VikingsTerritory’s 53-Man Roster Projection | Pre-Training Camp
Minnesota Vikings training camp begins on Sunday, with rookies arriving in Eagan. Veterans show up on Tuesday, July 23rd.
VikingsTerritory’s 53-Man Roster Projection | Pre-Training Camp
About 20 men left the club via free agency or remain available on the open market, headlined by quarterback Kirk Cousins to the Atlanta Falcons and outside linebacker Danielle Hunter to the Houston Texans. Thirty-nine new players came aboard.
Meanwhile, the NFL regular season begins seven weeks from tonight. Accordingly, with training camp around the bend and the regular season within sniffing distance, here is our pre-training camp roster projection for 2024.
Note: Many “projected to miss 53-man roster” players could hit the practice squad.
— Offense —
Quarterback (3)
QB1: Sam Darnold
QB2: J.J. McCarthy
QB3: Nick Mullens
Projected to Miss 53-man Roster:
Jaren Hall
Hall is the only shock here, and he’ll hit the practice squad. Darnold grabs QB1 until McCarthy is ready. The only debate at this roster spot is whether Mullens or Hall is the odd man out. We predict Hall on the practice squad after injuries ravaged the 2023 season. Ask yourself — would you rather have Hall or Mullens start a game?
Running Back (3)
RB1: Aaron Jones
RB2: Ty Chandler
RB3: Kene Nwangwu
Projected to Miss 53-man Roster:
DeWayne McBride, Myles Gaskin
This spot is straightforward, though Cam Akers’ presence or lack thereof is a little puzzling. ESPN claimed that Cam Akers re-signed, pending a physical, on July 2nd. No other source supports the claim.
No matter what, Minnesota must finally fix its ground game after two years of doldrums.
Fullback (1)
FB1: C.J. Ham
Projected to Miss 53-man Roster:
n/a
It’s time to stop forecasting Ham as a surprise roster cut. Never happens. His contract was extended last summer. He’s safe.
Wide Receiver (5)
WR1: Justin Jefferson
WR2: Jordan Addison
WR3: Brandon Powell
WR4: Jalen Nailor
WR5: Trent Sherfield
Projected to Miss 53-man Roster:
Trishton Jackson, Lucky Jackson, Thayer Thomas, Malik Knowles, Ty James, Jeshaun Jones
Minnesota could keep a sixth wideout, so choose your fighter via the undrafted guys after Sherfield at WR5.
Tight End (3)
TE1: T.J. Hockenson (PUP)
TE2: Robert Tonyan
TE3: Josh Oliver
TE4: Johnny Mundt
Projected to Miss 53-man Roster:
Nick Muse, N’Keal Harry, Trey Knox, Sammis Reyes
This is an unusually crowded roster spot, and the competition is dense because Hockenson will probably miss a month or two out of the gate. Minnesota is high on Tonyan, so remember him when Week 1 rolls around. Muse and Knox may reach the PS.
Tonyan will probably be featured as the top pass-catching TE target out of the gate.
Left Tackle (2)
LT1: Christian Darrisaw
LT2: Walter Rouse
Projected to Miss 53-man Roster:
Doug Nester
Darrisaw and Rouse make the cut. Nester — nope.
Right Tackle (2)
RT1: Brian O’Neill
RT2: David Quessenberry
Projected to Miss 53-man Roster:
Spencer Rolland
There are no mysteries here. O’Neill is a shoo-in, and Quessenberry played competently as a backup tackle in 2023, particularly in a game at the Atlanta Falcons last November.
Center (2)
C1: Garrett Bradbury
C2: Michael Jurgens
Projected to Miss 53-man Roster:
Dan Feeney
Jurgens over Feeney is only because Minnesota spent a draft pick on Jurgens. Feeney is merely a mid-to-bottom-tier reservist lineman.
