Flea Flicker Minnesota Vikings 53-Man Roster Projection

I always hate doing this but I can't stop myself from doing it. I'm cutting the Vikings 90-man roster to a 53-man roster. I'm glad these decisions aren't mine in reality.

Quarterbacks
  8 Kirk Cousins
  3 Trevor Siemian
  1 Kyle Sloter

  Cut: Peter Pujals

None of the quarterbacks on the roster have been through a training camp with the Vikings. I'm surprised that this little position nugget hasn't gained more traction. Kyle Sloter is the most tenured quarterback on the team and I've yet to see him throw a pass in a game, peseason or regular season. Three quarterbacks might be an expensive luxury but a couple things make that a must in Minnesota. The Vikings recent history of crushing quarterback injuries and there's little chance that Sloter makes it to the practice squad.

Running backs
33 Dalvin Cook
25 Latavius Murray
32 Roc Thomas

Cut: Mack Brown, Mike Boone

Dalvin Cook and Latavius Murray are a very nice combo. The competition for the third running back role between undrafted rookies Roc Thomas and Mike Boone and veteran Mack Brown should be one of the most interesting of training camp and the preseason. I have Roc Thomas penciled in now simply because I was more familiar with him through college and the pre-draft process.

Fullback
C.J. Ham

Cut: Johnny Stanton

C.J. Ham gets the nod. Fullback is still a new position for him and he improved through the 2017 season. It shouldn't be a surprise if the Vikings find a sport for Johnny Stanton on the practice squad if he doesn't win the fullback job. The position is new to him as well. He was a quarterback at UNLV and even had some snaps at linebacker.

Receivers
14 Stefon Diggs
19 Adam Thielen
11 Laquon Treadwell
17 Kendall Wright
13 Stacy Coley

Cuts: Tavarres King, Cayleb Jones, Brandon Zylstra, Jeff Badet, Korey Robertson, Jake Weineke, and Chad Beebe

The roster certainties at receiver are Stefon Diggs, Adam Thielen, and Laquon Treadwell. Many have written Treadwell off as a bust. I don't think that the Vikings see it that way. He had seven starts last year. There's no doubt that this is a big year for him. He was a first round pick. He has to show first round production. I think that Treadwell has a breakout season this year and gives the Vikings one of the best receiving trios in the league. If five receivers make the roster the competition for those spots should be interesting. I give Kendall Wright and Stacy Coley the edge here but I wouldn't be surprised if any combination of the others emerge. Head coach Mike Zimmer singled out undrafted rookie Chad Beebe as a player that did well in offseason work.

Tight ends
82 Kyle Rudolph
89 David Morgan
83 Tyler Conklin

Cuts: Blake Bell, Josiah Price, Tyler Hoppes

The question at tight end is whether the Vikings keep three or four at the position. If it's three, Kyle Rudolph, David Morgan, and rookie Tyler Conklin are the three. I think it's three because of needs at other positions (offensive line). I also think that tight ends will play a greater role in the offense than has been seen in Minnesota in recent years.

Offensive line
71 Riley Reiff
62 Nick Easton
65 Pat Elflein
63 Danny Isidora
74 Mike Remmers
75 Brian O'Neill
69 Rashod Hill
79 Tom Compton
73 Colby Gossett
76 Aviante Collins

Cuts: Josh Andrews, Storm Norton, Cornelius Edison, Dieugot Joseph, Cedrick Lang, Chris Gonzalez

The offensive line has been issue for a while. There was improvement last year but there's room for a lot more. The good thing is that it finally looks like the offensive line is headed in the right direction. Resources have been put into the position group. They now have closer to NFL-caliber starters and depth.  The left side of the line appears set with Riley Reiff, Nick Easton, and Pat Elflein. The right side should be interesting. I had Mike Remmers remaining at right tackle until Mike Zimmer said that he was moving to guard. I'd like to see Danny Isidora at right guard and Remmers fend off contenders at right tackle. But that's just me sitting in a comfy chair. However the starting lineup shakes out the talent behind the starters is no longer cringe-worthy.

