Minnesota Vikings Practice Squad

After trimming the roster to 53 players on Sunday, the Minnesota Vikings assembled their initial Practice Squad on Monday. Nearly all of the players are familiar with the facilities. 

Minnesota Vikings Practice Squad

Da’Veawn Armstead, CB

Michael Briscoe, WR

Henry Byrd, G

Gavin Gerhardt, C

Joshua Gray, G

Kahlef Hailassie, S

Bengally Kamara, LB

Marshall Lang, TE

Tristan Leigh, OL

Jack Nelson, OT

Bryce Phillips, CB

Jahvaree Ritzie, DL

Trayvon Rudolph, WR

Cam’Ron Stewart, OLB

Tavierre Thomas, S

All but one of the 15 players signed to the Practice Squad spent part or all of training camp with the Vikings. Only Jack Nelson is new to the team. Nelson was originally selected by the Atlanta Falcons in the seventh round of the 2025 NFL Draft. He made the team and played in ten games with no starts. The Falcons waived Nelson with an injury settlement on August 14. At 6’7” and 314 lbs, he has intriguing size. Any offensive lineman out of Wisconsin is worth a look. 

The Vikings have room for one more player on the Practice Squad. An easy guess is that one of Max Brosmer or Dillon Bell will be that player. Both were on Sunday’s initial 53-man roster but were waived yesterday when two offensive linemen were signed off waivers. I’d actually be surprised if the Vikings don’t try to sign both Brosmer and Bell to the Practice Squad. If both are added, unfortunately, one of the above will have to be let go. 

Minnesota Vikings Roster-Trimming Thoughts

The Minnesota Vikings trimmed the roster yesterday from 91 to 53 players. With a whopping two weeks between cutdown day and the season-opener, the 53 players on the roster today might not be the same 53 when the Vikings host the Green Bay Packers. The initial roster is where it all starts. Here are some thoughts.

It always starts with the quarterbacks. The Vikings apparently surprised many around the league by keeping four quarterbacks on the active roster. 

Kyler Murray

J.J. McCarthy

Carson Wentz

Max Brosmer

In particular, many seemed surprised that J.J. McCarthy was still on the roster. I will never understand the peculiar coverage of McCarthy. I’ve seen a lot of strange converge of players in all my years of following the Vikings and the NFL but nothing approaches that of McCarthy. It feels personal. I’ve seen many top-10, or near top-10, quarterbacks have a rocky start to their career and receive more accepting coverage. There has been zero patience with McCarthy. I wish that he’d be given the opportunity to simply relax and breathe. Christian Ponder was given far more room to succeed or fail. Anyway, there are many things about the coverage of McCarthy, in particular, and the Vikings quarterbacks, in general, that are a mystery to me. The biggest might be how easily everyone seems to forget head coach Kevin O’Connell stressing the importance of putting together the strongest possible quarterback room. He said it at the end of last season. He repeated it at the start of the offseason. He said it again after the signing of Kyler Murray. Again, after the re-signing of Carson Wentz. O’Connell repeated the need for a strong quarterback room throughout the offseason. Even new general manager Nolan Teasley mentioned it soon after he was hired. You’d think that something mentioned so often might actually stick. Somehow, it didn’t. Goes to show that many simply hear what they want to hear. Those thirsty for drama over everything only heard that Murray was signed to replace McCarthy as QB1 and Wentz was signed to replace McCarthy on the roster. No matter how many times he stated it, no one seemed to hear O’Connelll stressing the need for three capable quarterbacks. For a team that had to play four and three quarterbacks in two of the last three seasons, it shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone that a team would want to have three quarterbacks that can lead a team to wins. Combining Murray, McCarthy, and Wentz does that. Why spend an offseason building that room only to rip it apart on cutdown day. McCarthy on the roster shouldn’t be a surprise. For me, having Max Brosmer on the roster is the surprise. He should have an easy path to the practice squad.

The tight ends.

I wasn’t too surprised that the Vikings kept six receivers. The surprise was that they kept six receivers and four tight ends. 

T.J. Hockenson

Josh Oliver

Gavin Bartholomew 

Ben Yurosek

If Gavin Bartholomew blocked like Ben Yurosek, maybe they keep three. If Ben Yurosek caught like Gavin Bartholomew, maybe they keep three. Or, maybe the Vikings really like the potential of both. 

The offensive line.

The Vikings were able to keep an extra player at perhaps a couple of the above positions because there are only eight offensive linemen on the initial roster. Only Ryan Van Demark, Caleb Tiernan, and Joe Huber back up the five starters. And Tiernan is currently rehabbing an ankle injury. If the Vikings have a significant trade/free agent addition in mind, I believe that it’s to supplement the offensive line.

The defensive line. 

I really like the six defensive linemen on the Vikings 53-man roster. Over recent weeks, several pundits had roster projections with one of the veterans added in the offseason instead of second-year Elijah Williams. I never understood those thoughts. As an undrafted rookie last season, I thought that he flashed enough and showed enough potential to be an impact player as soon as his second season. I thought his presence on the roster was certain. 

The outside linebackers.

While I have offensive line as the position the Vikings might seriously address, most have outside linebacker. Perhaps they are right, as undrafted players currently back up starters Andrew Van Ginkel and Dallas Turner. That was the case even before Tyler Batty was lost for the season with a torn ACL. With the position versatility of linebackers Eric Wilson and Jake Golday and defensive lineman Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins, I believe that Brian Flores and the defensive coaches have things planned to support Van Ginkel and Turner. 

The cornerbacks.

Congratulations Zemaiah Vaughn! I didn’t expect the Vikings to keep five corners. 

The punter.

In the most thrilling position competition of Vikings training camp, undrafted rookie Brett Thorson’s potential topped Johnny Hekker’s experience and stability. 

Now, we get to sit back and watch the Vikings spend the next two weeks tweaking the initial 53-man roster. 

Minnesota Vikings Initial 53-man Roster

The Minnesota Vikings have trimmed the roster to 53 players. This is always a rough day. A total of 24 players were waived. Six were waived with an injury designation. Four veterans had their contracts terminated. One player was placed on Injured Reserve - Designated for Return. Sadly, another was placed on season-ending Injured Reserve. One player was placed on the Reserve/Suspended list. Finally, the Vikings traded offensive tackle Walter Rouse and a 2027 seventh-round pick to the New England Patriots for a 2027 sixth-round pick. Roster-trimming day is always a difficult and busy day. It’s also just a start. There are still two weeks before the Vikings host the Green Bay Packers in the season-opener. Judging from the initial roster, there will be changes between now and then. Until that happens, here’s a look at the initial roster. 

Minnesota Vikings Initial 53-man Roster

Offense (26)

Quarterback (4)

Kyler Murray

J.J. McCarthy

Carson Wentz

Max Brosmer

Running Back (3)

Aaron Jones

Jordan Mason

Demond Claiborne

Fullback (1)

Max Bredeson

Wide Receiver (6)

Justin Jefferson

Jordan Addison

Jauan Jennings

Tai Felton

Myles Price

Dillon Bell

Tight End (4)

T.J. Hockenson

Josh Oliver

Ben Yurosek

Gavin Bartholomew

Offensive Line (8)

Christian Darrisaw

Donovan Jackson

Blake Brandel

Will Fries

Brian O’Neill

Ryan Van Demark

Caleb Tiernan

Joe Huber

Defense (24)

Defensive Line (6)

Jalen Redmond

Levi Drake Rodriguez

Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins

Caleb Banks

Domonique Orange

Elijah Williams

Outside Linebacker (4)

Andrew Van Ginkel

Dallas Turner

Bo Richter

Chaz Chambliss

Linebacker (4)

Blake Cashman

Eric Wilson

Ivan Pace Jr.

