WR Tajaé Sharpe formerly of the Tennessee Titans
DE Anthony Zettel formerly of the San Franciso 49ers
LB DeMarquis Gates formerly of the XFL's Houston Roughnecks
Those signings and the re-signing of several of their own free agents gives the Vikings an early offseason roster of 60 players.
Quarterbacks
8 Kirk Cousins
4 Sean Mannion
3 Jake Browning
Running Backs
33 Dalvin Cook
30 C.J. Ham-FB
25 Alexander Mattison
31 Ameer Abdullah
23 Mike Boone
35 Tony Brooks-James
Receivers
19 Adam Thielen
Tajaé Sharpe
81 Olabisi Johnson
12 Chad Beebe
15 Alexander Hollins
16 Davion Davis
17 Dillon Mitchell
Bralon Addison
Tight Ends
82 Kyle Rudolph
84 Irv Smith Jr.
83 Tyler Conklin
86 Brandon Dillon
Offensive Tackles
71 Riley Reiff
75 Brian O'Neill
69 Rashod Hill
74 Oli Udoh
76 Aviante Collins
Offensive Guards
65 Pat Elflein
78 Dakota Dozier
73 Dru Samia
Centers
56 Garrett Bradury
61 Brett Jones
Defensive Ends
99 Danielle Hunter
95 Ifeadi Odenigbo
Anthony Zettel
52 Eddie Yarbrough
90 Stacy Keely
Defensive Tackles
Michael Pierce
94 Jaleel Johnson
93 Shamar Stephen
92 Jalyn Holmes
96 Armon Watts
51 Hercules Mata'afa
Linebackers
55 Anthony Barr
54 Erik Kendricks
50 Eric Kendricks
42 Ben Gedeon
59 Cameron Smith
DeMarquis Gates
Cornerbacks
21 Mike Hughes
24 Holton Hill
38 Kris Boyd
44 Nate Meadors
32 Mark Fields
Marcus Sayles
37 Kemon Hall
Safeties
22 Harrison Smith
41 Anthony Harris
Kicker
5 Dan Bailey
Punter
2 Britton Colquitt
Long Snapper
58 Austin Cutting
***
If I was to be so bold as to project a starting lineup from this early Vikings roster it might look something like this.
| WR | Adam Thielen | DE | Danielle Hunter | |
| LT | Riley Reiff | DT | Michael Pierce | |
| LG | Pat Elflein | DT | Jaleel Johnson | |
| C | Garrett Bradbury | DE | Ifeadi Odenigbo | |
| RG | Dru Samia | LB | Eric Wilson | |
| RT | Brian O'Neill | LB | Eric Kendricks | |
| TE | Kyle Rudolph | LB | Anthony Barr | |
| WR | Tajaé Sharpe | CB | Mike Hughes | |
| QB | Kirk Cousins | CB | Holton Hill | |
| RB | Dalvin Cook | S | Harrison Smith | |
| FB | C.J. Ham | S | Anthony Harris | |
| K | Dan Bailey | |||
| P | Britton Colquitt | |||
| LS | Austin Cutting |
That's eight starters that weren't in the starting lineup that opened the 2019 season. It's important to keep in mind that this is simply my projection and that it's made in March. The Vikings don't have to play a game today.
New (projected) offensive starters:
Dru Samia
Tajaé Sharpe
New (projected) defensive starters:
Michael Pierce
Jaleel Johnson
Ifeadi Odenigbo
Eric Wilson
Mike Hughes
Holton Hill
That's a significant overhaul of a defense that had remained fairly intact for five years. It's incredible for a unit to stay together for that long in today's NFL.
Unless he returns to the promise that he showed in college and the potential that he showed as a rookie, I'll be very surprised if Pat Elflein keeps the starting left guard job.
Rumors persist that the Vikings are looking into possible trades involving Anthony Harris. I suppose that a team's decision-makers wouldn't be doing their jobs if they didn't look into all possibilities of improving the roster. Personally, I prefer that those decision-makers sign Harris to a long-term extension. It's taken so long to find an impact safety to pair with Harrison Smith. I'd kinda like to see him stick around for a while.
The draft should change these projections considerably. I wouldn't be surprised if a rookie is starting on the offensive line, at receiver, cornerback, and maybe even defensive end. That's high expectations for a rookie class that hasn't even been selected. And it's a rookie class that will be selected under extraordinary conditions.
The defensive tackle group is interesting. Newcomer Michael Pierce is the only one assured of a starting spot at nose tackle. Three-technique is wide open with Jaleel Johnson currently penciled in as the starter. Armon Watts impressed as a rookie last season. From all indications, the coaches like him at nose tackle. I'd like to see him play some three-technique. When he finally got some opportunities late last season he was disruptive, he got into the offensive backfield. It was kinda like having Sheldon Richardson back in the fold. This group is interesting because I really like all of the players currently in it. There's no one player that stands out to pair with Pierce but they each bring something different to the game. Jaleel Johnson currently brings the best combination of pass rush and run defense. That's why he's the projected starter. I'm intrigued by Watts' potential. Shamar Stephen is excellent against the run but doesn't provide much of a pass rush. Jalyn Holmes is the opposite. He's more pass rusher than run defender. Hercules Mata'afa is a situational pass rusher. He's small (6'2" and maybe 280). But he's so quick. Even though there's only one sure starter, I really like the group and the rotation that they bring to the game. It'd still be nice to see one of them step forward and make the three-technique job their own. That wouldn't take away from the rotation that the versatile depth provides.
It's going to be fun to see the 6-foot-ZERO 345lb Pierce in this defense. The Juggernaut! But the new player that might intrigue me the most is the player that the Vikings plucked from the Canadian Football League. Cornerback Marcus Sayles. He's an itty bitty player, generously listed at 5'10" by the Vikings, but his skills, toughness, and play remind me a little of Antoine Winfield. Playing in the NFL is a whole beast compared to the CFL, in style and talent, but until I see otherwise I like him for the nickel job.
The 2020 NFL season will be one of change for the Minnesota Vikings.
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