A Final Vikings 53-Man Roster Projection: 3 QBs, 6 WRs, and Youth Along the D-Line
Before training camp and the preseason, I put together a Vikings 53-man roster projection. A lot has happened since then, so I’m returning to update the projection ahead of roster cuts.
As you’ll see, several players have been swapped out. Most notably, there are the subtractions for injured players like Mekhi Blackmon and J.J. McCarthy. Someone like Gabriel Murphy was a tough call. He has missed a lot of time nursing an injury. Does he justify a roster spot?
And then there’s the evidence gleaned from the preseason. Lewis Cine put together a wonderful effort against Philadelphia, potentially saving his spot in Minnesota. He looked like a 1st-Round pick with a lot of potential, a welcome development for the Vikings. Read on to see if he cracks the lineup in my projection.
Oh, and one more thing. The savvy roster analyst may leave things at just 52 players on the roster. A mysterious player from somewhere else could get onto the team once Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and his staff sift through the wreckage from cut down day. But while I acknowledge that possibility, I’ll roll with 53.
A Final Vikings 53-Man Roster Projection
Offense: 25 Players
Quarterback:
- QB1: Sam Darnold
- QB2: Nick Mullens
- QB3: Jaren Hall
Commentary: A lot changed after losing J.J. McCarthy. There was so much optimism about the direction of Minnesota’s QB position, but now there’s merely some tepid hope that Darnold has a bounce back season. Last season’s quarterback chaos hasn’t been forgotten, so people are nervous.
Running Back:
- RB1: Aaron Jones
- RB2: Ty Chandler
- RB3: Kene Nwangwu
Commentary: The Jones/Chandler combo has a lot of potential. The former Packer, in particular, should be capable of doing good things. Can he surpass 1,000 yards on the ground while adding on somewhere between 300-500 receiving yards? The cherry on top would be some brilliance down in the red zone.
Fullback:
- FB1: C.J. Ham
Commentary: A stud, Ham is going to be on the roster and will be leaned on for his brains, work ethic, and leadership. His soft hands will catch the occasional pass and he may get a goal line carry or two. Oh, and he’ll be entrusted with walloping defenders when Minnesota needs a fullback to clear a running lane.
Wide Receiver:
- WR1: Justin Jefferson
- WR2: Jordan Addison
- WR3: Brandon Powell
- WR4: Jalen Nailor
- WR5: Trishton Jackson
- WR6: Trent Sherfield
Commentary: The deep and diverse receiver room is being leaned on to create all kinds of problems on Sunday. Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison are close to impossible to guard; legitimately, they may be the best tandem in the NFL. The emergence of Nailor and Jackson is a great thing for the passing attack. Sherfield’s ability as a run blocker may get him on the field with some regularity, especially late in games if Minnesota is looking for clock-killing drives.
Tight End:
- TE1: Josh Oliver
- TE2: Johnny Mundt
- TE3: Robert Tonyan
Commentary: The thinking is that T.J. Hockenson will need time on the PUP. Retaining this trio means having a nice blend of blocking and pass catching. None of the three will be options in fantasy but in real life they’re all rock solid.
Offensive Tackle:
- OT1: Christian Darrisaw
- OT2: Brian O’Neill
- OT3: David Quessenberry
- OT4: Walter Rouse
Commentary: An excellent top pair are sitting ahead of promising depth. Quessenberry has overcome a lot in his life and Rouse has a lot of potential. This is a roster strength.
Offensive Guard:
- OG1: Dalton Risner
- OG2: Ed Ingram
- OG3: Blake Brandel
- OG4: Dan Feeney
Commentary: Lots of concern about how this crew is going to perform. Any chance it’s Brandel and Feeney who finish off the season at guard? Risner looks like a trade candidate and Ingram doesn’t inspire a ton of confidence. Feeney is also the backup center.
Center:
- C1: Garrett Bradbury
Commentary: Smart and athletic, Bradbury still leaves a bit to be desired given that he was picked so high. To his credit, there has been improvement, but another step would be welcome far and wide in The Gopher State.
Defense — 25 Players
Edge Rusher:
- EDGE1: Jonathan Greenard
- EDGE2: Andrew Van Ginkel
- EDGE3: Dallas Turner
- EDGE4: Jihad Ward
- EDGE5: Andre Carter
Commentary: The top trio is going to be leaned on to generate no shortage of chaos on game day. Ward gets a boost because of his size; on passing downs, look for the veteran to slide down into a 3T role. Carter has been a bit overshadowed this offseason given the enthusiasm for some of the more recent adds, but he has tremendous length and has had some positive moments in the preseason.
Defensive Line:
- DT/DE1: Harrison Phillips
- DT/DE2: Jaquelin Roy
- DT/DE3: Jerry Tillery
- DT/DE4: Jonathan Bullard
- DT/DE5: Levi Drake Rodriguez
- DT/DE6: Taki Taimani
Commentary: Possibly the least inspiring part of the roster, the Vikings’ defensive line is being led by Horrible Harry and then five players with some questions to answer. Maybe the most exciting of the bunch is Mr. Rodriguez, someone who puts forth great effort. Taimani has had some excellent moments in the preseason, so he forms a youthful trio with Roy and Rodriguez to give some hope for the future (and present?).
Linebacker:
- LB1: Ivan Pace Jr.
- LB2: Blake Cashman
- LB3: Brian Asamoah
Commentary: The surprise is moving on from Kamu Grugier-Hill. I think Dallas Gant — who has had some great moments in the preseason — gets tossed onto the practice squad and Minnesota moves ahead with just a trio since they rely on the defensive backfield to do so much.
Corner:
- CB1: Byron Murphy Jr.
- CB2: Shaq Griffin
- CB3: Stephon Gilmore
- CB4: Akayleb Evans
- CB5: Dwight McGlothern
Commentary: Keeping McGlothern isn’t a sure thing, but the man who is affectionately known at “Nudie” gets onto the final roster. Fabian Moreau doesn’t quite make it since Gilmore has been signed. Veteran free agents are now leading this group.
Safety:
- S1: Harrison Smith
- S2: Josh Metellus
- S3: Camryn Bynum
- S4: Theo Jackson
- S5: Jay Ward
- S6: Lewis Cine
Commentary: Flores loves his safeties. The top four players — Smith, Metellus, Bynum, and Jackson — are locked and loaded. Ward very likely isn’t going anywhere given that he was a 4th just a year ago and has some tremendous versatility. The wild card in the mix is Mr. Cine, someone who looked like what everyone hoped he would be while in Cleveland. The 1st-Round pick gets onto the team.
Special Teams — 3 Players
Kicker:
- K1: Will Reichard
Punter:
- P1: Ryan Wright
Long Snapper:
- LS1: Andrew DePaola
Commentary: Nothing to see here, folks. Minnesota removed all suspense by moving on from Seth Vernon following the Browns game. Earlier, John Parker Romo had been cut, too. The Vikings have their three specialists, the players whom I originally projected to make the final roster.
K. Joudry is the Senior Editor for Vikings Territory and PurplePTSD. He has been covering the Vikings full time since the summer of 2021. He can be found on Twitter and as a co-host for Notes from the North, a humble Vikings podcast.
