Last week's arrival in Eagan of the entire Minnesota Vikings football team for training camp triggered more thoughts on the team's 2020 roster. The decision of defensive tackle Michael Pierce to opt out of playing this season further triggered those roster thoughts. With the Vikings' potential 53-man roster constantly on my mind here's another stab at the football players that might be on it.
2020 Minnesota Vikings 53-man Roster?
Offense (24 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 (3)
Dalvin Cook
Alexander Mattison
Mike Boone
The biggest question about the Vikings' running backs is probably whether Ameer Abdullah is one of them.
Fullback (1)
C.J. Ham
Receivers (5)
Adam Thielen
Justin Jefferson
Olabisi Johnson
Tajaé Sharpe
K.J. Osborn
I'd be surprised if the the receivers depth chart isn't topped by the first four receivers on the list. K.J. Osborn gets a roster spot mostly for returns. If he can stay healthy, Chad Beebe could force the Vikings to keep six receivers. 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 shocking if four tight ends make the roster. If a fourth does emerge, 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. I think that he plays more like the player that the Vikings drafted him in the first round to be. The comparisons of Cleveland to O'Neill are natural. Both were drafted in the second round as big, raw, athletic offensive tackles well suited for a zone blocking offense. It's only natural for fans to expect Cleveland to match O'Neill's development progression. The hope here, and possibly 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. He was drafted as a tackle but guard could be his future. 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. Although without preseason games, Hinton might be kept a secret to the rest of the league and allow for a path to the practice squad.
Defense (26 Players)
Defensive Ends (4)
Danielle Hunter
Ifeadi Odenigbo
D.J. Wonnum
Kenny Willekes
Until Everson Griffen signs with a new team there remains a chance that he returns. While he knows the system and teammates well, I feel that a return becomes more remote with each passing day. 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 (6)
Armon Watts
Jaleel Johnson
Shamar Stephen
Jalyn Holmes
James Lynch
Hercules Mata'afa
The defensive tackle group changed greatly when free agent nose tackle Michael Pierce decided to opt out this season for COVID health concerns. He was signed to anchor the middle of the defensive line. That will have to wait until 2021. Keeping six defensive tackles without Pierce being one of them might be pushing it. But I don't want to lose any of them. I'd like to see Armon Watts as the starting three-technique and Jaleel Johnson as the starting nose tackle. It remains to see if the coaches see those players that way. For all I know, Watts and Johnson might form a nose tackle rotation and the remaining players of the group form a three-technique rotation. Rookie James Lynch probably becomes the player to watch in that scenario. Shamar Stephen is a terrific run-stuffer but doesn't provide much of a pass rush presence. Despite his ability against the run and knowledge of the system I don't think that his roster spot is assured. With the lack of experienced depth at defensive end, Lynch, Jalyn Holmes, and Hercules Mata'afa could provide some added depth on the outside.
Everson Griffen and Linval Joseph were the defensive line leaders for so long. Their departure this offseason leaves a leadership void. For purely talent reasons, Danielle Hunter is the obvious leader but he's such a quiet, reserved person. His presence in the defensive line is much like that of Harrison Smith in the back of the defense. Michael Pierce seems to have the personality to lead but now he's not available. I'm thinking that Hunter emerges as a quiet leader and Idaedi Odenigbo perhaps as a more vocal one.
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 will be fun. 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
There it is until the next Minnesota Vikings 53-man Roster projection. Hopefully there will be some training camp practices between this one and that one.
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