Who Stays, Who Goes? A Minnesota Vikings 53-Man Roster Projection

It’s been a long offseason of roster shuffling and speculation for the Minnesota Vikings following an up-and-down 2025 regular season that ended without a playoff berth for the second time in the past three years.

Now, the time of speculation is over as the Vikings are back on the field for training camp and now preparing for their first preseason game next Saturday, August 15 against the New York Giants. With the preseason now on the horizon, here is a Minnesota Vikings 53-man roster projection, so you know all the names to keep an eye on next weekend.

Minnesota Vikings Offense

Quarterback (3)

1. Kyler Murray
2. J.J. McCarthy
3. Carson Wentz

Cut: Max Brosmer

The quarterback position has been the main topic of discussion for the Vikings all offseason, and honestly, ever since Kirk Cousins suffered his Achilles injury back in 2023.

Minnesota is yet to find a bona fide QB1 since that injury, but they are hoping one of Kyler Murray or J.J. McCarthy can change that. So far, reports suggest it’s been a shaky training camp for both, but there is still time to turn things around.

Running Back (4)

1. Aaron Jones
2. Jordan Mason
3. Demond Claiborne
4. Max Bredeson

Cut: Zavier Scott, Jordan Mims

The Vikings won’t have a true RB1 this season, and they can’t really operate that way when the top two players in the room are 31 years old and 27 years old.

Sixth-round pick Demond Claiborne is an explosive player out of the backfield who can be the home run threat while Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason man the majority of carries. Max Bredeson also fills in the C.J. Ham role.

Wide Receiver (6)

1. Justin Jefferson
2. Jordan Addison
3. Jauan Jennings
4. Tai Felton
5. Myles Price
6. Dontae Fleming

Cut: Dillon Bell, Jeshaun Jones, Terrill Davis, Michael Briscoe, Trayvon Rudolph, Marcus Sanders Jr.

Despite some questions at the quarterback position, Vikings fans can feel a little bit of relief stemming from the depth seen at the wide receiver position.

Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison create one of the most dynamic one-two punches in the league, Jauan Jennings is a proven, physical veteran who fits perfectly into the WR3 role, Tai Felton is in the running for Mr. Mankato, and both Myles Price and Dontae Fleming have shown flashes.

Dillon Bell, a UDFA out of Georgia, also has a very serious case to make the final roster and likely will get scooped up by a different team if he is cut. We’ll see who the final players actually are here, but the Vikings will have no problem filling six spots at wide receiver this year.

Tight End (3)

1. T.J. Hockenson
2. Josh Oliver
3. Gavin Bartholomew

Cut: Ben Yurosek, Bryson Nesbit, Marshall Lang

Not a ton of surprise here as T.J. Hockenson and Josh Oliver are back once again as the main two tight ends in the room.

With that being said, Kevin O’Connell loves his three tight end sets, so that TE3 role is one that can prove to be more important in Minnesota than it is in other places around the league.

Gavin Bartholomew was a sixth-round pick by the Vikings in 2025, but his season ended very early on in training camp because of injury. He should get his opportunity on the 53-man roster this year.

Offensive Line (9)

1. Christian Darrisaw (LT)
2. Donovan Jackson (LG)
3. Blake Brandel (C)
4. Will Fries (RG)
5. Brian O’Neill (RT)
6. Michael Jurgens
7. Caleb Tiernan
8. Joe Huber
9. Ryan Van Demark

Cut: Walter Rouse, Vershon Lee, Tomas Rimac, Gavin Gerhardt, Henry Byrd, Delby Lemieux, Tristan Leigh, Caleb Etienne

With Brian O’Neill signing a new contract just days ago, Minnesota’s offensive line situation looks to remain mostly stable for the next couple of years. As for the team’s depth chart in 2026, seventh-round pick Gavin Gerhardt does not make the final roster, but he certainly could become a practice squad guy.

Meanwhile, Walter Rouse has fallen to the third team in reps, which seems to suggest the 2024 sixth-round pick’s time in Minnesota may be coming to an end. Caleb Tiernan, a third-round pick by the Vikings this spring, seems poised to take over the swing tackle spot to back up Christian Darrisaw.

The center position could be an interesting story with Blake Brandel projected as the starter despite having his share struggles at the position last season.

