Current Minnesota Vikings Roster

Through two weeks of free agency the Minnesota Vikings have done what they could with what little cap space they had to improve the roster. Under the current head coach/general manager tandem of Mike Zimmer and Rick Spielman the Vikings have done a solid job of drafting (especially on defense) and retaining their players (especially on defense) once their rookie deals are done. Other than a particular quarterback last season, they haven't spent frivolously on high-priced free agents. I don't really want to go on another Kirk Cousins defense tangent but I will add this. The Vikings have put together one of the most talented rosters in the league over Zimmer's five years as head coach. Perhaps the biggest obstacle to the on field success that every team seeks has been a tremendous lack of consistency at quarterback. The Vikings have started the season with five different quarterbacks in Zimmer's five seasons. For the first time in a very long time there's consistency at the position. The Vikings offense can actually build on something rather than starting over, again. Other than Cousins, most of the team's spending has gone to keeping their own players. They've done a good of developing many of their draft picks (especially on defense) and they've spent a lot to keep them (especially on defense). The most recent big re-signing was that of linebacker Anthony Barr. He reversed course on a free agency agreement with the New York Jets to stay in Minnesota. In a very quiet two weeks of free agency for the Vikings this signing was the highlight. They weren't expected to be able to afford Barr but they found a way. Critics of the deal honk that the money that went to a linebacker could've been better spent on one of the top free agent offensive linemen that were available. It's true that offensive line was and still is the team's greatest need. However, it's a real stretch to assume that paying a ridiculous amount of money to a marginally talented offensive lineman would truly improve the team. None of the top offensive linemen, in a weak offensive line free agent group, deserved the ridiculous contract they signed. Signing a very good, and often great, linebacker is a much better decision than handing a load of cash to an offensive lineman that's slightly better than what you have, might not improve the offense at all, and could possibly get Cousins killed.

Anyway, the Vikings haven't done a lot in the past two weeks. They retained some of their own free agents and added defensive tackle Shamar Stephen and guard Josh Kline from other teams. Stephen might be a free agent addition but his signing feels like a re-signing, and in reality is a re-signing. He was originally a Vikings draft pick, spent four seasons in Minnesota, and is back after a single season in Seattle. So, that leaves Josh Kline as the lone newbie.

So, here's where the Vikings roster stands with many more weeks of free agency and, more significantly, the draft still to go.

The Current Minnesota Vikings

Offense

Quarterback
  8 Kirk Cousins
  1 Kyle Sloter

There's talk that the Vikings are interested in adding an experienced backup. Personally, I'd prefer they put their faith in Kyle Sloter and draft a developmental quarterback.

Halfback
33 Dalvin Cook
31 Ameer Abdullah
44 Mike Boone
32 Roc Thomas

As long as Dalvin Cook stays healthy this group looks good. Ameer Abdullah has starting experience, some position versatility, and can return kicks. Perhaps he can flash some of the football brilliance that made the Arizona Cardinals prefer him over David Johnson in the 2015 NFL Draft and the Detroit Lions to select him in the second round of that draft. Mike Boone showed promise as a rookie last season. I really like his physical running style. Roc Thomas showed some promise as well but his recent legal issues puts his status with the team in some doubt. It wouldn't be a surprise if the Vikings draft a running back in the mid-late rounds.

Fullback
30 C.J. Ham

C.J. Ham has improved each season as a fullback. His role and impact should only grow.

Wide Receiver
14 Stefon Diggs
19 Adam Thielen
11 Laquon Treadwell
12 Chad Beebe
15 Brandon Zylstra
15 Jeff Badet

Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen is one of the best receiving tandems in the league, if not the best. After that there's a lot of questions. I might be the last Vikings fan that still has some faith in Laquon Treadwell. He has the talent to make an impact and he works hard. It feels like he has to get out of his own head and just play a game. Chad Beebe is one of the young players that I'm most excited to see play a bigger role moving forward. He was reportedly giving the Vikings corners fits in practice last season. It's time to see him do that against opposing corners. Brandon Zylstra and Jeff Badet are developmental players. Zylstra is a bigger receiver. Badet can fly.

Tight end
82 Kyle Rudolph
89 David Morgan
83 Tyler Conklin
83 Cole Hikutini

The Vikings tight end group might be the most puzzling position group for me. I think that Kyle Rudolph has a few more productive, even very productive, seasons left in him. David Morgan is a terrific blocker and can probably provide more as a receiver. Tyler Conklin has intriguing athletic ability but he didn't really do much as a rookie last season. He's still very much an unknown. Cole Hikutini is even more of an unknown than Conklin seeing as he's yet to take a snap for the Vikings. This group is puzzling to me because I feel that Rudolph, Morgan, and Conklin have the potential to be a very productive trio. Then there's this thought, perhaps a more realistic thought, that Rudolph is past his prime and Conklin may never have one. Morgan is the only tight end on the roster that I'm certain has a prominent role on the team moving forward. I can see the Vikings spending a high pick on a tight end. I can see them drafting no tight end at all.

