The 34 Players Absolutely Guaranteed a Spot on Vikings’ Roster

Theory on Harrison
Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports

The Minnesota Vikings will trim the 2024 roster from 91 players to 53 in 24 days. The team has until 3:00 pm CST on August 27th to make final decisions.

The 35 Players Absolutely Guaranteed a Spot on Vikings’ Roster

The next three weeks will involve Vikings fans formulating roster projections and opinions, speculating who will make the team, who will hit the practice squad, and which players will hit free agency.

So, with roster trimdowns around the bend, let’s identify the roster locks. Locks are bolded in red.

Quarterback

sam darnold
New Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold at June 2024 minicamp. Eagan, Minnesota. TCO Performance Center. Darnold has played with the New York Jets, Carolina Panthers, and San Francisco 49ers in his six-year career.

Roster Locks:
Sam Darnold
J.J. McCarthy

Likely to Make 53-Man Roster:
Nick Mullens

On the Bubble:
Jaren Hall

Likely Cut or Practice Squad:
n/a

Running Back

Roster Locks:
Aaron Jones
Ty Chandler

Likely to Make 53-Man Roster:
Kene Nwangwu

On the Bubble:
DeWayne McBride

Likely Cut or Practice Squad:
Myles Gaskin

Fullback

The Vikings 2022 Offense by the Numbers: After Week 15
Matt Blewett-USA TODAY Sports.

Roster Locks:
C.J. Ham

Likely to Make 53-Man Roster:
n/a

On the Bubble:
n/a

Likely Cut or Practice Squad:
n/a

Wide Receiver

Roster Locks:
Justin Jefferson
Jordan Addison
Jalen Nailor

Brandon Powell

Likely to Make 53-Man Roster:
n/a

On the Bubble:
Trent Sherfield
Trishton Jackson
Jeshaun Jones

Likely Cut or Practice Squad:
Thayer Thomas
Lucky Jackson
Malik Knowles
Ty James

Tight End

T.J. Hockenson
Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports.

Roster Locks:
T.J. Hockenson
Robert Tonyan
Josh Oliver
Johnny Mundt

Likely to Make 53-Man Roster:
n/a

On the Bubble:
Nick Muse
N’Keal Harry

Likely Cut or Practice Squad:
Trey Knox
Sammis Reyes

Offensive Line

Roster Locks:
Christian Darrisaw
Brian O’Neill
Garrett Bradbury
Blake Brandel
Ed Ingram

Likely to Make 53-Man Roster:
Dalton Risner
Walter Rouse
David Quessenberry
Michael Jurgens

On the Bubble:
Dan Feeney

Likely Cut or Practice Squad:
Doug Nester
Spencer Rolland
Henry Byrd
Tyrese Robinson
Jeremy Flax

Defensive Line

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports.

Roster Locks:
Jonathan Greenard
Dallas Turner
Andrew Van Ginkel
Harrison Phillips

Likely to Make 53-Man Roster:
Jerry Tillery
Jaquelin Roy
Jonah Williams
Jonathan Bullard
Gabriel Murphy

On the Bubble:
Andre Carter II
Patrick Jones II
Jihad Ward
James Lynch
Levi Drake Rodriguez

Likely Cut or Practice Squad:
Owen Porter
Bo Richter
Jalen Redmond
Tyler Manoa
Taki Taimani

Off-Ball Linebacker

Roster Locks:
Ivan Pace Jr.
Blake Cashman

Likely to Make 53-Man Roster:
Kamu Grugier-Hill
Brian Asamoah

On the Bubble:
Jabril Cox

Likely Cut or Practice Squad:
Dallas Gant

Cornerback

Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports.

Roster Locks:
Byron Murphy
Akayleb Evans
Shaquill Griffin

NaJee Thompson

Likely to Make 53-Man Roster:
Fabian Moreau

On the Bubble:
Andrew Booth
Duke Shelley
Dwight McGlothern

Likely Cut or Practice Squad:
A.J. Green III
Jacobi Francis
Jaylin Williams

Safety

Roster Locks:
Harrison Smith
Camryn Bynum
Josh Metellus

Theo Jackson

Likely to Make 53-Man Roster:
Jay Ward

On the Bubble:
Lewis Cine
Bobby McCain

Likely Cut or Practice Squad:
n/a

Special Teams

vikings
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports.

Roster Locks:
Will Reichard (K)
Andrew DePaola
(LS)

Likely to Make 53-Man Roster:
n/a

On the Bubble:
Ryan Wright (P)
Seth Vernon (P)

Likely Cut or Practice Squad:
n/a


Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The show features guests, analysis, and opinion on all things related to the purple team, with 4-7 episodes per week. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band). He follows the NBA as closely as the NFL. 

All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.