Vikings 53-Man Roster Prediction for 2024 | 2nd-to-Last Edition

Cleveland Browns cornerback Cameron Mitchell (29) looks to wrap up Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Brandon Powell (4) during the first half of an NFL preseason football game at Cleveland Browns Stadium, Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024, in Cleveland, Ohio. © Jeff Lange / USA TODAY NETWORK.

The Minnesota Vikings won their second preseason game in a row last weekend after years of struggles in such games, chipping off the Cleveland Browns on the road, 27-12.

Vikings 53-Man Roster Prediction for 2024 | 2nd-to-Last Edition

The team now has eight days to trim the final roster from 91 players to 53.

So, after the second exhibition festival, this is an updated roster projection, the second-to-last from VikingsTerritory, in time for the August 27th roster trimdown main event. Predicted starters are noted in bold.

Note: Men crossed off the list could land on the practice squad and avoid outright release.

— Offensive Roster —

Roster Prediction
Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports.

Quarterback (3)

QB1: Sam Darnold
QB2: Nick Mullens
QB3: Jaren Hall

Out: Matt Corral

Change: J.J. McCarthy to IR, with Hall making the 53-man as QB3.

Running Back (3)

RB1: Aaron Jones
RB2: Ty Chandler
RB3: Kene Nwangwu

Out: DeWayne McBride | Myles Gaskin

Fullback (1)

FB1: C.J. Ham

Wide Receiver (5)

Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports.

WR1: Justin Jefferson
WR2: Jordan Addison
WR3: Jalen Nailor
WR4: Brandon Powell
WR5: Trishton Jackson

Out: Trent Sherfield | Lucky Jackson | Malik Knowles | Thayer Thomas | Ty James | Jeshaun Jones

Tight End (3)

TE1: T.J. Hockenson (PUP)
TE2: Josh Oliver
TE3: Johnny Mundt
TE4: Nick Muse

Out: Robert Tonyan | Trey Knox | Sammis Reyes | N’Keal Harry

Change: Tonyan on the outside looking in because of injury, with Muse making the cut.

Left Tackle (2)

LT1: Christian Darrisaw
LT2: Walter Rouse

Out: Jeremy Flax

Right Tackle (2)

RT1: Brian O’Neill
RT2: David Quessenberry

Out: Doug Nester

Center (2)

C1: Garrett Bradbury
C2: Dan Feeney

Out: Henry Byrd

Change: Feeney makes the cut, with Michael Jurgens to the practice squad below.

Left Guard (1)

LG1: Blake Brandel

Out: Tyrese Robinson | Michael Jurgens

Right Guard (2)

RG1: Ed Ingram
RG2: Dalton Risner

Out: Jeremy Flax

Defensive Roster

vikings
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports.

Outside Linebacker (5)

OLB1: Jonathan Greenard
OLB2: Dallas Turner
OLB3: Andrew Van Ginkel
OLB4: Jihad Ward
OLB5: Bo Richter

Out: Owen Porter | Gabriel Murphy | Andre Carter II | Patrick Jones II

Change: Jihad Ward to the active roster, with Gabriel Murphy to the practice squad.

Defensive End (5)

DE1: Jerry Tillery
DE2: Jonah Williams
DE3: Jonathan Bullard
DE4: Jaquelin Roy
DE5: Levi Drake Rodriguez

Out: James Lynch | Jalen Redmond | Tyler Manoa

Nose Tackle (1)

NT1: Harrison Phillips

Out: Taki Taimani

Middle Linebacker (2)

How Crazy Was
Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports

MLB1: Ivan Pace Jr.
MLB2: Kamu Grugier-Hill

Out: Dallas Gant

Weakside Linebacker (2)

WLB1: Blake Cashman
WLB2: Brian Asamoah

Out: Jordan Kunaszyk

Cornerback (5)

CB1: Stephon Gilmore
CB2: Byron Murphy
CB3: Shaquill Griffin
CB4: Fabian Moreau
CB5: Dwight McGlothern

Out: Jaylin Williams | A.J. Green III | Jacobi Francis | Duke Shelley | Nahshon Wright | Akayleb Evans

Change: NaJee Thompson added (hypothetically) to PUP list. Evans traded or to practice squad.

Safety (5)

S1: Harrison Smith
S2: Camryn Bynum
S3: Josh Metellus
S4: Theo Jackson
S5: Lewis Cine

Out: Jay Ward | Bobby McCauin

Change: Cine kept on active roster, with Ward to the practice squad.

— Special Teams Roster —

Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports.

Kicker (1)

K1: Will Reichard

Out: n/a

Punter (1)

P1: Ryan Wright

Out: Seth Vernon

Long Snapper (1)

LS: Andrew DePaola

Kick Returner

KR1: Kene Nwangwu

Punt Returner

PR1: Brandon Powell

Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports.

Minnesota is expected to finish in last place inside the NFC North this year, on deck for only six or seven wins, according to sportsbooks.


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.