A Minnesota Vikings 53-Man Roster Projection

The 2016 NFL Preseason schedule will be over by this time next week. The Minnesota Vikings play their final two games in the next five days. They host the San Diego Chargers tomorrow and Hard Knocks darlings Los Angeles Rams on Thursday. Then it's on to the Tennessee Titans and the 2016 NFL season. To pass all that time now here's a projected look at the Minnesota Vikings 53-man roster.

Quarterbacks
Teddy Bridgewater
Shaun Hill

Running backs
Adrian Peterson
Jerick McKinnon
Matt Asiata
Zach Line-fullback

Receivers
Stefon Diggs
Charles Johnson
Adam Thielen
Laquon Treadwell
Jarius Wright
Cordarrelle Patterson

Tight ends
Kyle Rudolph
MyCole Pruitt
Rhett Ellison
David Morgan


Offensive line
Matt Kalil
Alex Boone
John Sullivan
Brandon Fusco
Andre Smith
Joe Berger
T.J. Clemmings
Nick Easton
Willie Beavers


Defensive line
Everson Griffen
Shariff Floyd
Linval Joseph
Brian Robison
Danielle Hunter
Tom Johnson
Shamar Stephen
Stephen Weatherly

Linebackers
Anthony Barr
Eric Kendricks
Chad Greenway
Emmanuel Lamur
Audie Cole
Kentrell Brothers
Edmond Robinson

Cornerbacks
Xavier Rhodes
Trae Waynes
Captain Munnerlyn
Terence Newman
Mackensie Alexander
Marcus Sherels

Safeties
Harrison Smith
Andrew Sendejo
Anthony Harris
Jayron Kearse

Kicker
Blair Walsh

Punter
Jeff Locke

Long snapper
Kevin McDermott

Carrying only two quarterbacks is always a bit of a gamble in the NFL but there have to be cuts somewhere if a team wants to carry four tight ends or seven (4-3) linebackers. Besides, if the Vikings were down to a QB3 they could always put Jerick McKinnon back there and go option football.

The Vikings have really boosted the talent level on the team. Having seven first round picks from 2012-14 can do that. All seven of those players have contributed. Matt Kalil, Harrison Smith, Shariff Floyd, Xavier Rhodes, Cordarrelle Patterson, Anthony Barr, and Teddy Bridgewater. Smith, Floyd(he has to stay healthy), Rhodes, Barr, and Bridgewater are cornerstone players. Kalil and Patterson, while starters/producers are still trying to join their fellow first round pals at that level. The increase in talent across the roster has resulted in competitive training battles for starting positions and roster spots. There will be players released over the next week that probably would have started for the Vikings in other years.

This one's for fun. Although cutting a football player, even if it's done in a fan's vision, isn't very fun. The real Minnesota Vikings comes in a week.