Jake Golday

Cornerback (5)

Byron Murphy Jr.

Isaiah Rodgers

Chuck Demmings

James Pierre

Zemaiah Vaughn

Safety (5)

Josh Metellus

Jay Ward

Theo Jackson

Jakobe Thomas

Jacob Thomas

Special Teams (3)

Kicker (1)

Will Reichard

Punter (1)

Brett Thorson

Long Snapper (1)

Andrew DePaola

***

Even a quick glance at the roster reveals areas that may be addressed as soon as later today. For starters, carrying only eight offensive linemen doesn’t feel like a sustainable strategy. Four QBs? Four TEs? Only four outside linebackers? Five cornerbacks is a slight surprise. An NFL roster is always a fluid thing. Setting the initial 53-man roster is always a significant moment but it’s a fleeting moment. 

In getting to the 53-man roster limit, the Vikings placed some players on some of the Reserve lists available to them. 

Reserve/Injured

Tyler Batty, OLB (season-ending IR)

Michael Jurgens (Designated for Return)

Reserve/Suspended

Jeshaun Jones, WR

Until it’s not, this is the 53-man roster of the 2026 Minnesota Vikings. 

Vikings Preseason Game #3

Minnesota Vikings 6

Denver Broncos 34

This was a typical third preseason game. One team had just about everything go their way. The other team decidedly did not. The Vikings were the latter. 

As is often the case for third preseason games, the starters for both teams stayed on the sideline. Backups played. There’s really nothing to discuss with games like this. It sucks to go from a trash game to the weekend’s roster-trimming but that’s where the Vikings are. 

The Vikings finished the 2026 preseason with a 1-2 record. The Vikings highlight of the shabby practice games was the Carson Wentz to Myles Price touchdown toss against the New York Giants in the first preseason game for the offense. That was the only Vikings touchdown of the preseason. For the defense, it was rookie defensive tackle Domonique Orange dropping into coverage and deflecting a pass against the Baltimore Ravens in the second preseason game. Scintillating stuff. 

It’s on to the regular season and the home opener against the Green Bay Packers. That big game is still two weeks away. 

Final Vikings Roster Battles

The Minnesota Vikings visit the Denver Broncos tonight for their final game of the preseason portion of the process. While numbers might force a few to play a handful of snaps, the top half of the Vikings roster isn’t expected to play much. With final roster-trimming taking place this weekend, this game against the Broncos is for the players scrambling for a last chance to be seen in a Vikings uniform. I really don’t see very many roster spots up for grabs so those players are really competing for spots on the 16-member practice squad. That would give the players more time to impress the team’s decision-makers. From Adam Thielen to C.J. Ham to Joshua Metellus, the Vikings have a history of players taking the practice squad-route to becoming an impact player. Several players have this preseason game against the Broncos as a final chance to push the needle in their battle to make the Vikings 53-man roster or practice squad. 

Quarterback

I’m skipping any discussion of the Vikings quarterback situation. This has been beaten beyond dust. 

Running Back

Zavier Scott vs Demond Claiborne

I can see both running backs making the 53-man roster. Four running backs, plus a fullback, is a robust number. If a decision between the two has to be made, I believe that Claiborne has the edge.

Receiver

Jeshaun Jones vs Dontae Fleming vs Dillon Bell

The Vikings top five receivers are pretty much etched in stone.

Justin Jefferson

Jordan Addison

Jauan Jennings

Tai Felton

Myles Price

Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and Jauan Jennings are the best receiver trio in the league. The leap from rookie year to this year taken by Tai Felton and Myles Price have been one of the best developments of training camp. The Vikings have a lot of receiver options. Perhaps the play of Jeshaun Jones, Dontae Fleming, and Dillon Bell pushed Felton and Price to stay ahead of their competition. Each of the trio without a roster spot have played like they deserve one. Could the Vikings keep six receivers?

Tight End

Gavin Bartholomew vs Ben Yurosek vs the rest

A back injury forced Gavin Bartholomew to miss his rookie season. The 2025 sixth-round pick may have come into training camp this year as a forgotten man. Early on, I thought that Bartholomew had secured TE3. The way the Vikings kept bringing in tight ends throughout training camp made me think that perhaps they hadn’t quite found what they wanted to fill out the depth chart. While I still believe that Bartholomew makes the roster, this feels wide open. 

Offensive Line

The decision with the offensive line probably comes down to keeping nine or ten players. The top nine seems clear.

Christian Darrisaw

Donovan Jackson

Blake Brandel

Will Fires

Brian O’Neill

Ryan Van Demark

Caleb Tiernan

Joe Huber

Michael Jurgens

Walter Rouse vs Tomas Rimac vs Henry Byrd vs Vershon Lee vs Tristan Leigh etc. Drafted as a tackle, Rouse has been playing guard this summer. Perhaps that position versatility gets him another year in Minnesota. 

Defensive Line

The Vikings defensive line is right there with the receivers as my favorite position group on the team. I believe the Vikings keep six defensive linemen.

Jalen Redmond

Levi Drake Rodriguez 

Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins

Caleb Banks

Domonique Orange

Elijah Williams

They are all so young but this might be the deepest, most capable defensive line group the Vikings have had in some time.

Outside Linebackers

All of the training camp talk concerning the Vikings outside linebackers has been about bringing in an outside free agent. Andrew Van Ginkel and Dallas Turner are set as the starters. After that, external observers see only UDFA next to the names of the backups. Internally, I don’t think the Vikings see Tyler Batty, Bo Richter, and Chaz Chambliss as a trio of slappies. Maybe a free agent is signed to supplement the group but I don’t think so. I’m starting to think that the coaches see solid potential in the depth provided by Batty, Richter, Chambliss and the versatility of lineman Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins and rookie linebacker Jake Golday.

Linebackers

The top four feel set.

Blake Cashman

Eric Wilson

Ivan Pace Jr.

Jake Golday

If there’s a surprise cut when the Vikings start trimming the roster, it could be at linebacker. Jacob Roberts has had a strong training camp. Could he unseat Ivan Pace Jr. Or could Roberts force the Vikings to keep five linebackers. 

Cornerbacks

In recent years, four cornerbacks has been the number for the Vikings under Brian Flores. If that continues, the four are set.

Byron Murphy Jr.

Isaiah Rodgers

James Pierre

Chuck Demmings

The only possible cornerback question would be if this is the year the Vikings keep five. Second-year Zemaiah Vaughn appears to be the leader in that battle. 

Safety

The training camp highlight of the Vikings safety position has been the play of undrafted rookie Jacob Thomas. Third-round rookie Jakobe Thomas missed most of training camp with an injury. He’s finally back. But Theo Jackson is now on the sideline. When everyone is healthy, it looks like there’s six safeties that feel like roster locks. If Harrison Smith returns for his 15th season, then there will be decisions to make.

