $150,000 of the $630,000 base salary he is due this season. Furthermore, it could put his future with the Vikings in serious jeopardy. According to Over The Cap, waiving Brothers would cost the team a paltry $116,340 in dead cap money. While Brothers has proven to be a key cog in the special teams unit, his spot on the roster is far from guaranteed at this point.

If Brothers does remain on the roster through Training Camp, he is eligible to return to the team following the Vikings’ Week 4 Thursday Night Football matchup against the Los Angeles Rams.

With this development, the Vikings could take a longer look at bolstering the linebacker position in the draft next. Former Wisconsin linebacker Jack Cichy has already been on an official Top 30 visit to the Vikings; Darren Wolfson of KSTP reported that the Vikings have shown a lot of interest.

Obviously this is unwelcome news just six days before the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft. What do you think this means for the future of Kentrell Brothers? Vote in the poll and leave your comments below.