Categories: 1.2 Analysis 1.3 Opinion General News Injuries Speculation
| On 11 years ago

Predicting The 53

By Adam Warwas

Last week, prior to training camp commencing, the fine folks at DraftSeason.com asked me to participate in a little exercise along with a handful of other fine blogs.  The mission was simple:  Predict what the 53-man roster will look like after final cuts are made.

I’m posting my predictions here, but the final results that include all of the various roster projections can be found by clicking here.

A few things about my projection will jump out at you:

  • I didn’t give wide out Greg Childs or Michael Mauti the benefit of the doubt regarding their injury status.  Keep in mind, this was written prior to Mauti being cleared for practice.  Regardless, I just couldn’t pretend to be a doctor, and had to leave them off the list until they prove that they are not only healthy enough to play in the NFL, but talented enough, too.  They are both guys I root for, but they didn’t make my pre-training camp roster.
  • Of the blogs polled, I was the only one to give the third running back spot to undrafted rookie Bradley Randle.  You all have known my desire for the Vikings to have a dynamic scat back longer than the world has known who Barack Obama is, but I think his true value lies on special teams.  He can produce a big hit, which has already been on display in Mankato, and just seems to have a lot more upside compared to his competition.
  • I was also the only blogger to dedicate a roster spot to cornerback Bobby Felder.  I was relieved when the Vikings managed to sneak him onto the practice squad last year, as I felt he had tremendous upside, and I think his year of practicing with the team will pay dividends as he faces off against the likes of Jacob Lacey and Brandon Burton.

Anyways, here is my final (okay, not really final, I bet) for what the roster will look like on opening day:

Quarterback: Christian Ponder, Matt Cassel, McLeod Bethel-Thompson
Running Back: Adrian Peterson, Toby Gerhart, Bradley Randle
Fullback: Jerome Felton
Tight End: Kyle Rudolph, Rhett Ellison, John Carlson
Wide Receiver: Greg Jennings, Cordarrelle Patterson, Jerome Simpson, Jarius Wright, Joe Webb, Rodney Smith
Offensive Line: Matt Kalil, Phil Loadholt, Demarcus Love, Joe Berger, Charlie Johnson, Brandon Fusco, Jeff Baca, John Sullivan

Defensive Line: Jared Allen, Brian Robison, Everson Griffen, Lawrence Jackson, Kevin Williams, Sharrif Floyd, Christian Ballard, Fred Evans, Letroy Guion
Linebacker: Chad Greenway, Erin Henderson, Desmond Biship, Audie Cole, Gerald Hodges, Larry Dean
Cornerback: Chris Cook, Xavier Rhodes, Josh Robinson, AJ Jefferson, Bobby Felder, Marcus Sherels
Safety: Harrison Smith, Jamarca Sanford, Mistral Raymond, Robert Blanton, Andrew Sendejo

Special Teams: Blair Walsh, Jeff Locke, Cullen Loeffler

Adam Warwas

Adam Warwas (Founder) has been writing about the Vikings for a total of eight years. Five of those years have been here at Vikings Territory where he continues to surround himself with enough talented individuals that people keep coming back. As proud as he is of what Vikings Territory has become, his real treasures are in his home... a beautiful wife and three amazing children (and a dog named Percy).

Tags: Bobby Felder bradley randle greg childs

View Comments

  • Can't they still put Childs on IR and stash him for a year, just to make sure he is healed?

  • Any chance the vikings go with 2 QB's being that they have Webb as an emergency QB? Some teams are going with 2 right off the bat, if we lose 2 in a game we still have Webb who as bad as he is, would still be able to play as well as most 3rd stringers.

  • Skol12,
    I agree with your thoughts on 2 roster QBs. That extra roster spot would be worth spending on bubble guys like Greg Childs or Mike Mauti.

    I like the Felder pick. Good size and speed. I also saw a report that he is being used in camp as a first team gunner on the punt team. Good news for Bobby!

    As for D Love, MBT and Bradley Randle... I will need to see them play well in preseason before I am willing to jump on board with those guys right now.

  • i can't see Matt Asiata not making the team. He is a coach's favorite and extremely versatile ( rb, fb, special teams). We do have rhett ellison as a potential back up fb but i think they trust asiata more.

    I really like the idea of a scat back but I feel its a luxury the vikings will not use. Im hoping patterson might get some touches like harvin but I kind of doubt it.

    I absolutely agree with SKOL about Webb, so I do not think MBT will get a spot. I also think Marvin Mitchell will get a spot.

    Great post, I love playing the role of GM.

  • Chris,
    Marvin Mitchell has been getting first team reps at WLB ahead of Desmond Bishop. That probably will not last much longer, but Mitchell is also on the first team kickoff return unit so far in the early part of camp. Maybe the Vikings like him or maybe they just want to get a good look at him one last time?

    Mitchell has NFL experience and will be a tough guy to cut. 128 tackles, 1 int, 6 forced fumbles and 2 sacks. Cutting any of the linebackers for that matter will not be easy for the coaches.