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Final Vikings 53-Man Roster Projections: Whose Job Is Safe (And Whose Isn't) Heading Into Sunday's Deadline

One final look at what the Vikings' 53-man roster could look like
Jason Harmon|
It's almost time for Vikings HC Kevin O'Connell to announce his initial 53-man roster. Whose outlook is on the rise (or fall)?
It's almost time for Vikings HC Kevin O'Connell to announce his initial 53-man roster. Whose outlook is on the rise (or fall)? | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

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Minnesota Vikings

EAGAN, MN —  After weeks of camp practices, two preseason games (with one left to play), and two days of intense joint practices against the Ravens, the Vikings’ roster seems almost set. The biggest battles seem mostly settled, while multiple rookies have stolen the show. 

The team is entering a pressure-packed year with massive implications, especially for quarterback Kyler Murray and head coach Kevin O’Connell. Assistant HC Frank Smith has brought in a revamped run game to make the team more dynamic on offense, while defensive coordinator Brian Flores aims to continue his defensive dominance.

With those goals in mind and weeks of reps and tape to review, here is how I see the Vikings’ final 53-man roster coming together at the 5 p.m. CT deadline this Sunday.

Quarterback (3)

  • QB1: Kyler Murray
  • QB2: Carson Wentz
  • QB3: J.J. McCarthy

My hottest take starts us off: J.J. McCarthy has a 50/50 chance of being on a different team by week one. The cracked marriage simply seems unmendable asMcCarthy’s inaccuracies continue to emerge. An incredibly low trade value is what keeps him as QB3 for now, but if the Vikings can even get a fifth-round pick, it might be time to hit a reset for both sides.

Running back (4)

  • RB1: Aaron Jones
  • RB2: Jordan Mason
  • RB3: Demond Claiborne RB4: Zavier Scott

I’ve gone back and forth between rostering 4 RBs or 6 WRs, but as of now, I’m ultimately prioritizing the newfound focus on the running game. Zavier Scott lacks the explosiveness of Demond Claiborne, but the rookie’s ball security issues require a safety net. Hence, Scott.

Fullback (1)

  • FB1: Max Bredeson

Max Bredeson continued to impress last week in joint practices against the Ravens. The Vikings are already moving him all over the field to use him in creative ways. Expect to see a lot of him in 2026.

Wide receiver (5)

  • WR1: Justin Jefferson
  • WR2: Jordan Addison 
  • WR3: Jauan Jennings 
  • WR4: Tai Felton 
  • WR5: Miles Price

I've held on to the idea of six wideouts for most of camp, but the focus on the new-look running game may have swayed me. Dontae made strong cases for the 53 but hasn't popped like Felton or Price. Jeshaun Jones was just suspended three games for violating the league's substance abuse policy (h/t WillRagatz), so his spot on the bubble seems all but decided.

Tight end (3)

  • TE1: T.J. Hockenson 
  • TE2: Josh Oliver
  • TE3: Gavin Bartholomew

This group seems fairly set to me. Gavin Bartholomew continues to impress this summer, and Murray continues to build a strong rapport with T.J. Hockenson. Ben Yurosek would be a very solid piece on the practice squad.

Offensive line (9)

  • LT: Christian Darrisaw 
  • LG: Donovan Jackson
  • C: Blake Brandel
  • RG: Will Fries 
  • RT: Brian O’Neill 
  • Reserves: T Ryan Van Demark,  G Joe Huber,  T Caleb Tiernan, C Michael Jurgens

Blake Brandel is the risk here.

After a decent performance in joint practices, I have him back as the projected starter. Still, I do see the team looking into additional options at center, especially with rookie Gavin Gerhardt being very shaky, but given the recent center injuries across the league, it may be hard to find.

Defensive Line (5)

  • DE: Caleb Banks, Jalen Redmond, Elijah Williams
  • DT:  Domonique Orange, Levi Drake Rodriguez

Elijah Williams has been one of the bright spots in camp. Given the inconsistency we’ve seen from Caleb Banks, Williams appears to be a sure bet to make the 53, even if it's just to provide relief along a rotating defensive front.

OLB (5)

  • OLB: Andrew Van Ginkel, Dallas Turner, Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins, Bo Richter, TBD player

Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins has started to catch my eye more of late and seems to be benefiting from his position change this offseason. Jake Golday will also rotate into this room, as he has split positional reps in camp, even taking first-team snaps in place of Andrew Van Ginkel. The team would benefit from adding more depth here, which hasn't changed in my opinion.

MLB (5)

  • MLB: Blake Cashman, Eric Wilson, Jake Golday, Ivan Pace Jr., Jacob Roberts

Former Calgary Stampeder Jacob Roberts made sure his presence was felt on Saturday against the Ravens with a 6-tackle performance that tied the team lead for the day. Roberts has been a consistent playmaker in camp, but Saturday’s showing after an interception in the first preseason game has me moving him on the final roster.

Cornerback (4)

  • CB: Byron Murphy Jr., Isaiah Rodgers, Charles Demmings, James Pierre

Sticking with my projection here. Dwight McGlothern had a chance to make the final room before being waived Tuesday with an injury designation. The team can add him to the injured reserve if he clears waivers. Chuck Demmings has been a bit quiet since an explosive start to camp, but his physicality and fight will serve him well in Flores’s scheme.

Safety (6)

  • S: Joshua Metellus, Theo Jackson, Jay Ward, Jakobe Thomas, Tavierre Thomas, Jacob Thomas

This must be the summer of Jacob for the Vikings, as Jacob Thomas shared the team lead in tackles with Jacob Roberts on Saturday. Then, there's Jakobe Thomas, who missed much of last week nursing a back injury. Tavierre Thomas will likely be a main contributor on special teams. We may need some nicknames for the Thomas boys to avoid confusion this season.

Special Teams (3)

  • K: Will Reichard
  • LS: Andrew DePaola
  • P: Johnny Hekker

The Vikings definitely have something in rookie punter Brett Thorson, but having him develop through the NFL International Player Pathway Program may prove too valuable an option, pending he clears waivers. Johnny Hekker isn’t what he once was, but he’s reliable enough to roll with for now. Plus, he’s proven to be a capable passer, which this team may actually need.

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Jason Harmon
JASON HARMON

Jason Harmon grew up a diehard Vikings fan and has been doing Vikings content and coverage since 2023. He is the Vikings Content Curator for Sleeper and is a host on Purple Daily’s in-season spinoff podcast “Before I Die”. Jason and his family moved to the Twin Cities from Arizona in 2025 as he started covering the team full time.

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