Too early roster predictions
OK, the Vikings haven’t opened training camp yet. So projecting the 53-man roster is fraught with peril.
Let’s do it anyway.
Players report to TCO Performance Center this week, with the Sept. 13 season opener against the Green Bay Packers on the distant horizon.
By Aug. 30, NFL teams, most of whom will bring 90 players to camp, will have to trim rosters to 53.
There are surprises every year. Last summer, seven undrafted rookies earned a spot with the Vikings, including defensive tackle Elijah Williams, who went from a tryout player to being part of the youth movement that nudged 2024 team captain Harrison Phillips off the roster via trade.
Who emerges this time? Here’s an early look:
Quarterbacks (3)
Kyler Murray, J.J. McCarthy, Carson Wentz
Waived: Max Brosmer
Could McCarthy be QB 1, 2, or 3? The Vikings re-signed Wentz after he’d joined late last summer to be the backup. Wentz returns alongside another established NFL starter in Murray, whose reported no-tag clause in his one-year contract illustrates Murray’s expectations to not only win the starting job but play well enough to be coveted.
Coach Kevin O’Connell has talked about the quarterbacks needing to embrace any discomfort brought by this competition. McCarthy, 23, has to earn every snap he will get moving forward. Murray, 28, has already talked about the difficulty of splitting reps while learning the offense. They will need one of them to run with this opportunity.
Running backs (4)
Aaron Jones Sr., Jordan Mason, Demond Claiborne, Max Bredeson
Waived: Zavier Scott, Kejon Owens
Jones, 31, agreed to a roughly $4.4 million pay cut to stay with the Vikings, rejoining Mason in a backfield tandem that could be getting some playbook adjustments.
The backfield’s biggest addition might be assistant head coach Frank Smith, the ex-Dolphins offensive coordinator who O’Connell expects to help get more out of the rushing attack.
The top two roster additions are Bredeson, the fifth-round fullback, and Claiborne, the sixth-round running back who ran a 4.37 40-yard dash at the combine.
Fullback C.J. Ham retired this offseason after a 10-year career. Scott, entering his third Vikings season, could again make a strong push for a spot after earning one last training camp.
STRIB
Hurry-up Vikings, we ain't getting any younger!
Wide receivers (5)
Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, Jauan Jennings, Tai Felton, Myles Price
Waived: Jeshaun Jones, Dillon Bell, Michael Briscoe, Terrill Davis, Dontae Fleming, Trayvon Rudolph, Marcus Sanders Jr., Luke Wysong
Jefferson and Addison form one of the most talented WR duos in football. Jennings replaces Jalen Nailor, who signed with the Raiders in free agency, as an upgraded No. 3 option with run-blocking prowess.
The top question is: Can they get a quarterback to throw them the ball? Of the 37 qualified quarterbacks, McCarthy (59.7%) and Wentz (62.1%) had the worst on-target percentages to receivers in the league, per Sports Info Solutions; Tennessee Titans rookie Cam Ward tied Wentz at 62.1%.
Bell, the undrafted receiver out of Georgia, could push for a spot after the Vikings prioritized signing him (for $272,500 guaranteed) and he impressed onlookers in the offseason program.
Tight ends (3)
T.J. Hockenson, Josh Oliver, Ben Yurosek
Waived: Gavin Bartholomew, Bryson Nesbit, Marshall Lang
It’ll be interesting to see what Bartholomew, the 2025 sixth-round pick, can do after missing much of his rookie season to a back injury. But the current projection here is Yurosek, one of the undrafted free agents who made the 2025 team, will stick again after seeing 10-plus snaps on offense in at least one game each month.
Hockenson, 29, took a $5.75 million pay cut to stay with the Vikings. He can now earn $10.25 million (mostly guaranteed). The reworked deal makes him a free agent next spring.
Hurry-up Vikings, we ain't getting any younger!