Punter

Johnny Hekker vs Brett Thorson

This IS the biggest position battle on the team. The experienced Hekker vs the rookie Thorson. This competition might be decided by how well each hold the football for all-world kicker Will Reichard. 

Bye-Bye Pro Bowl

The NFL is eliminating the Pro Bowl. 

“It’s OK to be the first league to walk away from a competitive all-star game.”

  -NFL executive Vice President Peter O’Reily

I hate to break it to Pete but the Pro Bowl stopped being a competitive all-star game when the players stopped competing. That was more than a decade ago. 

There were various incarnations of an NFL all-star game from 1938-42. World War II put an end to those games. The Pro Bowl became a thing in 1951. Commissioner Bert Bell thought it was a fine way for the players to make some extra money. From 1951-72, the game was held in Los Angeles. From 1973-79, it moved around. In 1980, the Pro Bowl found a home in Hawaii. For about 60 years, the Pro Bowl was a fun way to end an NFL season. That was especially true during the Hawaii years. The tropical location made for a perfect end-of-the-season vacation for the players and their families. It was also a lovely location for a competitive All-Star football game. I repeat the competitive part. The players actually competed. It was an honor for the players to be named to the Pro Bowl and an honor for them to play in it. Even as salaries soared and the Pro Bowl shares became a smaller percentage of a player’s total earnings, the game was competitive. Maybe it was a step, or two, easier than a game that counted but it easily passed as a competitive football game. The games were fun. The players appeared to have fun simply playing football with the very best in the game. The players wanted to play in the game. That was clear because there were no cancellations due to dubious reasons. Players wanted to be at the Pro Bowl. It never hurt that it was in Hawaii. The desire to be there was so great, that players that didn’t make the teams would pay their own way to join the fun surrounding the game. In an interview with then Sports Illustrated writer Mike Silver, former New England Patriots and San Francisco 49ers tight end Russ Francis had this to say about the Pro Bowl in 1996:

The Pro Bowl is a celebration of football. It’s the one time when the players can let down their guard, enjoy their status and revel in the joys of their profession. It’s camaraderie and adventure - the way football used to be. 

So, what changed? The Pro Bowl’s downfall started when the NFL’s suits started messing with it. In 2010, the NFL, for some reason, brought the Pro Bowl back to the mainland. They also jammed the game between the conference championship games and the Pro Bowl. Neither decision made any sense at the time and still make no sense. The Pro Bowl was terrific as an end of the season event. Perhaps as a reaction to their 2010 mistake, the suits returned the Pro Bowl in 2011. It was then that the players stopped caring about the game. At least, they stopped trying in the game. It was then that the Pro Bowl became a joke. Even in an all-star game, pride has to matter. I’m not sure how any player that played in a Pro Bowl from 2011-22 can be proud of the game they played. From 2023-25, the Pro Bowl was a flag football game so those don’t count for anything. Starting in 2011, the players simply stopped playing even scrimmage-level football in the Pro Bowl. The fans still paid Pro Bowl-level ticket prices for the Pro Bowl but the players rewarded them with zero effort. From 1951-2010, the winner’s share for the game was $23,000. Even when the NFL surged into billions in annual revenue, the winner’s share for the Pro Bowl stayed the same. In 2011, about the time the players stopped playing, the winner’s share jumped to $50,000. It’s only gone up annually. Somehow, the winner’s of the final flag football Pro Bowl received $96,000. The players were increasingly rewarded for doing less. Nice incentive. Why did the player’s toss their pride and stop trying in the Pro Bowl. One could assume that it was because the players didn’t want to get injured in a game that meant little. For what it’s worth, I can’t remember a serious injury, or even a modest injury, since the 1970s. Tyler Eifert had a serious injury in the 2015 Pro Bowl but that was in one of those games that was more walkthrough than football. The only time this game was about the money involved was in the 1950s. An extra money-stream for the players was the initial reason for the game. For most the game’s existence, it was about pride. It was about the best football players taking pride in the game they played. It was a fun football game. It stopped being a fun football game when the players stopped taking pride in playing football. 

Since I was a long-time fan of the way this game used to be played, this is a sad day. With the way the players collectively made it a shitty game and the league then made it a flag football game, this is a great day. 

Players are still going to be elected to a Pro Bowl team. The players, coaches, and fans will still vote. Without all of the alternates and injury replacements to dilute things, the 88-player Pro Bowl team will actually mean something again. 

Best Minnesota Vikings Receiving Trios

The Minnesota Vikings have a strong receiver tradition. From Paul Flatley to Justin Jefferson, the franchise boasts 65 years of receiving excellence. Sure, there were a scattered year, or four, in which the Vikings were scrambling to find competent hands. For a big fan of receivers, it’s been a blast following the Vikings since the early 1970s. Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison top the present group. That’s a talented and fun duo. The offseason addition of Jauan Jennings gives the Vikings a talented and fun trio. They’ve yet to take the field together in a game that counts but it’s easy to pencil in the trio as the league’s best. Here’s a look at how measure against some of the best trios in the great receiver tradition of the Minnesota Vikings.

Best Minnesota Vikings Receiving Trios

1. Cris Carter, Randy Moss, Jake Reed

Not only is this receiving trio the best in Minnesota Vikings franchise history, they are “arguably” the best in NFL history. 

From 1994-97, Jake Reed had four consecutive 1000-yard seasons. These weren’t Mike Evans-1000-yard seasons. Each of Reed’s four seasons was over 1100 yards. Carter and Reed were arguably the NFL’s top receiving duo. That didn’t stop the Vikings from selecting Randy Moss with the 21st pick in the 1998 NFL Draft. Fortunately, enough teams were stupid enough to pass on perhaps the most physically gifted receiver to ever catch a football. The only thing that could keep Reed from posting a fifth 1000-yard seasons was adding Moss. 

Cris Carter and Randy Moss have busts in Canton. Jake Reed drifted into the long shadow of those legends but he remained an impactful compliment for a couple seasons. For about half of the 1990s, he was among the league’s best deep threats. 

2. Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, Jauan Jennings

Again, this trio has yet to take the field in a game with meaning but this trio could be elite. Hopefully, it’s for more than a single season. One could argue that Justin Jefferson and a couple slappies would be an elite trio. Jordan Addison would be WR1 on several teams. Jauan Jennings stepped up as the WR1 of the San Francisco 49ers when needed. With that in mind, the Vikings have three WR1s. That’s a great trio. 

3. Sidney Rice, Bernard Berrian, Percy Harvin

When Brett Favre was added to an offense with Adrian Peterson and this trio, there was the potential for offensive explosion on every play. The Vikings 2009 season was fun. It really should’ve been much more fun. It was Sidney Rice’s breakout season. Bernard Berrian was an explosive deep threat. Percy Harvin was dynamic and versatile as a rookie. For a single season, Rice, Berrian, and Harvin were an outstanding trio.

4. Stefon Diggs, Adam Thielen, Jarius Wright

As a fan of receivers, Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen were so much fun to watch. Great routes, great hands, great positioning. All of the technical skill that you hope to see in receivers they had. Jarius Wright was an outstanding compliment. I feel like every catch he made either converted a key first or scored a touchdown. 

