The Vikings Roster: Predicting Whether Each Player Stays or Goes in 2026
The Vikings roster is set to undergo reasonably beefy changes. Such is the end result of underperforming in 2025 while moving toward some significant financial pain.
Below, there’s an educated guess for every player within the Vikings’ roster orbit. Understand that these are predictions and not prescriptions. What I would do were I in charge is immaterial. Instead, there’s an educated guess based on a variety of factors (recent performance, depth at a position, contract cost, and so on).
The regular season sees a team carrying 53 players on the active roster alongside 16 or 17 on the practice squad (depending on whether the international player exemption gets used). Even more players get included upon considering those who are in the infirmary.
Already, the Vikings have brought some back with futures deals. These players won’t be considered within the Vikings predictions since the team has already tipped its hand. All that’s considered below is whether the team will have the players under contract for 2026 (and possibly beyond) by the time May 1st arrives. By that time, free agency (for the most part) and the draft (alongside most UDFA adds) will be behind us.
A tip of the cap to Over the Cap for the money information and Pro Football Reference for the statistics. The players are included below in alphabetical order based on last name.
The Vikings Roster: Predicting the Fate of Every Player
Vikings Offense
Jordan Addison, WR: The WR2 is held back by two factors. First, there has been some off-field issues that are hopefully behind him. Second, there’s the subpar play at quarterback. He stays.
Gavin Bartholomew, TE: He was drafted as part of the 2025 cluster of talent but missed all of his rookie season. He stays.
Blake Brandel, OL: Look for an extension. He’s a five-in-one player along the o-line. He stays.
Max Brosmer, QB: Underwhelming when on the field, Mr. Brosmer is impressive off the field. Appears set to compete for the QB3 job yet again. He stays.
Henry Byrd, G: Been around the Twin Cities for a little while. The coaching staff likes him. He stays.
Ty Chandler, RB: One of the draftees from 2022, Chandler is mostly a special teams player. Look for the speedster to depart. He goes.
Zeke Correll, C: Tough break for the young lineman. He was injured all year. He goes.
Christian Darrisaw, LT: Still a franchise cornerstone. He stays.
Tai Felton, WR: The menace at gunner is just getting started. He’ll push for WR3 snaps in 2026 as a long receiver with speed to spare. He stays.
Will Fries, RG: The lone lineman to play all seventeen games isn’t going anywhere. He stays.
C.J. Ham, FB: The veteran can play but he’ll be retiring, it sounds like. He goes.
T.J. Hockenson, TE: A true toss up. He’s an above-average tight end being paid like a very good tight end. Decent chance his money gets shuffled around somehow. He stays.
Joe Huber, G: The UDFA impressed. He stays.
Donovan Jackson, LG: Someday, Mr. Jackson will be a team captain. He’s very impressive as a player and as a person. He stays.
Justin Jefferson, WR: Alongside Jordan Addison, Justin Jefferson will look to terrorize NFL corners in 2026. He stays.
Aaron Jones, RB: Tough decision. He’s unique insofar as he does everything well and is quietly among the game’s best receivers coming out of the backfield. He goes.
Michael Jurgens, C: Young fella isn’t the world’s most imposing, rugged center. He is, nevertheless, an alright option. Cheap, too. He stays.
Ryan Kelly, C: A great player who struggles to stay healthy. Pricey, too. He goes.
Jordan Mason, RB: The well-built runner is powerful and has some agility. He stays.
J.J. McCarthy, QB: Don’t overthink it. The kid needs to get healthy. He stays.
Sincere McCormick, RB: A late-season add, it’s difficult to know. He stays?
Rondale Moore, WR: Not lacking in talent, Moore missed the year due to injury. He goes.
Jalen Nailor, WR: He’s about to get paid decent money. Minnesota doesn’t pay its WR3. He goes.
Matt Nelson, OT: A depth tackle who was lost to injury. He goes.
Josh Oliver, TE: Look for the blocking bully to continue being the blocking bully. He may even get tasked with catching the ball more. He stays.
Brian O’Neill, RT: An extension is better than a cut. Mr. O’Neill gets extended. He stays.
Max Pircher, OT: He does have tremendous size. He stays.
Myles Price, WR: The shifty returner is technically a receiver. Quite possibly, he gets worked into the offense as a gadget player. Until then, Price will continue being an upside option on specials. He stays.
Walter Rouse, OT: Tough call. In theory, an upside tackle with great size should be an easy decision, especially on a bargain deal. The cold reality, though, is that Minnesota has minimized him even with the tackle depth shaky. He goes.
Brett Rypien, QB: A coach in shoulder pads, Mr. Rypien doesn’t elevate the QB spot beyond intangibles. He goes.
Zavier Scott, RB: The runner has good size and does a nice job of catching the ball. He stays.
