Dustin Baker’s Early 53-Man Roster Projection for the Vikings
Between now and late August, VikingsTerritory unleashes a handful of roster projections for the Minnesota Vikings, usually from various authors. This is the first official stab at 2026.
Minnesota’s roster has more depth than last year, making this first 2026 projection tougher than usual.
The Vikings have onboarded about 30 new players in the last three weeks, so here’s a predictive look at the lay of the land.
Rookies and New Starters Shape the First Roster Forecast
Minnesota will reveal the regular season roster in about 16 weeks. Note: Many of the players listed as “out” will hit the practice squad. Also, rookies who made the 53-man cut are listed in bold font.
— Offensive Roster —
Quarterback (3)
QB1: Kyler Murray
QB2: J.J. McCarthy
QB3: Carson Wentz
Out: Max Brosmer
Running Back (3)
RB1: Aaron Jones
RB2: Jordan Mason
RB3: Demond Claiborne
Out: Zavier Scott | Kejon Owens
Scott could sneak in here at the expense of another player’s subtraction, but there’s just no way Claiborne doesn’t make the September roster.
Fullback (1)
FB1: Max Bredeson
Wide Receiver (5)
WR1: Justin Jefferson
WR2: Jordan Addison
WR3: Jauan Jennings
WR4: Tai Felton
WR5: Myles Price
Out: Dillon Bell | Jeshaun Jones | Dontae Fleming | Joaquin Davis | Luke Wysong | Marcus Sanders | Shaleak Knotts
Bell is all the hype right now per UDFA steam, but he’ll probably start his career on the practice squad.
Tight End (3)
TE1: T.J. Hockenson
TE2: Josh Oliver
TE3: Gavin Bartholomew
Out: Ben Yurosek | Bryson Nesbit
Yurosek could easily win the TE3 job. But no one knows how good Bartholomew can be, as he missed his entire rookie season due to injury. We chose unfulfilled draft stock with the tiebreaker.
Our Janik Eckardt on Bartholomew: “His back injury should be in the rearview mirror. He returned to practice late last season and the Vikings could’ve activated him down the stretch. Ultimately, they opted to keep him sidelined for the last two games as well and make the redshirt season official.”
“His NFL debut could come as early as September. He’ll have to show that he was actually worth the draft capital by distancing himself from Yurosek in the TE3 sweepstakes.”
Left Tackle (2)
LT1: Christian Darrisaw
LT2: Caleb Tiernan
Out: Caleb Etienne | Tristan Leigh
Right Tackle (3)
RT1: Brian O’Neill
RT2: Ryan Van Demark
RT3: Walter Rouse
Out: N/A
Center (3)
C1: Blake Brandel
C2: Michael Jurgens
C3: Gavin Gerhardt
OUT: N/A
Left Guard (1)
LG1: Donovan Jackson
Out: Henry Byrd | Delby Lemieux
Byrd could be a sneaky sleeper pick if Minnesota prefers more guard depth.
Right Guard (2)
RG1: Will Fries
RG2: Joe Huber
Out: Vershon Lee | Tomas Rimac
— Defensive Roster —
Outside Linebacker (5)
OLB1: Andrew Van Ginkel
OLB2: Dallas Turner
OLB3: Bo Richter
OLB4: Tyler Batty
OLB5: Chaz Chambliss
Out: Cam’Ron Stewart | Jordan Botelho | Arden Walker
This group could change by the summer, perhaps with the addition of a player like Leonard Floyd.
Defensive End (3)
DE1: Jalen Redmond
DE2: Caleb Banks
DE3: Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins
*Please Note: Most NFL terminology considers this spot “defensive tackle.”
Out: Eric Johnson | Elijah Williams | Monkell Goodwine
If we’re wrong here, Minnesota will find a way to keep Williams.
Nose Tackle (3)
NT1: Domonique Orange
NT2: Levi Drake Rodriguez
NT3: Taki Taimani
Out: N/A
Middle Linebacker (2)
MLB1: Eric Wilson
MLB2: Ivan Pace Jr.
Out: Jacob Roberts | Scooby Williams
You should never cut a man named Scooby, but someone had to find the exit sign at ILB.
Weakside Linebacker (2)
WLB1: Blake Cashman
WLB2: Jake Golday
Out: Josh Ross | Keli Lawson
Cornerback (4)
CB1: Byron Murphy Jr.
CB2: Isaiah Rodgers
CB3: James Pierre
CB4: Charles Demmings
Out: Dwight McGlothern | Zemaiah Vaughn | Da’Veawn Armstead | Marcus Allen | Tyreek Chappell
McGlothern and Vaughn will hit the practice squad, so don’t panic. This CB room is already much deeper than the unit last year at this time, thanks to Pierre and Demmings.
VikingsWire‘s Anderw Harbaugh on Demmings: “Flores has a track record of taking day three defensive backs and turning them into something special in his time in the NFL.”
“Whether it is during his stops with the New England Patriots, Miami Dolphins, or now the Vikings. Demmings has the stuff to make this pick become a homerun, but it will also be decided by the coaching of Flores.”
Safety (5)
S1: Josh Metellus
S2: Jay Ward
S3: Theo Jackson
S4: Jakobe Thomas
S5: Tavierre Thomas
Out: Kahlef Hailassie
Purple nation remains on Harrison Smith watch.
— Special Teams Roster —
Kicker (1)
K1: Will Reichard
Punter (1)
P1: Johnny Hekker
Out: Brett Thorson
Thorson can be the upset special, but he must learn to hold field goals and extra points — in like three months. He didn’t have that job at Georgia.
Long Snapper (1)
LS1: Andrew DePaola
Kick Returner
KR1: Myles Price
Punt Returner
PR1: Myles Price
PR2: Tai Felton
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