Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson (18) signals first down after a catch against the Chicago Bears in the first quarter of an NFL game at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on Sunday, Dec. 20, 2020. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)
The following is authored by Wesley Johnson and Dustin Baker.
The Minnesota Vikings will pare down the 2021 roster to 53-men on Tuesday. The solidification of the final roster occurs after a robust offseason, featuring the additions of Patrick Peterson, Dalvin Tomlinson, Bashaud Breeland, Sheldon Richardson, Dede Westbrook, and others.
Those additions subtract some players that made the cut in 2020, a season when the Vikings underwhelmed with a 7-9 win-loss record.
This task is a tricky one, but this is the official roster projection by VikingsTerritory.
(Also note: Many of the players cut will end up on the practice squad.)
QB1: Kirk Cousins
QB2: Kellen Mond
Cut: Jake Browning, Nate Stanley
RB1: Dalvin Cook
RB2: Alexander Mattison
RB3: Ameer Abdullah
RB4: A.J. Rose Jr.
IR: Kene Nwangwu
FB1: C.J. Ham
Cut: Jake Bargas
WR1: Adam Thielen
WR2: Justin Jefferson
WR3: K.J. Osborn
WR4: Chad Beebe
WR5: Dede Westbrook
WR6: Ihmir Smith-Marsette
Cut: Dan Chisena, Whop Philyor, Myron Mitchell
TE1: Tyler Conklin
TE2: Brandon Dillon
TE3: Zach Davidson
IR: Irv Smith Jr. / Cut: Shane Zylstra
LT1: Rashod Hill
LT2: Christian Darrisaw
RT1: Brian O’Neill
RT2: Blake Brandel
Cut: Zack Bailey
C1: Garrett Bradbury
C2: Mason Cole
LG1: Ezra Cleveland
LG2: Dakota Dozier
Cut: Dru Samia, Kyle Hinton
RG1: Oli Udoh
RG2: Wyatt Davis
LDE1: Danielle Hunter
LDE2: Patrick Jones II
Cut: Jalyn Holmes, Hercules Mata’afa
RDE1: D.J. Wonnum
RDE2: Everson Griffen
RDE3: Stephen Weatherly
Cut: Kenny Willekes
NT1: Michael Pierce
NT2: Armon Watts
Cut: James Lynch
3DT1: Dalvin Tomlinson
3DT2: Sheldon Richardson
SLB1: Anthony Barr
SLB2: Ryan Connelly
Cut: Blake Lynch
MLB1: Eric Kendricks
MLB2: Troy Dye
Cut: Tuf Borland
WLB1: Nick Vigil
WLB2: Chazz Surratt
CB1: Patrick Peterson
CB2: Bashaud Breeland
CB3: Mackensie Alexander
CB4: Cameron Dantzler
CB5: Kris Boyd
CB6: Harrison Hand
Cut: Tye Smith, Parry Nickerson
S1: Harrison Smith
S2: Xavier Woods
S3: Camryn Bynum
Cut: Myles Dorn, Josh Metellus, Luther Kirk
K1: Greg Joseph
P1: Britton Colquitt
LS1: Andrew DePaola
View Comments
The consensus seems pretty close. A couple of changes that wouldn't surprise me:
Philyor - in, Beebe - PS
Willekes - in, AJ Rose - PS
Blake Lynch - in, Connelly - PS
James Lynch/Metellus in, Brandel - PS
I hope you are correct on Jalyn Holmes. There are guys I regard as symptoms on the roster. Shamar Stephen was one. Holmes is another. Until a "symptom" doesn't make the roster, I see an area that needs improving. Rashod Hill is another, even as a backup he needs to be replaced.
Hill is a competent swing tackle. He's got a place on the roster (especially this roster) but he's not a starter.
QB2 isn't on the roster.
They're not carrying 5 running backs and a FB. Rose to the PS.
Likewise, they won't carry 6 WRs. The Beebe experiment is over.
Danzler is not ahead of Boyd on the depth chart.
Willekes is not getting cut.
They'll carry 4 safeties. Dorn or Metellus stick.