I projected a Minnesota Vikings 53-man roster a couple months ago. Seeing as this hacked-up offseason has allowed for no on-field, full team work the past two months there's really no reason to make changes to those projections. To be honest, whether it's in early May or mid July or late August, there's really only one reason to ever do a roster projections. It's fun. Thinking about the roster of the Vikings is fun. I'm having fun.
2020 Minnesota Vikings 53-man Roster?
Offense (25 Players)
Quarterbacks (2)
Kirk Cousins
Sean Mannion
I've never been a fan of keeping only two quarterbacks on the active roster. It doesn't take much for the third quarterback to be as critical to the team as the backup quarterback. Losing Teddy Bridgewater and Sam Bradford before the season was a week old reinforced those feelings. It seems that the way of the present NFL is two quarterbacks on the 53-man roster and a developmental quarterback on the practice squad. Personally, I'm more fond of rookie Nate Stanley or Jake Browning than Sean Mannion but I'm not in the quarterback room. Rumor has it that Mannion is an excellent #2 in the quarterback room.
Running Backs (4)
Dalvin Cook
Alexander Mattison
Mike Boone
Ameer Abdullah
I could see Ameer Abdullah being on the outs if a roster spot is needed for another position (defensive tackle/receiver/tight end).
Fullback (1)
C.J. Ham
Receivers (5)
Adam Thielen
Justin Jefferson
Olabisi Johnson
Tajaé Sharpe
K.J. Osborn
I've seen several in the Vikings universe say that K.J. Osborn shouldn't make the roster for punt returns alone. The Vikings keeping Osborn for punt returns alone wouldn't be an extraordinary move seeing as Marcus Sherels made the roster for years simply because he was a terrific punt returner. I think that Osborn can and will provide something as a receiver in addition to those punt returns. It's tough to leave Chad Beebe off the roster. If he can stay on the field maybe he earns a spot on the roster. I'm curious to see undrafted free agent Quartney Davis. He could be a wildcard. I wouldn't be surprised if 2019 seventh-round pick Dillon Mitchell is a roster factor. It felt like he was a little overwhelmed in his first training camp. He didn't look anything like the receiver that I watched at Oregon.
Tight Ends (3)
Kyle Rudolph
Irv Smith Jr.
Tyler Conklin
With the team's use of multiple tight ends it wouldn't be a surprise if four tight ends make the roster. If a fourth emerges. Brandon Dillon and rookie free agent Nakia Griffin-Stewart are the contenders.
Offensive Line (10)
Ezra Cleveland
Riley Reiff
Garrett Bradbury
Dru Samia
Brian O'Neill
Rashod Hill
Pat Elflein
Dakota Dozier
Oli Udoh
Aviante Collins
If he's ready for the NFL, second-round pick Ezra Cleveland is the starting left tackle and the offensive line adjusts accordingly. I'm guessing that adjustment would involve Riley Reiff moving to left guard. Despite being one of the starting five for each of his three seasons in the league, Pat Elflein might be fighting for his roster life this summer. Cleveland, Garrett Bradbury, and Brian O'Neill are the offensive line cornerstones moving forward. They were drafted to be that. They must develop into that. Unless he has some Matt Kalil-like decline, O'Neill is already there. I expect giant strides from Bradbury this season. There were moments last season when he flashed the player that he can be. Those moments were surrounded by stretches during which he looked like a rookie center with a lot on his plate. He's a smart, hard working, talented football player. The comparisons of Cleveland to O'Neill are natural. Both were drafted in the second round as big, raw, athletic offensive tackles nicely suited for a zone blocking offense. It's only natural to expect Cleveland to match O'Neill's development progression. The hope here, and probably within the team, is that Dru Samia joins Cleveland, Bradbury, and O'Neill as an offensive line cornerstone. If Reiff does slide to left guard, it allows for a young player like Oli Udoh another year to develop. An offensive line wildcard is seventh-round rookie Kyle Hinton. He could force his way into a roster spot, perhaps at the expense of versatile veteran Dakota Dozier or talented but oft-injured Aviante Collins. Like Udoh, Hinton's a small school player that might need a little NFL seasoning before he's ready. Like Udoh last season, he might show enough in training camp that the Vikings can't cut him.
Defense (25 Players)
Defensive Ends (4)
Danielle Hunter
Ifeadi Odenigbo
D.J. Wonnum
Kenny Willekes
If Everson Griffen returns, this changes. Free agent Anthony Zettel should challenge for a spot but I'm going with the rookie Kenny Willekes. That would leave only rookies behind Danielle Hunter and Ifeadi Odenigbo.
Defensive Tackles (5)
Michael Pierce
Armon Watts
Jaleel Johnson
Jalyn Holmes
James Lynch
The defensive tackle competition might be the most interesting of training camp. Shamar Stephen is a disappointing cut here. Hercules Mata'afa is a tough cut. He's such an intriguing football player. The defensive tackle competition will be so great and the roster-trimming so difficult that I wouldn't be surprised if the Vikings find a way to keep six.
Linebackers (6)
Anthony Barr
Eric Kendricks
Eric Wilson
Ben Gedeon
Cameron Smith
Troy Dye
For about 2/3 of the defensive snaps, Anthony Barr and Eric Kendricks are the Vikings linebackers. Eric Wilson emerged as the team's third best linebacker when an injury to Ben Gedeon gave him an opportunity late last season. I can see Gedeon reclaiming his starting job. Or getting cut. Concussions are always concerning. I'm concerned about his concussions. After watching Troy Dye for four years at Oregon, I can see him starting as a rookie. Linebacker is a position that could go light if there's a need at another position.
Cornerbacks (6)
Mike Hughes
Jeff Gladney
Holton Hill
Cameron Dantzler
Kris Boyd
Harrison Hand
The cornerback competition might be as interesting as the defensive tackle competition. I might be putting a lot of faith in rookie corners Jeff Gladney, Cameron Dantzler, and Harrison Hand but I really like their potential. Especially Gladney. Undrafted free agent Nevelle Clarke might force his way into the competition as well. Some national talking heads see the Vikings cornerback position as a weakness. They honk about the team losing their top three corners from last season. They fail to also honk about the unfortunate fact that the Vikings corners didn't play all that great last season. I see this young, talented cornerback group as a potential strength. Mike Hughes has to stay on the field.
Safeties (4)
Harrison Smith
Anthony Harris
Josh Metellus
Brian Cole II
Harrison Smith and Anthony Harris are the best safety pair in the league. Roster opportunities are there for rookies Josh Metellus, Brian Cole II, and undrafted free agent Myles Dorn as Smith and Harris are the only veterans on the roster.
Special Teams (3 Players)
Kicker
Dan Bailey
Punter
Britton Colquitt
Long Snapper
Austin Cutting
Until the next Minnesota Vikings 53-man Roster projection. Hopefully there will be some training camp practices between that one and this one.
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