Minnesota Vikings Defense

Defensive Line (6)

1. Jalen Redmond
2. Levi Drake Rodriguez
3. Caleb Banks
4. Elijah Williams
5. Domonique Orange
6. Eric Johnson II

Cut: Taki Taimani, Isaiahh Loudermilk, Jahvaree Ritzie, Smith Vilbert

Outside of wide receiver, the defensive line could end up being the most impressive group on Minnesota’s roster if they can all remain healthy, and that comes despite the departures of Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave, who were seen as the biggest improvements to the group prior to disappointing 2025 campaigns.

The Vikings opted to add both Caleb Banks and Domonique Orange during this spring’s NFL Draft, who should be immediate contributors to the roster if they are able to stay healthy. I also gave Eric Johnson a spot as a veteran depth piece who can help rush the passer and contribute on special teams.

Outside Linebacker (5)

1. Andrew Van Ginkel
2. Dallas Turner
3. Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins
4. Bo Richter
5. Tyler Batty

Cut: Chaz Chambliss, Arden Walker, Cam’Ron Stewart

Without Jonathan Greenard in the room, outside linebacker/EDGE could cause some problems for the Vikings this year, particularly with their depth.

As a result, I’m only keeping five players here to help fill out other positions on defense.

Andrew Van Ginkel and Dallas Turner should be just fine at the top of the room. Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins is a jack of all trades on the defensive front, but Minnesota will need some big contributions from names like Bo Richter and Tyler Batty this season.

Inside Linebacker (4)

1. Blake Cashman
2. Eric Wilson
3. Jake Golday
4. Jamal Adams

Cut: Ivan Pace, Jacob Roberts, Josh Ross, Keli Lawson, Bangally Kamara

It might be more likely that Ivan Pace is traded rather than outright cut, but either way, I don’t see him on the final roster in September, particularly with the signing of Jamal Adams a couple weeks ago.

Blake Cashman is firmly at the top of the depth chart, and Eric Wilson is hoping to recapture the lightning that he found in 2025 when he put Pace in a place where he might not have a spot in Minnesota anymore.

Finally, we can’t forget to mention second-round pick Jake Golday, who is going to develop into a hawk in the middle of Minnesota’s defense. This projects to be another pretty fun group of players.

Cornerback (5)

1. Byron Murphy
2. Isaiah Rodgers
3. Charles Demmings
4. James Pierre
5. Zemaiah Vaughn

Cut: Dwight McGlothern, Da’Veawn Armstead, Marcus Allen, Tyreek Chappell, Kahlef Haillassie

Brian Flores didn’t carry many cornerbacks during the 2025 season, but I think we get a fifth CB this year rather than a sixth pass rusher when we compare the depth at the two positions. Obviously, injuries can change that, but there are enough names here that I want to keep.

Outside of the obvious names like Byron Murphy and Isaiah Rodgers, Charles Demmings has emerged as the favorite for Mr. Mankato after stringing together multiple great practices over the past week. Brian Flores has also sung his praises for James Pierre. Finally, Zemaiah Vaughn was a training camp darling last year, and assuming he is able to continue improving, he should be on the final roster in September.

Safety (5)

1. Josh Metellus
2. Theo Jackson
3. Jay Ward
4. Jakobe Thomas
5. Tavierre Thomas

Cut: Jacob Thomas

The return or retirement decision of Harrison Smith is still hanging over the Vikings’ heads at the safety position, which could impact who makes the final roster.

For now, though, Jay Ward seems poised to crack into the top three at the position and see more time on defense after starting four of the final games of the 2025 regular season.

Jakobe Thomas almost certainly makes the final roster as well, being the Vikings third-round pick this spring while Tavierre Thomas is in his second year in Minnesota and was a key piece on special teams in 2025.

Theo Jackson could end up being the odd man out if Smith opts to return.

Minnesota Vikings Special Teams

Specialists (3)

1. Will Reichard (K)
2. Johnny Hekker (P)
3. Andrew DePaola (LS)

Cut: Brett Thorson

No real surprises here unless you are a big Brett Thorson fan. With the departure of Ryan Wright this offseason to New Orleans, the Vikings will have to turn to a new punter in 2026.

Johnny Hekker has been one of the most consistent punters in the NFL for the past 14 years, though Thorson brings a big leg to the competition. He won the Ray Guy Award in 2025 during his final season at Georgia for a reason, but ultimately, the veteran gets the job with Thorson potentially going to the practice squad.

Josh Frey is a senior writer at both PurplePTSD.com and VikingsTerritory.com, with a fascination for the NFL Draft. To … More about Josh Frey