
Marcus Sherels became a Vikings fan favorite for a number of reasons after arriving with the team in 2010. He was "one of us," hailing from Rochester and playing for the Gophers; he was an underdog, making the team as an undersized and undrafted free agent; and most importantly: he was good at what he did.
That last part underscored why Sherels, seemingly on the roster bubble season after season, last as long as he did with the Vikings — performing as their primary punt returner, a punt gunner and lightly used cornerback.
He handled 473 total kicks, most of them punts and including fair catches, from 2011-18 with the Vikings. He ranked in the top 10 in the NFL in punt return yard average in five of the last six seasons and is third on the NFL's active list for total punt return yards (not to mention No. 26 all time).
Perhaps having a true specialist was a luxury the cap-strapped Vikings could no longer afford. Perhaps they decided the 31-year-old Sherels was on the decline or due for one. What we know for sure is that Sherels now plays for the Saints after agreeing to a one-year deal in New Orleans.
Quantifying how much fans will miss Sherels is difficult, though the basic answer is "a lot." Quantifying how much the Vikings might miss Sherels is a little easier. But the answer is the same: "a lot."
That's not to say the Vikings can't fill Sherels' shoes. It is to say it will be difficult and that letting him go might have been a sneaky but large mistake. Why?
*Mike Zimmer values field position: By virtue of their stout defense, the Vikings tend to force a lot of punts. They were No. 10 in punts forced in 2018 and No. 5 in 2017, meaning there are generally a lot of opportunities for their punt returners.
The average NFL team returned 28.4 punts in 2018, and the average length of return was 8.5 yards. Sherels in the last six season has averaged 11.3 yards per return. So let's say Sherels is worth about 80 yards per season more than the average punt returner — five yards per game over the course of a 16-game season.