Ben Sims, TE: Minnesota has desired him for a little while. Pretty decent chance he sticks around as a depth option with some upside. He stays.
Justin Skule, OT: The depth tackle played a large role in Minnesota due to the injuries. The snug budget makes him difficult to keep. He goes.
Carson Wentz, QB: The passer demonstrated off-the-charts toughness and can play decent ball. Not a ton of upside, though. He goes.
John Wolford, QB: He has his supporters in the Twin Cities due to being a “psycho.” I think there’s some value here. He stays.
Ben Yurosek, TE: Essentially no reason to move on. The UDFA talent overcame the odds by making it onto the 53 for the past season. Look for him to remain to compete into August. He stays.
Vikings Defense
Jonathan Allen, DT: The veteran is a great leader and worker. In the past, Allen has been tremendous on the field but he was just average in 2025. Cutting him would be costly in terms of dead money. He stays.
Tyler Batty, EDGE: He’s a huge guy. Can play specials and get shuffled up and down the d-line. He stays.
Blake Cashman, LB: High-level athlete who communicates well and thinks the game at a high level. Look for an extension. He stays.
Chaz Chambliss, EDGE: An all-effort player. Gritty. He stays.
Tyrek Funderburk, CB: Quietly, he has been a depth corner in Minnesota for a decent portion of 2025. Hard to call. He goes.
Jonathan Greenard, EDGE: Lots of edge rushers like to say that they play with ruggedness, effort, and an all-out motor. Greenard does better than almost all of them. He’s a super impressive player and leader. He stays.
Javon Hargrave, DT: When he’s on, Hargrave is a menace. Even in his 30s Hargrave explodes out of his stance. Too expensive. He goes.
Jonathan Harris, DL: A veteran who didn’t break through. He goes.
Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins, DE: The rookie is built like a 3-4 defensive end. He got used accordingly. He stays.
Theo Jackson, S: Bit of a disappointing season being leaned on as a borderline starter. He stays.
Dwight McGlothern, CB: Long and with some upside, McGlothern just hasn’t been able to get onto the field. Even worse is that he’s not a special teams helper. He goes.
Josh Metellus, S: Versatile, smart, and hard working, Metellus is going to take the throne from The Hitman. He stays.
Fabian Moreau, CB: The veteran can play. In fact, he’s quietly a sturdy CB3 or CB4. Minnesota would be wise to keep him but decide not to do so. He goes.
Gabriel Murphy, EDGE: Smaller but with upside, Murphy hasn’t progressed in the way that was originally hoped. He goes.
Byron Murphy Jr., CB: Coming off a season where he played like a CB1, Murphy struggled to replicate his strong 2024 season. He stays.
Jeff Okudah, CB: Tremendous talent but can’t stay healthy or offer consistently strong play. He goes.
Ivan Pace Jr., LB: The off-ball ‘backer is a success story as an undrafted talent. Look for a trade. He goes.
Jalen Redmond, DT: A fantastic player who has overcome much. He stays.
Bo Richter, EDGE: He’s a well-built d-lineman who doesn’t have a ton of length. What he does offer is a ton of effort and ruggedness. A nice piece for a team who’s akin to a strong 4th-line forward in hockey. He stays.
Isaiah Rodgers, CB: He overachieved in 2025. Super speedy and a willing tackler. He stays.
Levi Drake Rodriguez, DT: Great story. Look for him to continue ascending. He stays.
Harrison Smith, S: An all-time great who is moving toward retirement. He goes.
Taki Taimani, DT: A run stuffer who is still young (and cheap). He stays.
Sione Takitaki, LB: Veteran ‘backer who can play. The Vikings would be wise to go younger at linebacker. He goes.
Tavierre Thomas, DB: In town to help on specials, Thomas heads elsewhere. He goes.
Dallas Turner, EDGE: He’s super long and super fast. Slowly, the young pass rusher is getting there even if he has yet to fulfill his draft price. He stays.
Andrew Van Ginkel, EDGE: The pass rusher is second only to Justin Jefferson when it comes to elite players on Minnesota’s roster. He stays.
Zemaiah Vaughn, CB: The kid is 6’3″ and helped on specials in Week 18. He stays.
Jay Ward, S: Slowly but surely, Mr. Ward has been growing in his responsibility for the Vikings. He is a starter next season. He stays.
Elijah Williams, DE: He has overcome long odds already. The young defender gets a shot to continue earning his spot in the NFL throughout 2026. He stays.
Eric Wilson, LB: Not too often does a player in his 30s experience the breakout that Wilson experienced. He is too pricey to keep. He goes.
Vikings Special Teams
Andrew DePaola, LS: He’s moving into free agency but wants to keep playing. He stays.
Will Reichard, K: The kid is an assassin and his preferred weapon is his cleat. He stays.
Ryan Wright, P: Still underrated, Mr. Wright is very good. He stays.