5. Anthony Carter, Cris Carter, Hasaan Jones

Anthony Carter and Hasaan Jones were nearing the end of their careers when Cris Carter came to the Vikings in 1990. For a couple years, the Carters tormented the league. Jones was an underrated compliment. 

6. Ahmad Rashad, Sammy White, Bob Grim

This trio is all about the duo of Ahmad Rashad and Sammy White. They were terrific. Both arrived in Minnesota in 1976. Rashad was an established talent in the league. He just needed a quarterback. White was a rookie. I’ve always believed that if he played his entire career with Fran Tarkenton, Rashad would have a bust in Canton. White was an immediate hit as a rookie and had a long, solid career with the Vikings. Grim may have had an unheralded career but he was a reliable receiver when needed. He had two stints with the Vikings. The first was more productive than the second. 

7. Gene Washington, John Henderson, Bob Grim

Gene Washington is one of the most underrated players in Vikings franchise history. He and Paul Flatley often get lost in the team’s great receiver tradition. Washington and John Henderson were one of the league’s best duos. Their talents made Joe Kapp look like a competent NFL thrower in 1969. This was Bob Grim’s first and most productive stint with the Vikings. He was even named to the 1971 Pro Bowl. 

One More Minnesota Vikings 53-Man Roster Projection

The good news is that projecting a Minnesota Vikings 53-man roster will become unnecessary this weekend. That’s when the Vikings will be doing the only roster cutdowns that matter. Until then, here’s one more Minnesota Vikings 53-man roster projection. 

Another Minnesota Vikings 53-man Roster Projection

Offense (25)

Quarterback (3)

Kyler Murray

J.J. McCarthy

Carson Wentz

Running Back (4)

Aaron Jones

Jordan Mason

Demond Claiborne

Zavier Scott

Fullback (1)

Max Bredeson

Wide Receiver (5)

Justin Jefferson

Jordan Addison

Jauan Jennings

Tai Felton

Myles Price

The play of Jeshaun Jones, Dontae Fleming, and Dillon Bell has made receiver decisions difficult. A dream scenario might be getting all three on the practice squad. 

Tight End (3)

T.J. Hockenson

Josh Oliver

Gavin Bartholomew

Offensive Line (9)

Christian Darrisaw

Donovan Jackson

Blake Brandel

Will Fries

Brian O’Neill

Ryan Van Demark

Caleb Tiernan

Michael Jurgens

Joe Huber

Defense (25)

Defensive Line (6)

Jalen Redmond

Levi Drake Rodriguez

Caleb Banks

Domonique Orange

Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins

Elijah Williams

After receiver, this might be my favorite position group on the team. 

Outside Linebacker (5)

Andrew Van Ginkel

Dallas Turner

Tyler Batty

Bo Richter

Chaz Chambliss

Defensive lineman Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins and rookie linebacker Jake Golday will further supplement the edge rushers. The Vikings might actually roster only four outside linebacker because of the versatility of those two players. 

Linebacker (4)

Blake Cashman

Eric Wilson

Ivan Pace Jr.

Jake Golday

Cornerback (4)

Byron Murphy Jr.

Isaiah Rodgers

Chuck Demmings

James Pierre

Safety (6)

Josh Metellus

Jay Ward

Theo Jackson

Jakobe Thomas

Tavierre Thomas

Jacob Thomas

While it would certainly complicate safety and defense roster numbers, I’m still hoping for a Harrison Smith return. 

Special Teams (3)

Kicker (1)

Will Reichard

Punter (1)

Johnny Hekker

Until I’m convinced that undrafted rookie Brett Thorson can consistently snap the ball, I’m going with Johnny Hekker. 

Long Snapper (1)

Andrew DePaola

NFL Top 100

The countdown of the NFL Top 100 continues. Since the release has been so quiet, it’s easy to miss. As of Monday, the quiet release is through 11. 