Left Guard (2)
LG1: Blake Brandel
LG2: Dalton Risner
Projected to Miss 53-man Roster:
Henry Byrd
Some believe Risner may regain his starting LG job, but Brandel re-signed for three years and $9.5 million this offseason. Risner checked in at one year and $2.4 million. Money talks, so we predict Brandel here.
Right Guard (1)
RG1: Ed Ingram
Projected to Miss 53-man Roster:
Tyrese Robinson, Jeremy Flax
Brandel could win this job if Risner earns the LG spot, but for now, put us down for Ingram retaining his job.
— Defense —
Outside Linebacker (5)
OLB1: Jonathan Greenard
OLB2: Dallas Turner
OLB3: Andrew Van Ginkel
OLB4: Jihad Ward
OLB5: Gabriel Murphy
Projected to Miss 53-man Roster:
Patrick Jones II, Andre Carter II, Owen Porter, Bo Richter
Somehow, even after Danielle Hunter left in free agency, EDGE is one of the Vikings’ deepest roster positions. Our surprise cut this August is Jones II, while Carter II hits the practice squad. Murphy effectuates his UDFA forecast by making the team.
Defensive End (3)
DE1: Jerry Tillery
DE2: Jaquelin Roy
DE3: Levi Drake Rodriguez
Projected to Miss 53-man Roster:
Jonah Williams, Jalen Redmond, Jonathan Bullard, Tyler Manoa, James Lynch
This spot is crowded, but it’s not stuffed to the gills with stars or anything of the sort. Give us Tillery and the youngsters. Redmond and Lynch could make the practice squad.
Nose Tackle (2)
NT1: Harrison Phillips
NT2: Taki Taimani
Projected to Miss 53-man Roster:
n/a
A head-turner at this spot, we plonked Taimani on the 53-man roster because he may be the only true nose tackle per stature on the depth chart. Khyiris Tonga left in free agency to the Arizona Cardinals, and Minnesota hasn’t re-signed Sheldon Day. Taimani shocks the purple world and earns a roster spot.
Middle Linebacker (2)
MLB1: Ivan Pace Jr.
MLB2: Kamu Grugier-Hill
Projected to Miss 53-man Roster:
Abraham Beauplan, Dallas Gant
Pace Jr. and Grugier-Hill easily make the roster, while Beauplan and Gant either get released or hit the PS. Some are high on Beauplan, however.
Weakside Linebacker (2)
WLB1: Blake Cashman
WLB2: Brian Asamoah
Projected to Miss 53-man Roster:
K.J. Cloyd
Cashman is in the house, Asamoah is a backup once again, and Cloyd misses out.
Cornerback (5)
CB1: Byron Murphy
CB2: Shaquill Griffin
CB3: Mekhi Blackmon
CB4: Akayleb Evans
CB5: Andrew Booth
Projected to Miss 53-man Roster:
Jaylin Williams, A.J. Green III, Dwight McGlothern
Everything changed at this spot when Khyree Jackson passed away. Booth will likely make the cut, and the team could scour the free-agent wire for someone like Stephon Gilmore or Xavien Howard before the end of summer.
Safety (6)
S1: Harrison Smith
S2: Camryn Bynum
S3: Josh Metellus
S4: Jay Ward
S5: NaJee Thompson
S6: Theo Jackson
Projected to Miss 53-man Roster:
Lewis Cine
We’ve decided the safety room is too crowded for Cine. The Vikings will likely follow suit. The disappointing pick will be traded for a late-round draft pick or try a new team on for size in September via waiver.
Six safeties make the active roster for a second consecutive season, especially after NaJee Thompson evidently switched positions in June.
— Special Teams —
Kicker: Will Reichard
Punter: Seth Vernon
Long Snapper: Andrew DePaola
Kick Returner: Kene Nwangwu
Punt Returner: Brandon Powell
Projected to Miss 53-man Roster:
Parker Romo
Ryan Wright
Reichard is a lock to keep Romo at bay, and Vernon performed well at minicamp, perhaps enough to end Wright’s tenure in the Twin Cities.
Texans Sign Former Vikings Player
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sal Spice. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band).
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
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