Defensive line
97 Everson Griffen
93 Sheldon Richardson
98 Linval Joseph
99 Danielle Hunter
96 Brian Robison
94 Jaleel Johnson
92 Jalyn Holmes
91 Stephen Weatherly
90 Tashawn Bower

Cuts: Ifeadi Odenigbo, Ade Aruna, David Parry, Curtis Cothran, Jonathan Wynn

Despite a challenge from the corners, the defensive line remains the Vikings' strongest position group. The competition will be fierce and the cuts will be tough. The starters are set with Everson Griffen at right end, free agent addition Sheldon Richardson at 3-technique, Linval Joseph at nose tackle, and Danielle Hunter at left end. Brian Robison, Stephen Weatherly, and Tashawn Bower provide nice depth on the outside. If there's a weakness it's the inexperience on the inside. Jaleel Johnson and Jalyn Holmes are promising youngsters that have to step up. If that inexperience is too much of a concern for the coaches, David Parry could find a spot on the roster. That would be at the expense of one of the young pass rushers. I just don't see the decision-makers paying that price. I wouldn't be too surprised if sixth-round pick Ade Aruna finds a spot on the roster.


Linebackers
55 Anthony Barr
54 Eric Kendricks
42 Ben Gedeon
40 Kentrell Brothers
50 Eric Wilson
57 Devante Downs

Cuts: Antwione Williams, Reshard Cliett, Garrett Dooley, Brett Taylor, Michael Needham

Antony Barr and Eric Kendricks are the linebacker group. With the Vikings in a nickel defense about 70% of the time these days, they are usually the only two linebackers on the field. As a rookie, Ben Gedeon was the third linebacker in base defense last season. He's probably the leader to maintain that role. As a Cal alum, I'm hoping that rookie Devante Downs can grab that third linebacker role. He was a dynamite, do-everything defender before a knee injury cut short a tremendous final season in Berkeley. If the knee is healed for training camp he could challenge for playing time. The Vikings pursued fellow former Cal linebacker Mychal Kendricks in the offseason. Downs is a similar, but bigger, sort of player. Kentrell Brothers and Eric Wilson have been excellent on special teams. Unfortunately for the team (and player) Brothers is suspended for the first four games. I doubt that it keeps him from making the team but it'll be interesting to see what the Vikings do with his roster spot in those four games. There's a chance that only five linebackers are kept in order to keep extra talent at another position.

Cornerbacks
29 Xavier Rhodes
26 Trae Waynes
23 Terence Newman
20 Mackensie Alexander
21 Mike Hughes
37 Holton Hill

Cuts: Marcus Sherels, Horace Richardson, Trevon Mathis, Craig James

The biggest problem with this roster projection is that Marcus Sherels isn't on it. No other cut will be as painful as the possible cut of Sherels. There's just so much talent at cornerback. I don't think the Vikings will sacrifice one of the top six players to keep one that basically only returns punts. I've never seen the Vikings go six-deep at corner with this sort of quality. The bottom of the group, Holton Hill, was an undrafted free agent with early-round talent. The coaches see him as an eventual NFL starter. That gives the Vikings six corners with, at least, quality starter ability. I remember years in which they had no corners with quality starter ability.

Safeties
22 Harrison Smith
34 Andrew Sendejo
41 Anthony Harris
27 Jayron Kearse

Cuts: Jack Tocho, Tray Matthews

Unless Jack Tocho and/or Tray Matthews have truly outstanding training camp(s) I don't see the four safeties on the roster being anything other than the above. 

Kicker
  7 Daniel Carlson

Cuts: Kai Forbath

This kicking competition was probably over the moment that Daniel Carlson was drafted in the fifth round.

Punter
  4 Ryan Quigley

Long snapper
47 Kevin McDermott

***

Again, I'm glad that these aren't my decisions to make.