NFL Top 100 Players of 2026

100. Cameron Jordan, DE, New Orleans Saints

  99. Quenton Nelson, G, Indianapolis Colts

  98. Bryce Young, QB, Carolina Panthers 

  97. Ernest Jones, LB, Seattle Seahawks 

  96. Travis Etienne, RB, New Orleans Saints

  95. Demario Davis, LB, New York Jets

  94. Creed Humphrey, C, Kansas City Chiefs

  93. Carson Schwesinger, LB, Cleveland Browns 

  92. Azeez Al-Shaair, LB, Houston Texans

  91. Montez Sweat, DE, Chicago Bears 

  90. Derrick Brown, DL, Carolina Panthers 

  89. Kyren Williams, RB, Los Angeles Rams 

  88. Jack Campbell, LB, Detroit Lions

  87. Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Carolina Panthers

  86. Tuli Tuipulotu, Edge, Los Angeles Chargers

  85. Brock Purdy, QB, San Francisco 49ers 

  84. Byron Young, Edge, Los Angeles Rams 

  83. Jeffery Simmons, DT, Tennessee Titans 

  82. Jalen Ramsey, CB, Pittsburgh Steelers 

  81. Bobby Wagner, LB, Washington Commanders

  80. A.J. Brown, WR, New England Patriots 

  79. Travis Kelce, TE, Kansas City Chiefs 

  77. Baker Mayfield, QB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

  76. Jaycee Horn, CB, Carolina Panthers

  75. Budda Baker, Arizona Cardinals

  74. Josh Jacobs, RB, Green Bay Packers

  73. Zach Allen, DL, Denver Broncos

  72. Jordan Love, QB, Green Bay Packers

  71. Zay Flowers, WR, Baltimore Ravens

  70. Xavier McKinney, S, Green Bay Packers

  69. Lamar Jackson, QB, Baltimore Ravens

  68. Courtland Sutton, WR, Denver Broncos

  67. Jordyn Brooks, LB, Miami Dolphins

  66. Drake London, WR, Atlanta Falcons

  65. Roquan Smith, LB, Baltimore Ravens

  64. Chris Olave, WR, New Orleans Saints

  63. Kyle Hamilton, S, Baltimore Ravens

  62. Trevor Lawrence, QB, Jacksonville Jaguars

  61. Kevin Byard, S, New England Patriots

  60. Brock Bowers, TE, Las Vegas Raiders

  59. Bo Nix, QB, Denver Broncos

  58. Nico Collins, WR, Houston Texans

  57. Dion Dawkins, OT, Buffalo Bills

  56. Jalen Hurts, QB, Philadelphia Eagles

  55. CeeDee Lamb, WR, Dallas Cowboys

  54. Fred Warner, LB, San Francisco 49ers

  53. Davante Adams, WR, Los Angeles Rams

  52. Tristan Wirfs, OT, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

  51. Caleb Williams, QB, Chicago Bears

  50. Derwin James, S, Los Angeles Chargers

  49. Joe Thuney, G, Chicago Bears

  48. Josh Hines-Allen, DE, Jacksonville Jaguars

  47. Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Philadelphia Eagles 

  46. George Kittle, TE, San Francisco 49ers

  45. Zack Baun, LB, Philadelphia Eagles

  44. Joe Burrow, QB, Cincinnati Bengals

  43. Chris Jones, DL, Kansas City Chiefs

  42. Garrett Bolles, OT, Denver Broncos

  41. T.J. Watt, OLB, Pittsburgh Steelers

  40. Trent Williams, OT, San Francisco 49ers 

  39. Justin Herbert, QB, Los Angeles Chargers

  38. Cooper DeJean, CB, Philadelphia Eagles

  37. Penei Sewell, OT, Detroit Lions

  36. George Pickens, WR, Dallas Cowboys

  35. Jared Verse, DE, Cleveland Browns

  34. Saquon Barkley, RB, Philadelphia Eagles 

  33. Jared Goff, QB, Detroit Lions

  32. Nic Bonitto, Edge, Denver Broncos

  31. Dak Prescott, QB, Dallas Cowboys

  30. Aidan Hutchinson, DE, Detroit Lions

  29. Jalen Carter, DT, Philadelphia Eagles 

  28. Christian Gonzalez, CB, New England Patriots

  27. Devin Lloyd, LB, Carolina Panthers

  26. De’Von Achane, RB, Miami Dolphins

  25. Derrick Stingley Jr., CB, Houston Texans

  24. Maxx Crosby, DE, Las Vegas Raiders

  23. Danielle Hunter, DE, Houston Texans

  22. Amon Ra-St.Brown, WR, Detroit Lions

  21. Sam Darnold, QB, Seattle Seahawks 

  20. James Cook, RB, Buffalo Bills

  19. Justin Jefferson, WR, Minnesota Vikings

  18. Patrick Mahomes, QB, Kansas City Chiefs

  17. Jonathan Taylor, RB, Indianapolis Colts

  16. Ja’Marr Chase, WR, Cincinnati Bengals

  15. Derrick Henry, RB, Baltimore Ravens

  14. Brian Burns, DE, New York Giants

  13. Trey McBride, TE, Arizona Cardinals

  12. Will Anderson,  Jr., DE, Houston Texans

  11. Drake Maye, QB, New England Patriots

Justin Jefferson at #19, is, of course, a joke. The players really hacked up that voting. Getting 1000 yards with the collection of quarterback and offensive play the Minnesota Vikings trotted onto the field throught the season might’ve been the greatest accomplishment of Jefferson’s great career. Anyway, it’s the player’s Top 100. Jefferson will return his proper place among the very best players in the league next year. 

The above 90 players leaving the following players in the Top 10. 

Josh Allen, QB, Buffalo Bills

Myles Garrett, DE, Los Angeles Rams

Jamyr Gibbs, RB, Detroit Lions

Christian McCaffrey, RB, San Francisco 49ers 

Puka Nacua, WR, Los Angeles Rams

Micah Parsons, DE, Green Bay Packers

Bijan Robinson, RB, Atlanta Falcons

Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Seattle Seahawks

Matthew Stafford, QB, Los Angeles Rams

Patrick Surtain II, CB, Denver Broncos

Here’s a guess at the order of the Top 10.

10. Patrick Surtain II

  9. Christian McCaffrey

  8. Micah Parsons  

  7. Puka Nacua

  6. Jamyr Gibbs

  5. Jaxon Smith-Njigba

  4. Bijan Robinson

  3. Matthew Stafford

  2. Josh Allen

  1. Myles Garrett

It’s always a stretch to pick a defensive player over a quarterback in this list but Myles Garrett feels like the player to do it. 

Vikings Preseason Game #2

It’s only preseason. 

After being dominated for two days in joint practices, the Baltimore Ravens scored more points than the Minnesota Vikings in Preseason Game #2. 13-3.

The Vikings had a couple opportunities to score touchdowns. In the first quarter, J.J. McCarthy missed a wide open Myles Price for a touchdown. In the fourth quarter, Max Brosmer threw an interception in the red zone. In between, there was a lot of preseason-level play. 

For me the highlight play of this preseason game was probably nose tackle Domonique Orange dropping in coverage and deflecting a pass about ten yards downfield. It was that sort of game. 

I like watching this Brian Flores-choreographed Vikings defense. Even if it’s backups against backups, this defense is fun. Even when they give up some plays, the players are so close to preventing that play. From starters to deep backups, they are competing. This is a fun defense. I can not wait to see it when the games count. 

The Vikings defense was fun. The Vikings offense had some moments but couldn’t string enough of those moments together. Most disappointing was the run game. Rookie Demond Claiborne had first half opportunities but found little running room. Zavier Scott had the second half had and the best runs of the game. With starting quarterback Kyler Murray sitting the rest of preseason, J.J. McCarthy, Carson Wentz, and Max Brosmer each had some game-impacting plays. None could maintain any offensive momentum.

The best of the Vikings offense was receivers Tai Felton, Dillon Bell, and Jeshaun Jones. Each had over 50 yards receiving. The Vikings decision-makers will have some tough receiver decisions to make when it comes to trimming the roster. 

A loss is a loss but this loss to the Ravens was one of those preseason games that didn’t really feel like a loss. It was just a preseason game. The quarterbacks missed some throws but 300 yards in a preseason game filled with backups is decent offensive production. The defense, as usual, was fun. The single Vikings touchdown allowed felt like a fluke. 

The Vikings wrap up the preseason next week at the Denver Broncos. 

Players I’m Watching

After two days of hosting joint practices, the Minnesota Vikings are hosting the Baltimore Ravens today in Preseason Game #2. It’d be nice if the starters of both teams would get a series, or two. Unfortunately, those players saw their action of the week in the joint practices. As is the way in the current NFL, it’s the backups that see the bulk of the action in preseason games. So, here are some of the Vikings players I’m watching today against the Ravens. 

Offense:

Demond Claiborne, RB

After being a bit slowed by an injury earlier in camp, the rookie sixth-round pick is really starting to flash the reason the Vikings traded up, albeit in the sixth round, to secure him. That speed. Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason will get most of the carries. I believe that Demond Claiborne will play his way into some of those carries.

The Receivers

Myles Price

Tai Felton

Dontae Fleming

Jeshaun Jones

Dillon Bell

The Vikings trio at the top of Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and Jauan Jennings is the best in the league. Tai Felton and Myles Price have been terrific in training camp and have probably secured roster spots. They should get some opportunities today. Dontae Fleming, Jeshaun Jones, and Dillon Bell are doing all they can to force the Vikings to keep six receivers. 

Gavin Bartholomew, TE

As a sixth round pick last year, Gavin Bartholomew missed his rookie season with a back injury. He’s been a training camp standout. Hopefully, he continues the strong play today.

The Defensive Line

The Vikings defensive line is a fun group. I doubt that Jalen Redmond plays today. I’m not sure about Levi Drake Rodriguez. It might take tranquilizers to keep him off the field. Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins probably makes an appearance. The rest should play. I’m especially excited to see top picks Caleb Banks and Domonique Orange. 

Jake Golday, LB

Drafted in the second round, Jake Golday has a lot on his plate as an off-the-ball linebacker and as an edge rusher. I hope he plays enough to see all of it.

Bengally Kamara, LB

An undrafted rookie, Bengally Kamara played well last week against the New York Giants. That opened some eyes. He has another chance to impress today.

Chuck Demmings, CB

I’m always excited to see Chuck Demmings.