Offensive Line
71 Riley Reiff
63 Danny Isidora
65 Pat Elflein
64 Josh Kline
75 Brian O'Neill
69 Rashod Hill
76 Aviante Collins
78 Adam Bisnowaty
78 Storm Norton
67 Cornelius Edison

Here we go. Offensive line is the offseason focus of the fans, media, and the team. It has to improve. On paper, with the free agent addition of Josh Kline, the Vikings have starters at left tackle (Riley Reiff), center (Pat Elflein), right guard (Kline), and right tackle (Brian O'Neill). All they need is a left guard! Right? No. The whole line needs to improve. That could come from better coaching, more experience, adding better talent, etc. O'Neill and Elflein are the only fixtures on the line. And neither is set at any one position. O'Neill might be the future left tackle. For now he's the right tackle. Depending on what the team does in the draft, Elflein could move to guard. For now, he's the center. Reiff is a starter this season and perhaps a couple more. Kline is a starter until a better player is added. If the Vikings had to play a game right now, Danny Isidora would probably be the left guard. It wouldn't be a surprise if the Vikings add as many as four offensive linemen in the draft, perhaps two in the first three rounds, and add a few more as undrafted free agents. They went to camp with 15 offensive linemen last year. I'd expect at least that many this year. They have 10 on the roster now. They reportedly have made contract offers to C/G Brett Jones (Vikings) and C/G Tyler Shatley (Jaguars).

Defense

Defensive Line
97 Everson Griffen
93 Shamar Stephen
98 Linval Joseph
99 Danielle Hunter
91 Stephen Weatherly
94 Jaleel Johnson
92 Jalyn Holmes
90 Tashawn Bower
95 Ifeadi Odenigbo
61 Ade Aruna
51 Hercules Mata'afa
66 Curtis Cothran

It's nice to go to the defensive line after dropping tears on the offensive line. This position group has been a team strength since Zimmer has been coaching the team and Andre Patterson and Robert Rodriguez have been coaching the group. The starting lineup is strong even with the loss of defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson in free agency. Shamar Stephen projects to be Richardson's replacement. Linval Joseph is as stout as they come in the middle of the line. A rotation of Jaleel Johnson, Jalyn Holmes, and perhaps Ifeadi Odenigbo back up Stephen and Joseph. Odenigbo has been a defensive end for all of his two years in the league but Zimmer hinted last training camp that his future could be on the inside of the line. The ends are strong with Danielle Hunter and Everson Griffen. Hunter is simply a beast and getting better. Stephen Weatherly is ready to start. He filled in well when Griffen was out last season and is emerging as a franchise cornerstone. It's been rumored that the Vikings will look to lock him up long term this season. Tashawn Bower flashed as an undrafted free agent in 2017 but was quiet last season. This offseason and training camp is a pivotal one for him. Hercules Mata'afa and Ade Aruna join receiver Chad Beebe as young players that I'm very intrigued to see moving forward. Mata'afa had his rookie development cut short by an ACL tear last offseason. He's been cleared for work this offseason. As for the draft, the Vikings could draft an impact defensive tackle early in the draft or a developmental one in the middle. They've been known to select raw, freakishly athletic defensive ends (Weatherly, Odenigbo, Aruna) late so it wouldn't be surprise if they continue that practice.

Linebacker
55 Anthony Barr
54 Eric Kendricks
42 Ben Gedeon
50 Eric Wilson
57 Devante Downs
40 Kentrell Brothers
43 Reshard Cliett

Well the linebacker group sure looks a lot better with Anthony Barr still a part of it. With the Vikings being in some form of a nickel defense for the vast majority of snaps, Barr and Eric Kendricks are often the only linebackers on the field. Ben Gedeon is solid in run defense, Eric Wilson has proven capable when Barr has been injured. Kentrell Brothers is a nice backup and strong special teams player. As a Cal fan, I'm more familiar than most Vikings fans with Devante Downs. Before the knee injury that cut short his final season in Berkeley, he was arguably the best defensive player in the Pac-12. Unless a safety/linebacker-type player is added in the draft I think this position group is pretty much set. 

Cornerback
29 Xavier Rhodes
26 Trae Waynes
20 Mackensie Alexander
21 Mike Hughes
24 Holton Hill
36 Craig James
37 Jalen Myrick

When Xavier Rhodes is healthy (and he never seemed healthy last season) the Vikings starting tandem of Rhodes and Trae Waynes is one of the leagues's best. Mackensie Alexander is finally settling in at nickel. Mike Hughes had his promising rookie season cut short by an ACL injury. That was bad but it gave undrafted rookie Holton Hill an opportunity. Hill had the typical rookie bumps but overall his play was very promising. If everyone is healthy, the Vikings top five corners are as talented as the franchise has ever had. It's such a potentially strong group that rumors are constantly swirling that one could be traded. Personally, I find such rumors ludicrous. Keep the talent and the depth. Especially at a position in which a team routinely needs at least four competent players just to compete. It's much better to have quality depth at corner and not need it than to need it and not have it.

Safety
22 Harrison Smith
41 Anthony Harris
27 Jayron Kearse

Harrison Smith is the most versatile safety in the game. Anthony Harris finally gets his chance to start. I've been hoping for this tandem since the Vikings signed Harris as an undrafted free agent out of Virginia in 2015. Jayron Kearse is a solid backup, versatile sub-package player, and excellent on special teams. For simply number reasons the Vikings will likely pick a safety in the draft or sign one that slips through it.

Special Teams

Kicker
  5 Dan Bailey

Punter
  6 Matt Wile

Long snapper

47 Kevin McDermott

The good thing about these three is that they'll have the entire offseaon to work together. They were forced together last season after Week 2 field goal atrocities.

There it is. The current 2019 Minnesota Vikings. It's a process.