Vikings 2021 3rd-Rounder Lands in New York

In crusade-like fashion, new Minnesota Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah disbanded the team’s 2021 draft class like it was affected by leprosy. Down the line — aside from Christian Darrisaw, Patrick Jones, Kene Nwangwu, and Camryn Bynum — the rookies from 2021 were chopped from the roster.

One such casualty was linebacker Chazz Surratt, and he landed with New York Jets on Thursday.

Surratt was a Rick Spielman draft pick 16 months ago, selected from the University of North Carolina in Round 3. He evidently wasn’t ready for the bright lights of the NFL as a rookie, only seeing the field on special teams to the tune of 98 snaps. Surratt played no defensive snaps in 2021.

Built like a quarterback at 6’2″ and 233 pounds, Surratt actually started his collegiate career with the Tarheels as a passer. He played in 10 games as North Carolina’s quarterback as a freshman and sophomore before making a change to linebacker in 2019. And that assignment stuck.

Surratt struggled to oust Eric Kendricks, Anthony Barr, Nick Vigil, Blake Lynch, Troy Dye, and Ryan Connelly for linebacker snaps in 2021 and was hence relegated to special teams action. He’ll serve as a practice squader in New York, with eyes on C.J. Mosley, Quincy Williams, Jamien Sherwood, Kwon Alexander, and Marcell Harris for playing time — the men current manning LB duties on the Jets active roster.

Assuming Darrisaw, Jones, Nwangwu, and Bynum remain intact on the Vikings roster, this will be the verdict for the 2021 draft class casualties:

• Kellen Mond (Waived, Signed by CLE)
• Chazz Surratt (Waived, Signed by NYJ)
• Wyatt Davis (Waived, Signed by NYG)
• Janarius Robinson (Waived, Return to MIN practice squad)
• Ihmir Smith-Marsette (Waived, Signed by CHI)
• Zach Davidson (Waived, Return to MIN practice squad)
• Jaylen Twyman (Waived, Return to MIN practice squad)

For former Vikings with the Jets, Surratt joins Tyler Conklin (TE) and Dru Samia (OG, IR). Surratt’s brother, Sage, plays for the Los Angels Chargers as a tight end.

Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sally from Minneapolis. His Viking fandom dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ and The Doors (the band).