The Thomas’

Jakobe Thomas, S

Jacob Thomas, S

Jakobe Thomas was drafted in the third round to be an early contributor. He’s missed training camp time with an injury. That injury and the horrible injury to Jamal Adams in the Giants game gave undrafted rookie Jacob Thomas extra opportunities. He was impressing even before those opportunities. I can easily see a future Vikings safety tandem of Jakobe Thomas and Jacob Thomas. That would be fun. 

To be honest, making a list of “Players I’m Watching” in Vikings preseason is silly. I’m watching all of the players. But, that above are players I am very excited to watch. 

Minnesota Vikings 2026 Starters?

Nearly all of the offseason attention surrounding the Minnesota Vikings revolved around the quarterback position. Incumbent J.J. McCarthy and newcomer Kyler Murray competed for the job through offseason workouts and the start of training camp. While most national and local talking heads and many fans had Murray as the quarterback from the moment he signed in March, it wasn’t official-official until head coach Kevin O’Connell announced last week that Murray as the Vikings starter moving forward. While quarterback was the Vikings biggest starter question, there were, and are, a few others. Here are some thoughts on my projected Vikings starters. 

Minnesota Vikings 2026 Starters?

Offense

WR	Justin Jefferson
TE	T.J. Hockenson
LT	Christian Darrisaw
LG	Donovan Jackson
C	Blake Brandel
RG	Will Fries
RT	Brian O’Neill
WR	Jordan Addison
QB	Kyler Murray
RB	Aaron Jones
FB	Max Bredeson
WR3	Jauan Jennings

Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison are one of the best receiver duos in the league. The offseason addition of Jauan Jennings gives the Vikings the best receiver trio in the league. Perhaps one of the surprises of training camp has been the emergence of receivers Tai Felton and Myles Price. Trimming the receiver group is going to be challenging. The play of Jeshaun Jones, Dontae Fleming, and Dillon Bell might even make it painful. Since Justin Jefferson’s arrival in 2020, the Vikings have had a top-heavy receiver group. Now, it looks like they have a deep group. Jefferson, Addison, and Jennings are the clear starters but Felton, Price, and perhaps one more could see considerable playing time. 

After the big quarterback decision, center Blake Brandel is the biggest question of the Vikings offense. Injuries forced him to fill in at center last season. He held up and prompted the possibility of him being more than a fill-in at the position. It was considered such a possibility that the Vikings didn’t address the position in free agency or early in the draft. Center was Brandel’s position. Some snapping misfires in training camp has brought some concern, Being an optimistic sort, I believe that the snapping issues will be settled, hopefully erased entirely. 

Defense

DE	Jalen Redmond
NT	Domonique Orange
DE	Caleb Banks
OLB	Dallas Turner
LB	Blake Cashman
LB	Eric Wilson
OLB	Andrew Van Ginkel
CB	Byron Murphy Jr.
CB	Isaiah Rodgers
S	Joshua Metellus
S	Jay Ward

Receiver will always be my favorite position group. Since the 1970s, the Vikings defensive line has often been my next favorite. That is definitely the case now. The Vikings current defensive line group is going to be fun. It was an interesting group even before the Vikings selected Caleb Banks in the first round and Domonique Orange in the third round. Before those Day 1 and Day 2 picks, the group was entirely made up by late-round picks and undrafted free agents. Jalen Redmond is one of those undrafted players and emerged last season as a an impact player. He’s only getting better. Redmond, 2024 seventh-rounder Levi Drake Rodriguez, and 2025 fifth-rounder Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins currently project as the starters over Banks and Orange. It’s only a matter of time for the rookies. Most importantly, the Vikings have the makings of a fine defensive line rotation. 

Jalen Redmond

Domonique Orange

Caleb Banks

Levi Drake Rodriguez

Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins

Elijah Williams

That’s a deep defensive line group with a variety of skills.

The other group with intrigue as a result surprising depth is safety. Joshua Metellus and Jay Ward currently project as the starters. Theo Jackson, and rookies Jakobe Thomas and Jacob Thomas will make it interesting. The depth will provide defensive coordinator Brian Flores and secondary coach Gerald Alexander options at the back of the Vikings defense. 

Despite adding a new starting quarterback, this didn’t feel like an active offseason for the Vikings. It’s still early but many of the roster decisions that were made appear to be wise decisions. The overall depth of the team is improved. That’s resulted in an improved group of projected starters. As long as Blake Brandel settles those snapping issues. 

Throwback Thursday: The Pennsylvania Switcheroo

Here's a Throwback to a Flicker originally posted on February 21, 2011. It's about the "moving" early days of the Philadelphia Eagles and Pittsburgh Steelers. For some reason this little NFL franchise tale has been on my mind. 

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As my interest in football, and its history, has grown over the years, I've found many fascinating little nuggets. Some of the most fascinating involve the paths franchises have taken to form the league we know today. The paths taken by the Philadelphia Eagles and Pittsburgh Steelers may be the most fascinating of all.

The Steelers, called the Pirates initially, and the Eagles started innocently enough in 1933. That innocence would be shattered 8 years later. In the first 2 decades of the NFL's existence, all teams struggled. All teams carried financial concerns. Most teams had performance concerns. The Eagles and the Steelers/Pirates had both. With their decades-long recent success, it may be difficult to think of the Steelers as a struggling team. The first 40 years were pretty much the exact opposite of the last 55. Pirates owner, Art Rooney, had reportedly lost as much as $150,000 over the first 8 years. Perhaps the name was the problem. To hopefully inspire a public connection to the team, Rooney changed his team's name to the Steelers in 1940. The Eagles weren't doing much better as the '40s opened. deBenneville (let's call him Bert) Bell was a rich kid with a passion for football. In owning the Eagles, he satisfied the latter at the expense of his father's money. Bert Bell was to become such an important figure in the league's history that it's a bit surprising how close he was to losing it all.  Even in those tough, naive early days, Bell made an impact on the league as the players selection draft was his idea.

As Bell and Rooney were facing difficult choices, Alexis Thompson wanted a piece of the football game. Thompson, ironically, was the heir to the Republic Steel Corporation fortune. Preferring Philadelphia to Pittsburgh, Thompson first tried to buy the Eagles. Bell passed. So, Thompson tried the Steelers. Rooney was reluctant. Somewhere, somehow, Bell got the idea of Rooney selling the Steelers and then using that money to buy a half-ownership of the Eagles. According to Rooney, "Bell did all the dickering." Thompson bought the Steelers for about $160,000. Rooney then bought a 50% share of the Eagles for $80,000. Everything seemed fine. However, 4 months later, Thompson had not opened offices in Pittsburgh. It didn't seem that Thompson cared much for doing business in Pittsburgh. Fearful of his hometown losing its football team, Rooney proposed what his son, Dan, referred to as a "switcheroo." Rooney/Bell would trade the Eagles to Thompson for the Steelers. It was more a switch of cities than teams. No cash or other considerations were involved.  Thompson clearly preferred Philadelphia over Pittsburgh. Rooney and Bell actually picked their "favorite" players from the 2 teams to form the new Steelers team. Roughly half of each team switched to the other. Both reconfigured teams struggled in their first season, 1941, with the Steelers finishing 1-9-1 and the Eagles finishing 2-8-1. The Eagles won and tied in the match-ups of the 2 teams. The Steelers managed the first winning season in franchise history the following year as they finished with a 7-4 record in 1942. The Eagles stumbled to a 2-9 record. WWII jumbled the rosters and the league. The financial and player demands of the War years forced the Eagles and Steelers to join forces and form one team in 1943, the Philadelphia-Pittsburgh Steagles. Better days were on the way. By the end of the decade, the Eagles were a powerhouse, winning championships in '48 and '49. For the Steelers the winning, a lot of winning, was still about thirty years away.

