On Sunday, the Minnesota Vikings, along with 31 other franchises, will shave their rosters by 41% to prepare for the regular season, which starts for the purple team in 16 days.
Who makes the cut is obviously up in the air, so here’s a stab at the final 53-man roster tally, based on training camp, the preseason, and observations from the last three months.
Note: Rookies are in bold, and “out” for many players could mean practice squad placement.
The Vikings’ Projected 53-Man Roster from VikesNow
Offensive Roster
Quarterback
QB1: Kyler Murray
QB2: J.J. McCarthy
QB3: Carson Wentz
Out: Max Brosmer
Murray won the QB1 handily, and we believe McCarthy will be the QB2 when the dust settles, though his leash will be short if the Vikings put him in a game.
Running Back
RB1: Aaron Jones
RB2: Jordan Mason
RB3: Demond Claiborne
Out: Zavier Scott | Jermar Jefferson
Moving Scott back to the practice squad wasn’t an easy decision, but he hasn’t been terribly impressive in the preseason. Claiborne, as a fancy new toy, takes RB3.
Fullback
FB1: Max Bredeson
He’s the new C.J. Ham.
Wide Receiver
WR1: Justin Jefferson
WR2: Jordan Addison
WR3: Jauan Jennings
WR4: Tai Felton
WR5: Myles Price
Out: Dillon Bell | Jeshaun Jones | Dontae Fleming | Luke Wysong | Marcus Sanders | Terrill Davis | Trayvon Rudolph | Michael Briscoe
Bell could sneak onto the 53-man if Minnesota fears another team will claim him. His spring and early-summer hype train was robust.
Tight End
TE1: T.J. Hockenson
TE2: Josh Oliver
TE3: Gavin Bartholomew
Out: Ben Yurosek | Bryson Nesbit | Marshall Lang | Matt Lauter
Bartholomew v. Yurosek might’ve been the toughest call all around. We rolled with the guy the Vikings actually drafted.
Left Tackle
LT1: Christian Darrisaw
LT2: Caleb Tiernan
Out: Caleb Etienne | Tristan Leigh
This spot didn’t require much deliberation.
Right Tackle
RT1: Brian O’Neill
RT2: Ryan Van Demark
Out: Walter Rouse
The Vikings moved Rouse to guard on the first depth chart of 2026, but in the preseason, he played later in the game(s) than Huber. Therefore, we’re taking Huber as the primary backup guard, with Rouse perhaps to the practice squad.
Center
C1: Blake Brandel
C2: Michael Jurgens
C3: Gavin Gerhardt
Out: n/a
Some have speculated that Gerhardt could be cut and placed on the practice squad. We gave him the benefit of the doubt and included him. Why spend a draft pick on a guy who you’ll cut four months later?
Left Guard
LG1: Donovan Jackson
Out: Delby Lemieux | Henry Byrd
Rouse could fit here, with Gehardt waived if we have any OL items wrong.
Right Guard
RG1: Will Fries
RG2: Joe Huber
Out: Vershon Lee | Tomas Rimac | Joshua Gray
Huber over Rouse, while Lee, Rimac, and Gray don’t get the nod.
Defensive Roster
Outside Linebacker
OLB1: Andrew Van Ginkel
OLB2: Dallas Turner
OLB3: Bo Richter
OLB4: Tyler Batty
OLB5: Chaz Chambliss
Out: Cam’Ron Stewart | Arden Walker | Kenny Dyson
Dyson has a small chance of taking a roster spot over Richter or Batty, but we preferred incumbency at OLB.
Defensive End
DE1: Jalen Redmond
DE2: Caleb Banks
DE3: Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins
*Please Note: Most NFL terminology considers this spot “defensive tackle.“
Out: Isaiahh Loudermilk | Smith Vilbert | Jonathan Harris | Jahvaree Ritzie
Loudermilk may be on the bubble and has more experience than many current Vikings players. He could take Elijah Williams’s spot if we have this wrong.
Nose Tackle
NT1: Domonique Orange
NT2: Levi Drake Rodriguez
NT3: Elijah Williams
Out: Taki Taimani
We think Williams is too good to cut, so he makes the depth chart as NT3.
Middle Linebacker
MLB1: Eric Wilson
MLB2: Ivan Pace Jr.
Out: Jacob Roberts | Bangally Kamara
We’d love to include Roberts in September festivities. But the math is tricky.
Weakside Linebacker
WLB1: Blake Cashman
WLB2: Jake Golday
Out: Josh Ross
Jamal Adams could have lived around this roster space with his S-LB utility, but the world is cruel.
Cornerback
CB1: Byron Murphy Jr.
CB2: Isaiah Rodgers
CB3: James Pierre
CB4: Charles Demmings
Out: Zemaiah Vaughn | Da’Veawn Armstead | Marcus Allen | Tyreek Chappell | Jarod Washington | Bryce Phillips | Tre Hawkins III
It’s a year when the Vikings keep four corners and overdose on safeties. If we’re wrong, Brian Flores will keep Vaughn – – or sign a CB from the post-cutdown market.
Safety
S1: Josh Metellus
S2: Jay Ward
S3: Theo Jackson
S4: Jakobe Thomas
S5: Tavierre Thomas
S6: Jacob Thomas
If Harrison Smith returns, let’s say that Tavierre Thomas gets shoved to the practice squad.
Out: Kahlef Hailassie
Special Teams Roster
Kicker
K1: Will Reichard
This man is an All-Pro, and don’t you forget it.
Punter
P1: Johnny Hekker
IPP: Brett Thorson
Thorson should probably be named the main punter, but it just feels like Minnesota will play it safe and go with Hekker. Because of the International Player Program (IPP), Thorson basically has a free roster spot. He can be the punter in 2027.
Long Snapper
LS1: Andrew DePaola
Old faithful is safe.
Kick Returner
KR1: Demond Claiborne
Punt Returner
PR1: Myles Price
PR2: Tai Felton
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VikesNow Verdict: The Vikings’ final 53 should be mostly straightforward, with the toughest calls coming at receiver, interior offensive line, EDGE rusher, and safety. Gavin Bartholomew and Elijah Williams survive the bubble, while Minnesota carries just four cornerbacks.
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