Through a few weeks of training camp, press conference comments, rep counts, a smattering of practice highlights, and no actual games I've made some roster decisions for the team that I follow. With the Minnesota 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 (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 a 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 concerning the Vikings' running backs is probably whether Ameer Abdullah is one of them.
Fullback (1)
C.J. Ham
Receivers (6)
Adam Thielen
Justin Jefferson
Olabisi Johnson
K.J. Osborn
Tajaé Sharpe
Chad Beebe
The receivers have become the most challenging position group to project. There are three certainties. Adam Thielen, Justin Jefferson, and Olabisi Johnson. I've seen some moaning about Jefferson not having earned much run with the first team. I believe that's partly due to Johnson's improving play and the team's desire to not just hand things to their rookie. I also believe that Jefferson is more ready to make an early impact than any Vikings rookie receiver since Percy Harvin. It's been said for a couple years that Chad Beebe just needs to stay on the field. Well, he needs to stop dropping passes when he's on the field. Nothing drives me more crazy than receivers with shaky hands. That's your job! Beebe can get open. He just has to catch the damn ball. I'm beginning to think that K.J. Osborn has replaced Beebe as the fourth receiver most assured of a roster spot. I liked him for the roster mostly as a returner. He may have a receiving role as well. Beebe, Tajaé Sharpe, and Alexander Hollins are the top contenders for the final one or two roster spots. I'm close to swapping Beebe for Hollins.
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)
Riley Reiff
Dakota Dozier
Garrett Bradbury
Pat Elflein
Brian O'Neill
Ezra Cleveland
Rashod Hill
Dru Samia
Oli Udoh
Aviante Collins
The offensive line isn't shaping anything like I was expecting. I thought that second-round pick Ezra Cleveland would start his left tackle career immediately. Riley Reiff would slide to left guard. Like many, I thought that Pat Elflein's Vikings career was nearing an end after two years of mostly struggles. The only thing about the offensive line that's played out as I expected were the automatics. Brian O'Neill is the right tackle. Garrett Bradbury is the center. The Vikings decision-makers have decided that right guard could be Elflein's new home. Dakota Dozier has apparently won the competition with Aviante Collins and perhaps Cleveland for the left guard job. The Vikings' 2020 offensive line appears to be Reiff, Dozier, Bradbury, Elflein, and O'Neill. For now. I wouldn't be surprised if Dozier is a placeholder for Cleveland. The rookie is making the jump to the NFL and a new position without OTAs and a messed-up training camp. That's an adjustment that takes time even in the best of times. O'Neill didn't start until Week 6 of his rookie season. Improved play from Elflein will be key to the effectiveness of this offensive line. On paper, I think that the group is improved from last year. They are a year more experienced with offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak and offensive line coach Rick Dennison. O'Neill is inching toward elite status. Bradbury now has a year of NFL experience and weight training. I also think that it helps that Bradbury, Dozier, and Collins spent a lot of time together during a hacked-up and restrictive offseason. I also think that the offensive line depth is much improved. I want to find a place for rookie Kyle Hinton. I think that he has a bright future as a Vikings guard.
Defense (25 Players)
Defensive Ends (5)
Danielle Hunter
Ifeadi Odenigbo
Jalyn Holmes
D.J. Wonnum
Kenny Willekes
Danielle Hunter is one of the best defensive ends in the game. Ifeadi Odenigbo has the tough task of replacing of replacing Everson Griffen. I like Odenigbo but I'm sure going to miss the fun and excitement of Griffen. I'd like to see the rookies D.J. Wonnum and Kenny Willekes emerge, especially Wonnum. For now, Jalyn Holmes has been first up in place of Hunter. He apparently looks more comfortable at end than he ever did at tackle. Eric Yarbrough and Anthony Zettel could challenge for a roster spots but I'm going with the rookies Wonnum and Willekes.
Defensive Tackles (5)
Shamar Stephen
Armon Watts
Jaleel Johnson
Hercules Mata'afa
James Lynch
The defensive tackle group changed greatly when free agent nose tackle Michael Pierce decided to opt out this season for COVID health concerns. From the rave reviews he's received from the coaches, Shamar Stephen will take over the starting nose tackle job. He should be a better fit there than he was last year at three-technique. Before Pierce was signed and after he opted out, I've been a fan of Armon Watts and Jaleel Johnson as the defensive tackles. They'll certainly have some run together but for now it looks like Johnson will pair with Stephen as the starters. Hercules Mata'afa appears to have the edge over rookie James Lynch in providing three-technique depth. Mata'afa will probably be the first off the bench on obvious passing downs.
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 continues as a quiet leader and Idaedi Odenigbo perhaps as a more vocal one.
Linebackers (5)
Anthony Barr
Eric Kendricks
Eric Wilson
Ben Gedeon
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 after an injury to Ben Gedeon gave him an opportunity late last season. I'm not sure what to think of Gedeon's status with the team. He ended last season on IR with concussion concerns. He's been on the PUP list since the start of training camp. If he isn't ready for the season his roster spot could be taken by recently signed Hardy Nickerson Jr or undrafted rookie Jordan Fehr. I was a big fan of Troy Dye's game at Oregon. I think that he has a future with the team.
Cornerbacks (6)
Mike Hughes
Jeff Gladney
Holton Hill
Cameron Dantzler
Kris Boyd
Harrison Hand
The cornerback competition has been fun. It gets more fun each day. I might be putting a lot of faith in rookie corners Jeff Gladney, Cameron Dantzler, and Harrison Hand but I really like their potential. 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. Holton Hill has probably been the most consistent and impressive corner through camp. He and Mike Hughes appear to be the starters with the base defense. Third-round pick Dantzler has gotten more camp buzz than first-round pick Gladney. It's in nickel where the corner fun really begins. Three weeks from the opener, my guess is that Hill and Gladney will be on the outside with Hughes in the slot. I think that Mike Zimmer and the defensive coaches are going to have some fun with their young, talented corners. I expect a lot of corner rotation, a lot of mixing and matching. I love this cornerback group.
Safeties (4)
Harrison Smith
Anthony Harris
Steven Parker
Josh Metellus
Harrison Smith and Anthony Harris are the best safety pair in the league. Judging from the recent pickup of Steven Parker and bringing in some veteran safeties for tryouts, I don't think that coaches have complete confidence in backing up Smith and Harris with rookies. Josh Metellus seems to be getting more significant reps than fellow rookie Brian Cole II so I'll go with Metellus as the fourth safety.
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.
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