Offensive linemen (10)
T Christian Darrisaw, G Donovan Jackson, C Blake Brandel, G Will Fries, T Brian O’Neill, T Ryan Van Demark, C Michael Jurgens, G Joe Huber, T Caleb Tiernan, C Gavin Gerhardt
Waived: T Walter Rouse, G/C Vershon Lee, G/C Henry Byrd, OL Tomas Rimac, OL Tristan Leigh, OL Delby Lemieux
The writing has been on the wall for Rouse, a 2024 sixth-round pick, as the Vikings signed Van Demark in free agency and drafted Tiernan in the third round. Coaches and evaluators talked about not investing enough at offensive tackle after Darrisaw’s knee problems lingered last year.
Last year’s No. 3 tackle, Justin Skule, is gone, and Rouse might have to land on the practice squad. Brandel takes over at center after Ryan Kelly’s retirement. Jurgens returns for Year 3, now joined by Gerhardt, a seventh-round draft pick out of Cincinnati.
More is expected from Fries in his second Vikings season after he signed a five-year, $88 million deal about 16 months ago. O’Neill, 30, is likely headed for another payday, as the longest-tenured Viking seeks a new deal.
Defensive linemen (11)
OLB Andrew Van Ginkel, OLB Dallas Turner, OLB Bo Richter, OLB Tyler Batty, OLB Chaz Chambliss, DT Jalen Redmond, DT Caleb Banks, DT Levi Drake Rodriguez, DT Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins, DT Domonique Orange, DT Elijah Williams
Waived: DT Taki Taimani, DT Eric Johnson II, DT Isaiahh Loudermilk, DT Jahvaree Ritzie, DT Smith Vilbert, OLB Cam’Ron Stewart, OLB Arden Walker
A healthy Van Ginkel, who dealt with neck and concussion issues last season, and an emerging Turner are what the Vikings are banking on in lieu of a veteran edge rusher addition before Week 1.
Adding help is possible even as coaches have spoken highly of Richter, Batty and Chambliss to varying degrees in their young careers. The D-line approach bets heavy on youth.
During the past 12 months, the Vikings have traded or cut Jonathan Greenard, Harrison Phillips, Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave. Their most experienced defensive tackle, Redmond, has played 1,001 NFL snaps over two seasons.
Hurry-up Vikings, we ain't getting any younger!
Inside linebackers (4)
Blake Cashman, Eric Wilson, Ivan Pace Jr., Jake Golday
Waived: Bangally Kamara, Keli Lawson, Jacob Roberts, Josh Ross
The Vikings invested at inside linebacker this offseason by rewarding Wilson with a three-year, $22.5 million contract extension and drafting Golday with a second-round pick (51st overall) out of Cincinnati. Those moves came as both Cashman and Pace enter contract years.
Defensive backs (10)
CB Byron Murphy Jr., CB Isaiah Rodgers, CB James Pierre, CB Charles Demmings, S Josh Metellus, S Jay Ward, S Theo Jackson, S Jakobe Thomas, S Tavierre Thomas, S/CB Kahlef Hailassie
Waived: CB Zemaiah Vaughn, CB Dwight McGlothern, CB Marcus Allen, CB Tyreek Chappell, CB Da’Veawn Armstead, S Jacob Thomas
Will a fifth cornerback emerge to grab a roster spot? Or will safety Harrison Smith or another free agent become the 25th member of the defense? The Vikings only kept four corners on last year’s initial 53, and this early projection has them doing so again.
For now, Hailassie gets the nod as a versatile corner-turned-safety.
Specialists (3)
K Will Reichard, P Johnny Hekker, LS Andrew DePaola
International program: P Brett Thorson
The only change comes at punter: the 36-year-old Hekker replaces an in-his-prime Ryan Wright, who got paid by the New Orleans Saints in free agency. Can the offense and defense be solid enough for any drop off to not matter? That appears to be the gamble.
Hurry-up Vikings, we ain't getting any younger!
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