This time of year, 90 players fight for 53 spots on the Minnesota Vikings roster. Who will make the cut? Here is an early projection of who makes the team!
While fans are anxiously awaiting the start of the 2018 NFL season, teams like the Minnesota Vikings are hard at work assembling the most talented players they can to compete during training camp and the preseason.
The goal of getting the best possible personnel in camp is not only to get excellent players on the roster but to push those players to be best that they can be. The competition makes everyone better and allows the cream of the crop to rise to the top.
Still, a lot of fun can be found in trying to guess which players from the team’s 90-man roster will make the 53 man roster. Despite it being extremely early and the Vikings will likely make several transactions before the start of the season, a projection was made based on the players currently in camp.
Let’s take a look at a projected 53-man roster for the Minnesota Vikings 2018 NFL season starting with the offense and the guys who will be throwing the football for the team!
Quarterbacks (3)
- Kirk Cousins
- Trevor Siemian
- Kyle Sloter
Every year, Vikings fans seem to wonder if this will be the season the team rolls with only two quarterbacks on their 53-man roster. However, that year has yet to come since Minnesota has stuck to keeping three on their roster.
Cousins is the clear-cut starter. After signing a massive fully guaranteed contract, the Minnesota Vikings have landed their man for the next three years and traded for Siemian to be the backup to Cousins just in case of emergency.
Meanwhile, Sloter gets the nod at QB3 since they just see too much potential in the quarterback to risk his position on the practice squad. For that reason, he will be a lock to make the roster as well.
Running backs (4)
Cook should be ready to roll by the time the regular season rolls around. He was impressive before his injury last season, giving hope that he can return to that kind of form during the team’s 2018 NFL campaign.
Taking a pay cut to stay with the team, Murray did an admirable job holding down ship after Cook went down. He should be a great, bruising complement to the elusiveness of the team’s starting rusher.
Mack Brown will need to beat out undrafted free agent Roc Thomas to earn the RB3 spot, but that should happen. Brown has some great tape from his preseason appearances as well as familiarity with Kirk Cousins that should give him the nod.
Duluth, Minnesota native C.J. Ham will return as the team’s fullback to block and maybe carry the ball in some short yardage situations. With no real competition in camp, he’s got a pretty clear track to the 53.
Wide receivers (5)
The duo of Adam Thielen and Stefon Diggs will return to the Vikings as starters after having a very successful 2017. Thielen had over 1,000 yards last season and Diggs continues to make big plays and be explosive any time the ball is in his hands.
An offseason acquisition, Kendall Wright takes the spot of Jarius Wright on the roster. He was the leading receiver for the Bears last season and could provide a spark out of the slot when his number is called upon.
Meanwhile, expectations should be high for former first-round draft pick Laquon Treadwell, who could be running out of time to prove his worth on the Minnesota Vikings roster. 21 catches in 25 games played isn’t going to secure your future, but he’s at least got another shot to show he can ball.
Finally, there will be at least one other slot up for grabs. It could be Stacy Coley. It could be Brandon Zylstra. Heck, it might be Cayleb Jones. But I went with the experience and special teams ability of Coley in my mock 53.
Tight Ends (4)
- Kyle Rudolph
- David Morgan
- Tyler Conklin
- Blake Bell
Eight touchdown catches last season is all the evidence needed to know that Kyle Rudolph is one of the top receiving options for the Vikings. He also enters a season with a quarterback in Kirk Cousins who loves throwing to his tight ends.
David Morgan is a solid blocker who has sneaky good hands. He’ll see more action in blocking sets but will see some passes thrown his way as well. Meanwhile, Conklin was drafted to catch passes for Minnesota and will see the field in sets with multiple pass catchers.
Keeping an extra tight end allows Minnesota to use these big-bodied pass catchers instead of carrying a sixth wide receiver and lets the Vikings keep Blake Bell on the roster to continue to excel on special teams.
Offensive Line (9)
- Riley Reiff
- Mike Remmers
- Rashod Hill
- Nick Easton
- Pat Elflein
- Brian O’Neill
- Danny Isadora
- Tom Compton
- Colby Gossett
This might be the hardest group to predict of them all. Much of the depth chart could hinge on what position Mike Remmers plays at during the season, but considering O’Neill will likely fill in whatever spot he doesn’t, I’ll just assume one is a tackle and one is a guard.
That said, Rashod Hill should be the backup if Remmers/O’Neill is ready to slide over to act as an emergency tackle. That allows the Minnesota Vikings to take several interior linemen on their roster past Pat Elflein and Nick Easton.
