2019 Minnesota Vikings Initial 53-man Roster

I can't get over the roster-churn of the Minnesota Vikings this offseason. The changes touched the defense far more than the offense. Change can be good and some was probably needed on that side of the football team. The Vikings had five years of remarkable defensive consistency but there's always an end date in the NFL. I'll soon start focusing more on what is rather than what was but today's not that day. Here's a glimpse at the Vikings' 53-man roster from less than a year ago.

Offense (25 Players)

Quarterbacks (2)
 8 Kirk Cousins
 4 Sean Mannion

Running Backs (5)
33 Dalvin Cook
25 Alexander Mattison
23 Mike Boone
31 Ameer Abdullah
30 C.J. Ham

Receivers (4)
14 Stefon Diggs
19 Adam Thielen
81 Olabisi Johnson
12 Chad Beebe

Tight Ends (4)
82 Kyle Rudolph
84 Irv Smith Jr.
83 Tyler Conklin
86 Brandon Dillon

Offensive Line (10)
71 Riley Reiff
65 Pat Elflein
56 Garrett Bradbury
64 Josh Kline
75 Brian O'Neill
69 Rashod Hill
78 Dakota Dozier
73 Dru Samia
61 Brett Jones
74 Oli Udoh

Defense (25 Players)

Defensive Line (10)
97 Everson Griffen
93 Shamar Stephen
98 Linval Joseph
99 Danielle Hunter
91 Stephen Weatherly
92 Jalyn Holmes
94 Jaleel Johnson
96 Ifeadi Odenigbo
51 Hercules Mata'afa
96 Armon Watts

Linebackers (5)
55 Anthony Barr
54 Eric Kendricks
42 Ben Gedeon
50 Eric Wilson
40 Kentrell Brothers

Cornerbacks (6)
29 Xavier Rhodes
26 Trae Waynes
20 Mackensie Alexander
21 Mike Hughes
38 Kris Boyd
32 Mark Fields

Safeties (4)
22 Harrison Smith
41 Anthony Harris
27 Jayron Kearse
39 Marcus Epps

Special Teams (3 Players)

Kicker
 5 Dan Bailey

Punter
 6 Matt Wile

Long Snapper
58 Austin Cutting


Reserve/Non-Football Injury
Tashawn Bower, DE

Reserve/Physically Unable to Perform
David Morgan, TE

Suspended
Holton Hill, CB

***

Gone:
14 Stefon Diggs
64 Josh Kline
89 David Morgan
97 Everson Griffen
98 Linval Joseph
91 Stephen Weatherly
90 Tashawn Bower
40 Kentrell Brothers
29 Xavier Rhodes
26 Trae Waynes
20 Mackensie Alexander
27 Jayron Kearse
39 Marcus Epps
 6 Matt Wile

Despite being on the initial 53-man roster, Matt Wile never punted for the Vikings in 2019. Britton Colquitt was signed before the first game.

I knew that change was coming. I knew that change was needed. It's still startling to see so much change on the Vikings' defense. In a single offseason. The change wasn't limited to the players. The defensive coaching staff underwent significant shuffling as well. Perhaps the sustained stability was the reason for so much change this offseason. Nothing lasts forever. Five defensive starters (Everson Griffen, Linval Joseph, Xavier Rhodes, Trae Waynes, and Mackensie Alexander) are gone. Two top situational players (Stephen Weatherly, Jayron Kearse) are gone. That's seven of the top 13-14 defensive players of only a year ago. Griffen remains unsigned. Until he's signed by another team there's a chance that he could return. I think that it becomes more remote with each day.

The players that I'll miss the most are easily Stefon Diggs and Everson Griffen. It'll be rough seeing both in a football uniform that isn't the Minnesota Vikings.

Maybe I can now focus more on the current Minnesota Vikings football team.