Franchise movement and changes were fairly common in the first few decades of the league.  In my opinion, none was as crazy as the "switcheroo" of the Steelers and Eagles. The current Colts' franchise history is kind of wacky, but that's for another day.  NFL franchises are tracked kind of like pink slips.  Franchises are sold to another owner or back to the league (It's been quite a while since this has happened.), but the franchise can be tracked through different cities or incarnations. With that in mind, the team that we now know as the Pittsburgh Steelers, winners of 6 Super Bowls, was the Philadelphia Eagles from 1933-1940. The team that we now know as the Philadelphia Eagles was once the Pittsburgh Pirates/Steelers. Fascinating stuff.

Another Minnesota Vikings 53-Man Roster Projection

The Minnesota Vikings played their preseason game on Saturday. A 13-10 win over the New York Giants on the shit surface of MetLife Stadium. The Vikings have joint practices with the Baltimore Ravens today and tomorrow at spectacular TCO Performance Center. Training camp and the preseason are moving right along. It’s a fine time to take a swing at another Vikings 53-man roster projection. This is the first one that doesn’t include the hoped-for return of safety Harrison Smith. When I was convinced that he was returning for his 15th season, I was certain that it would be at the start of training camp. I simply didn’t see him as one to stroll back to the teams after all the “hard” work is done. If he was coming back, it would be for all of it. While I still hope/believe that he returns, I don’t have Smith as part of this roster projection. 

Another Minnesota Vikings 53-man Roster Projection

Offense (25)

Quarterback (3)

Kyler Murray

J.J. McCarthy

Carson Wentz

Running Back (3)

Aaron Jones

Jordan Mason

Demond Claiborne

Not including Zavier Scott is difficult. 

Fullback (1)

Max Bredeson

Wide Receiver (6)

Justin Jefferson

Jordan Addison

Jauan Jennings

Tai Felton

Myles Price

Jeshaun Jones

Tight End (3)

T.J. Hockenson

Josh Oliver

Gavin Bartholomew

Offensive Line (9)

Christian Darrisaw

Donovan Jackson

Blake Brandel

Will Fries

Brian O’Neill

Ryan Van Demark

Caleb Tiernan

Michael Jurgens

Joe Huber

Defense (25)

Defensive Line (6)

Jalen Redmond

Levi Drake Rodriguez

Caleb Banks

Domonique Orange

Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins

Elijah Williams

After receiver, this might be my favorite position group on the team. 

Outside Linebacker (4)

Andrew Van Ginkel

Dallas Turner

Bo Richter

Chaz Chambliss

Many pundits still believe the Vikings will supplement the outside linebacker group with a veteran free agent. I’m beginning to believe that Brian Flores will dip into the linebacker group to support outside linebacker starters Andrew Van Ginkel and Dallas Turner. Eric Wilson and rookie Jake Golday will play some on the edge. Versatile defensive lineman Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins may also factor into the edge rotation. 

Linebacker (4)

Blake Cashman

Eric Wilson

Ivan Pace Jr.

Jake Golday

Cornerback (4)

Byron Murphy Jr.

Isaiah Rodgers

Chuck Demmings

James Pierre

Safety (6)

Harrison Smith

Josh Metellus

Jay Ward

Theo Jackson

Jakobe Thomas

Tavierre Thomas

Jacob Thomas

Special Teams (3)

Kicker (1)

Will Reichard

Punter (1)

Johnny Hekker

Until I’m convinced that undrafted rookie Brett Thorson can consistently snap the ball, I’m going with Johnny Hekker. 

Long Snapper (1)

Andrew DePaola

Minnesota Vikings Training Camp Roster

The Minnesota Vikings have made some tweaks to the roster this week. A couple days before the start of training camp, the Vikings signed veteran safety/linebacker Jamal Adams. A experienced, versatile defender such as Adams could thrive in a defense crafted by defensive coordinator Brian Flores. In only a couple of weeks Adams was thriving. He projected to be a key contributor this season. Well, it all came to an end in Saturday’s preseason game against the New York Giants as Adams suffered a torn right quadriceps tendon. It was a non-contact injury on the shit surface of MetLife Stadium. His first season with the Vikings is over before it started. Roster tweaks during training camp are done for a variety of reasons. Roster tweaks due to an injury are always the worst possible reason. 

Vikings roster tweaks:

Placed Jamal Adams on injured reserve 

Signed CB Bryce Phillips

Signed OLB Kenny Dyson

Waived OLB Arden Walker

Bryce Phillips is an undrafted rookie out of San Diego State. He signed with the Kansas City Chiefs following the draft but was recently waived. Kenny Dyson signed with the Carolina Panthers after going undrafted in the 2024 NFL Draft. He spent his rookie season on the Panthers practice squad. He was waived after the 2025 NFL Draft and. didn’t sign with any NFL club during the season. Dyson played for the UFL’s Houston Gamblers in the spring. 

Here’s a look at the Vikings roster following these tweaks. 

Minnesota Vikings Training Camp Roster (91)

Offense (44)

Quarterbacks (4)

Kyler Murray

J.J. McCarthy

Carson Wentz

Max Brosmer

Running Backs (6)

Aaron Jones

Jordan Mason

Zavier Scott

Demond Claiborne

Jermar Jefferson

Max Bredeson - fullback

Receivers (12)

Justin Jefferson

Jordan Addison

Jauan Jennings

Tai Felton

Myles Price

Jeshaun Jones

Dontae Fleming

Dillon Bell

Marcus Sanders Jr.

Terrill Davis

Michael Briscoe

Trayvon Rudolph

Tight Ends (6)

T.J. Hockenson

Josh Oliver

Gavin Bartholomew

Ben Yurosek

Bryson Nesbit

Marshall Lang

Tackles (6)

Christian Darrisaw

Brian O’Neill

Ryan Van Demark

Walter Rouse

Caleb Tiernan

Triston Leigh

Guards (5)

Donovan Jackson

Will Fries

Joe Huber

Henry Byrd

Tomas Rimac

Centers (5)

Blake Brandel

Michael Jurgens

Vershon Lee

Gavin Gerhardt

Delby Lemieux

Defense (43)

Defensive Line (11)

Jalen Redmond

Levi Drake Rodriguez

Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins

Elijah Williams

Taki Taimani

Caleb Banks

Domonique Orange

Eric Johnson II

Isaiahh Loudermilk

Smith Vilbert

Jahrvee Ritzie

Outside Linebackers (7)

Andrew Van Ginkel

Dallas Turner

Bo Richter

Tyler Batty

Chaz Chambliss

Cam’Ron Stewart

Kenny Dyson

Inside Linebackers (7)

Blake Cashman

Eric Wilson

Ivan Pace Jr.

Jake Golday

Josh Ross

Jacob Roberts

Bangally Kamara

Cornerbacks (11)

Byron Murphy Jr.