Isadora had a solid year filling in last year and Tom Compton has some starting experience where he looked good, particularly with Chicago. Colby Gossett was a bargain in the draft and will find time to develop at the bottom of the positional depth chart to earn his way up the ladder.
Defensive Line (9)
- Everson Griffen
- Danielle Hunter
- Brian Robison
- Linval Joseph
- Sheldon Richardson
- Jaleel Johnson
- Jalyn Holmes
- Stephen Weatherly
- Tashawn Bower
Hunter and Griffen will return as the bookends on the defensive line with Richardson and Joseph filling in the interior. This defensive line should be absolutely dominant on game day, and the depth behind them is amazing.
Veteran pass rusher Brian Robison will provide relief and versatility in packages while Holmes and Johnson do the same on the interior of the defensive line and continue to develop as they sit under two Pro Bowl players.
Meanwhile, Wetherly and Bower both show a lot of potential as pass rushers but will need to fend off Ade Aruna for a roster spot. Unless Aruna has an excellent preseason, he could be a lock for a spot on the Minnesota Vikings practice squad.
Linebackers (6)
- Anthony Barr
- Eric Kendricks
- Ben Gedeon
- Eric Wilson
- Devante Downs
- Reshard Cliett
- Kentrell Brothers (suspended)
If there is any spot that should really concern fans as to depth, it’s right here at linebacker. Kendricks and Barr are both good players who have locked down their spot in the defense, but Gedeon didn’t see the field that much last season and doesn’t have much competition for his spot.
Both Brothers and Wilson are great special teams players trying to find their footing on the team’s defense. It was a bit surprising not to see the Vikings get more depth and talent to compete for a spot this offseason, but there are hopes these two can make strides heading into 2018.
On the other hand. draft pick Downs and free agent pickup Cliett will be round out the depth chart as players with potential who will need to prove themselves to make the 53-man roster. They don’t have a lot of competition, so this will be their chance to shine.
(Note: Brothers will not count against the 53-man roster during his suspension)
Safeties (4)
Fans can dog on Andrew Sendejo all they want, but he’s a solid safety next to Harrison Smith. This safety duo is interesting in that they can provide coverage or pass rush depending on the call while staying stern in the run game.
During Sendjo’s suspension last year, Harris made some big plays and showed why he can be an asset on the field while both he and Kearse are good special teams players, especially on the coverage units.
The only question is whether or not Tray Matthews can impress the team enough to earn a spot on the roster this year, but the undrafted free agent likely won’t pass any of the four returning players on the depth chart.
Cornerbacks (6)
- Xavier Rhodes
- Trae Waynes
- Mackensie Alexander
- Mike Hughes
- Terence Newman
- Holton Hill
The Minnesota Vikings will stay consistent with cornerbacks Rhodes and Waynes returning to lock down the outsides. Rhodes is considered to be one of the best cornerbacks in the league and should see more development from his partner Waynes on the outside.
Alexander can go back to being on the outside while playing inside if needed thanks to the drafting of Mike Hughes. Finding a really good nickel corner was near the top of the Vikings priority list this season, and they used a first-round draft pick on a player who can be just that.
Newman should see his role decrease on the field while he turns 40 this season. Still, there is a lot of value in having him on the depth chart as well as the locker room to help young players like Alexander, Hughes, and Hill.
Hughes also could take the spot of Marcus Sherels on returns, meaning he will need to make the roster based on his other special teams contributions or show that he is a better corner than people think. It will be between him or young, talented defensive back Holton Hill for the final spot.
Specialists (3)
- Daniel Carlson
- Ryan Quigley
- Kevin McDermott
You don’t trade up and spend a fifth-round draft pick on a kicker to push your returning kicker during a competition in training camp. The writing will be on the wall for Kai Forbath this year while Carlson hopes to be a long-term answer at the position.
Quigley didn’t have a single touchback on punts during the regular season and gave Minnesota some great field position despite not having a big yardage on a per punt average. Their lack of competition for him shows their faith in his ability.
Minnesota recently released their competition for McDermott, clearing the path for him to be the team’s long snapper once again. Having a trio of specialists who can return year after year can be a real stress of a team, since finding a cohesive unit can be a bit of a chore in the league lately.
Between Carlson’s big leg and accuracy on kicks, McDermott’s consistency, and Quigley’s touch on punts, this has the potential to be one of the most solid special teams groupings in the league where each is young enough to be around for years.
Next: Way too early Vikings 2018 record prediction
Which changes would you make to this projected 53-man roster of the Minnesota Vikings? And is there an under-the-radar player who you feel will unseat one of the returning players for a spot? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below!