Vikings 53-man roster predictions heading into 2023 training camp

Safeties (4)

• Harrison Smith
• Lewis Cine
• Cam Bynum
• Josh Metellus

Harrison Smith is starting. That is obvious. What isn't obvious is who lines up next to him. The Vikings passed on Kyle Hamilton in favor of trading back and selecting Lewis Cine in the 2022 draft.

Early indications are that passing on Hamilton, trading back, and taking Cine was a bad move, but it is still too early to tell. Cine not being able to beat out Cam Bynum to start 2022 or Josh Metellus in week three against Detroit is what is worrisome.

Cam Byum has shown that he is not a difference-maker but more of a placeholder alongside Harrison Smith. Josh Metellus seems poised to play a number of different roles in this defense, leaving Bynum and Cine vying for the starting free safety spot.

If Bynum is starting Week 1, the faint rumblings of Cine being a "bust" will start to get louder.

Specialist (3)

• Greg Joseph (K)
• Ryan Wright (P)
• Andrew DePaola (LS)

The only competition in the specialist room is that of Greg Joseph and undrafted rookie Jack Podlesny and the word "competition" is somewhat of a stretch. Podlesny is a camp leg who most likely ends up on the practice squad until another team is in need of a kicker or if Joseph reverts back to his 2021 form.