Isaiah Rodgers

James Pierre

Zemaiah Vaughn

Dwight McGlothern

Chuck Demmings

Marcus Allen

Da’Veawn Armstead

Tyreek Chappell

Jarod Washington

Bryce Phillips

Safeties (7)

Joshua Metellus

Theo Jackson

Jay Ward

Tavierre Thomas

Kahlef Hailassie 

Jakobe Thomas

Jacob Thomas

Special Teams (4)

Kicker

Will Reichard

Punter

Johnny Hekker

Brett Thorson

Long Snapper

Andrew DePaola

NFL Top 100

The countdown of the NFL Top 100 continues. Since the release has been so quiet, it’s easy to miss. As of Monday, the quiet release is through 21.

NFL Top 100 Players of 2026

100. Cameron Jordan, DE, New Orleans Saints

  99. Quenton Nelson, G, Indianapolis Colts

  98. Bryce Young, QB, Carolina Panthers 

  97. Ernest Jones, LB, Seattle Seahawks 

  96. Travis Etienne, RB, New Orleans Saints

  95. Demario Davis, LB, New York Jets

  94. Creed Humphrey, C, Kansas City Chiefs

  93. Carson Schwesinger, LB, Cleveland Browns 

  92. Azeez Al-Shaair, LB, Houston Texans

  91. Montez Sweat, DE, Chicago Bears 

  90. Derrick Brown, DL, Carolina Panthers 

  89. Kyren Williams, RB, Los Angeles Rams 

  88. Jack Campbell, LB, Detroit Lions

  87. Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Carolina Panthers

  86. Tuli Tuipulotu, Edge, Los Angeles Chargers

  85. Brock Purdy, QB, San Francisco 49ers 

  84. Byron Young, Edge, Los Angeles Rams 

  83. Jeffery Simmons, DT, Tennessee Titans 

  82. Jalen Ramsey, CB, Pittsburgh Steelers 

  81. Bobby Wagner, LB, Washington Commanders

  80. A.J. Brown, WR, New England Patriots 

  79. Travis Kelce, TE, Kansas City Chiefs 

  77. Baker Mayfield, QB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

  76. Jaycee Horn, CB, Carolina Panthers

  75. Budda Baker, Arizona Cardinals

  74. Josh Jacobs, RB, Green Bay Packers

  73. Zach Allen, DL, Denver Broncos

  72. Jordan Love, QB, Green Bay Packers

  71. Zay Flowers, WR, Baltimore Ravens

  70. Xavier McKinney, S, Green Bay Packers

  69. Lamar Jackson, QB, Baltimore Ravens

  68. Courtland Sutton, WR, Denver Broncos

  67. Jordyn Brooks, LB, Miami Dolphins

  66. Drake London, WR, Atlanta Falcons

  65. Roquan Smith, LB, Baltimore Ravens

  64. Chris Olave, WR, New Orleans Saints

  63. Kyle Hamilton, S, Baltimore Ravens

  62. Trevor Lawrence, QB, Jacksonville Jaguars

  61. Kevin Byard, S, New England Patriots

  60. Brock Bowers, TE, Las Vegas Raiders

  59. Bo Nix, QB, Denver Broncos

  58. Nico Collins, WR, Houston Texans

  57. Dion Dawkins, OT, Buffalo Bills

  56. Jalen Hurts, QB, Philadelphia Eagles

  55. CeeDee Lamb, WR, Dallas Cowboys

  54. Fred Warner, LB, San Francisco 49ers

  53. Davante Adams, WR, Los Angeles Rams

  52. Tristan Wirfs, OT, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

  51. Caleb Williams, QB, Chicago Bears

  50. Derwin James, S, Los Angeles Chargers

  49. Joe Thuney, G, Chicago Bears

  48. Josh Hines-Allen, DE, Jacksonville Jaguars

  47. Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Philadelphia Eagles 

  46. George Kittle, TE, San Francisco 49ers

  45. Zack Baun, LB, Philadelphia Eagles

  44. Joe Burrow, QB, Cincinnati Bengals

  43. Chris Jones, DL, Kansas City Chiefs

  42. Garrett Bolles, OT, Denver Broncos

  41. T.J. Watt, OLB, Pittsburgh Steelers

  40. Trent Williams, OT, San Francisco 49ers 

  39. Justin Herbert, QB, Los Angeles Chargers

  38. Cooper DeJean, CB, Philadelphia Eagles

  37. Penei Sewell, OT, Detroit Lions

  36. George Pickens, WR, Dallas Cowboys

  35. Jared Verse, DE, Cleveland Browns

  34. Saquon Barkley, RB, Philadelphia Eagles 

  33. Jared Goff, QB, Detroit Lions

  32. Nic Bonitto, Edge, Denver Broncos

  31. Dak Prescott, QB, Dallas Cowboys

  30. Aidan Hutchinson, DE, Detroit Lions

  29. Jalen Carter, DT, Philadelphia Eagles 

  28. Christian Gonzalez, CB, New England Patriots

  27. Devin Lloyd, LB, Carolina Panthers

  26. De’Von Achane, RB, Miami Dolphins

  25. Derrick Stingley Jr., CB, Houston Texans

  24. Maxx Crosby, DE, Las Vegas Raiders

  23. Danielle Hunter, DE, Houston Texans

  22. Amon Ra-St.Brown, WR, Detroit Lions

  21. Sam Darnold, QB, Seattle Seahawks 

Sam Darnold at #21! This is the player’s list and the votes fall where they fall. I like Sam Darnold and his talent is much closer to this level than in the bust pile than many talking heads had placed him. However, any player that voted him at the top of their ballot really should take a look at his Week 13 game against the Minnesota Vikings. Darnold is a capable quarterback and a capable quarterback isn’t the #21 player in the league. 

There are ranking movement in the NFL Top 100 every year. Here are some of the biggest drops and jumps this year. 

Lamar Jackson - 67 spot drop

A.J. Brown - 51 spot drop

Fred Warner - 38 spot drop

Travis Kelce - 42 spot drop

Budda Baker - 41 spot drop

Josh Jacobs - 41 spot drop

Xavier McKinney - 40 spot drop

Joe Burrow - 38 spot drop

Jalen Hurts - 37 spot drop

Brock Bowers - 36 spot drop

Saquon Barkley - 33 spot drop

Chris Jones - 31 spot drop

T.J. Watt - 30 spot drop

Baker Mayfield - 27 spot drop

Nico Collins - 26 spot drop

Roquan Smith - 25 spot drop

Penei Sewell - 24 spot drop

Tristan Wirfs - 24 spot drop

CeeDee Lamb - 20 spot drop

On the flip-side, here are some of the players that jumped the most.

Christian Gonzalez - 56 spot jump

Sam Darnold - 51 spot jump

Dak Prescott - 48 spot jump

Drake London - 31 spot jump

Aidan Hutchinson - 25 spot jump

Cooper DeJean - 22 spot drop

Jared Verse - 18 spot drop

Josh Sweat - 17 spot jump

Zach Allen - 17 spot jump

Josh Hines-Allen - 17 spot drop

Congratulations to the jumpers. Condolences to the droppers. 

The NFL Top 100 will quietly continue this week. 

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