The Vikings Roster Is Down to 53 Players. Here’s What to Know
The Vikings, especially general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, had the arduous task of getting the roster down to 53 players.
Just two days ago, the roster had 80 players. It was the first time Adofo-Mensah had to decide to release the athletes. Of course, a lot will happen in the next few days. Waiver claims, free agent signings, and more trades are still about to happen. However, after a long and chaotic day, these are the current 53 Vikings for the 2022 season:
QB
- Kirk Cousins
- Nick Mullens
- Cut: Kellen Mond, Sean Mannion
The Vikings released Mond, the 2021 third-round pick, after just 16 months with the organization. The trade for Mullens ended his time in Minnesota.
RB
- Dalvin Cook
- Alexander Mattison
- Kene Nwangwu
- Ty Chandler
- C.J. Ham
- Cut: Bryant Koback
The Vikings keep five backs. Trade rumors were swirling around Mattison, but he is still a Viking. The purple team has one of the best RB rooms in the NFL. The best part is the different styles of players. While they don’t have a true power back, Mattison is a big body, while Chandler and Nwangwu are among the fastest players on the team. They also keep their talented fullback. Koback unfortunately, didn’t have a chance.
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WR
- Justin Jefferson
- Adam Thielen
- K.J. Osborn
- Ihmir Smith-Marsette
- Jalen Nailor
- Cut: Myron Mitchell, Trishton Jackson, Dan Chisena
The Vikings have a strong starting unit — Jefferson, Thielen, Osborn. Behind the three, ‘ISM’ and Nailor are unproven. Potentially a great unit, the Vikings could look to add another veteran backup to the mix. Jackson had a strong camp, and it would be great to get him on the practice squad.
TE
- Irv Smith Jr.
- Johnny Mundt
- Ben Ellefson
- Cut: Nick Muse, Zach Davidson
This group features a lot of blocking prowess but not many receiving threats. Smith staying healthy is absolutely critical to the 2022 Vikings, as the depth is not great. Davidson has insane potential, and the Vikings should try whatever they can to get him on the practice squad.
OT
- Christian Darrisaw
- Brian O’Neill
- Blake Brandel
- Oli Udoh
- Vederian Lowe
- Cut: Timon Parris
The Vikings have finally found a strong group of offensive tackles. Brandel outplayed Udoh and will be the top backup. Lowe made the roster after a strong preseason, while Parris had a bad game against the Broncos and was cut.
G/C
- Garrett Bradbury
- Ezra Cleveland
- Ed Ingram
- Austin Schlottmann
- Chris Reed
- Cut: Josh Sokol, Wyatt Davis, Kyle Hinton, Jesse Davis (trade)
Ingram has won the starting guard job. Therefore, Jesse Davis was expendable. The Vikings get his cap hit off the book and save $1.45 million. Bradbury is still the starter, but that could change in the upcoming days. It won’t be surprising if the Vikings add another center. Schlottmann and Reed had strong preseason games and are also center depth. Former third-rounder Wyatt Davis was cut after just one year. The unit is improved compared to recent years.
DL
- Dalvin Tomlinson
- Harrison Phillips
- Ross Blacklock (trade)
- James Lynch
- Jonathan Bullard
- Esezi Otomewo
- Cut: Armon Watts, Jaylen Twyman, T.J. Smith, T.Y. McGill (IR)
Armon Watts was the shocking cut of the Vikings. He was fully expected to start, and replacing him with Blacklock saved roughly $1 million cap space. Rookie Otomewo made the team, but 2021 rookie Twyman didn’t. James Lynch could be a player to watch, as someone has to step up without Watts.
EDGE
- Danielle Hunter
- Za’Darius Smith
- D.J. Wonnum
- Patrick Jones
- Luij Vilain
- Cut: Janarius Robinson, Zach McCloud
A strong starting group with Hunter and Smith, with backups Wonnum and Jones. The health of the two will be a big factor in the defense’s success. Undrafted rookie Vilain made the team — the only one. Robinson entered the preseason as a potential 2022 impact player but didn’t make the 53-man roster.
LB
- Eric Kendricks
- Jordan Hicks
- Brian Asamoah
- Troy Dye
- Cut: Chazz Surratt, Blake Lynch, William Kwenkeu
Kendricks and Hicks are reliable veteran presences on the team. Asamoah is a dynamic rookie backup. Dye made the team over Lynch, while Surratt’s cut is the third 2021 third-rounder who didn’t make the team.
CB
- Patrick Peterson
- Cameron Dantzler
- Chandon Sullivan
- Andrew Booth Jr.
- Akayleb Evans
- Kris Boyd
- Cut: Tye Smith, Parry Nickerson, Nate Hairston
The first five players were never in danger. Boyd, however, had to beat out the other players. None of Nickerson and Hairston made enough impact to make the roster as backup nickel backs. Smith is cut for the second time in as many weeks.
S
- Harrison Smith
- Camryn Bynum
- Lewis Cine
- Josh Metellus
- Cut: Myles Dorn, Mike Brown
Bynum is the favorite to start in Week 1 over first-rounder Cine. Metellus was able to hold off Dorn. The group will potentially play a lot of three safety sets, including the backup slot cornerback job.
Specialists
- Greg Joseph
- Ryan Wright
- Andrew DePaola
After the release of Jordan Berry last week, the three were set in stone. It’s potentially the best group the Vikings had in a while.
Janik Eckardt is a football fan who likes numbers and stats. The Vikings became his favorite team despite their quarterback at the time, Christian Ponder. He is a walking soccer encyclopedia, loves watching sitcoms, and Classic rock is his music genre of choice. Follow him on Twitter if you like the Vikings: @JanikEckardt
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