My prediction for the Vikings 53 man roster. First thing I must say is I am not sure if they actually have open competition. I think they pencil guys into spots just because of where they were drafted or because they signed them as free agents. Of course I have no proof but I would like to see open competitions for all the non obvious spots on the team.
I think these first 35 players are pretty much a lock to make the team. There could be a couple in this list that may not be though. Felton and Johnson come to mind.
1 | Christian Ponder | 7 | QB | 6-2 | 229
2 | Joe Webb | 14 | QB | 6-4 | 220
3 | Adrian Peterson | 28 | RB | 6-1 | 217
4 | Toby Gerhart | 32 | RB | 6-0 | 231
5 | Jerome Felton | 42 | FB | 6-0 | 246
6 | Percy Harvin | 12 | WR | 5-11 | 184
7 | Jerome Simpson | 81 | WR | 6-2 | 190
8 | Greg Childs | 1 | WR | 6-3 | 217
9 | Jarius Wright | 85 | WR | 5-10 | 180
10 | Kyle Rudolph | 82 | TE | 6-6 | 259
11 | John Carlson | 89 | TE | 6-5 | 251
12 | Matt Kalil | | 75 | OT | 6-7 | 308
13 | Charlie Johnson | 74 | OT | 6-4 | 305
14 | John Sullivan | 65 | C | 6-4 | 301
15 | Brandon Fusco | 63 | C | 6-4 | 306
16 | Phil Loadholt | 71 | OT | 6-8 | 343
17 | Geoff Schwartz | 76 | G | 6-6 | 331
18 | DeMarcus Love | 75 | OT | 6-4 | 315
19 | Jared Allen | 69 | DE | 6-6 | 270
20 | Brian Robison | 96 | DE | 6-3 | 259
21 | Everson Griffen | 97 | DE | 6-3 | 273
22 | Kevin Williams | 93 | DT | 6-5 | 311
23 | Letroy Guion | 98 | DT | 6-4 | 303
24 | Christian Ballard | 99 | DT | 6-4 | 283
25 | Chad Greenway | 52 | LB | 6-2 | 242
26 | Erin Henderson | 50 | LB | 6-3 | 244
27 | Antoine Winfield | 26 | CB | 5-9 | 180
28 | Chris Cook | 31 | CB | 6-2 | 212
29 | Josh Robinson | 21 | CB | 5-10 | 199
30 | Harrison Smith | 22 | S | 6-2 | 214
31 | Jamarca Sanford | 33 | S | 5-10 | 200
32 | Mistral Raymond | 41 | S | 6-1 | 194
33 | Chris Kluwe | 4 | P | 6-4 | 215
34 | Cullen Loeffler | 46 | LS | 6-5 | 241
35 | Blair Walsh | 3 | K | 5-10 | 192
After this I think is where the "open competitions" should determine who makes the team. These are the offensive players that I think will be fighting hard for a job ...
1 | Sage Rosenfels | 18 | QB | 6-4 | 222
2 | McLeod Bethel-Thompson | 4 | QB | 6-4 | 230
3 | Jordan Todman | 29 | RB | 5-9 | 193
4 | Lex Hilliard | 38 | RB | 5-11 | 240
5 | Derrick Coleman | 49 | RB | 6-1 | 240
6 | Matt Asiata | 48 | RB | 6-0 | 234
7 | Ryan D'Imperio | 44 | FB | 6-2 | 241
8 | Michael Jenkins | 84 | WR | 6-4 | 215
9 | Devin Aromashodu | 19 | WR | 6-2 | 201
10 | Stephen Burton | 11 | WR | 6-1 | 221
11 | Emmanuel Arceneaux | 16 | WR | 6-2 | 211
12 | Kamar Jorden | 2 | WR | 6-1 | 203
13 | A.J. Love | | 87 | WR | 6-2 | 205
14 | Kerry Taylor | 15 | WR | 6-0 | 197
15 | Bryan Walters | 13 | WR | 6-0 | 190
16 | Rhett Ellison | 40 | TE | 6-5 | 250
17 | Allen Reisner | 89 | TE | 6-3 | 248
18 | Mickey Shuler | 86 | TE | 6-4 | 247
19 | Patrick Brown | 79 | OT | 6-5 | 310
20 | Chris DeGeare | 72 | OL | 6-4 | 325
21 | Joe Berger | 61 | C | 6-5 | 315
22 | Quentin Saulsberry | 60 | C | 6-2 | 300
23 | Darrion Weems | 68 | OT | 6-5 | 302
24 | Tyler Holmes | 66 | OL | 6-4 | 301
25 | Levi Horn | 78 | OL | 6-6 | 320
26 | Austin Pasztor | 67 | OL | 6-7 | 305
I know that they probably will keep Rosenfels but I am not so sure I would keep 3 QBs myself. I think Jenkins is likely a lock if he is healthy but it could come down to money. He is due 2.5 mil in salary plus a bonus of 667K next year. If they cut him then the cap hit will be 1.3 mil but they would save that 3.1 mil.
I think the running back spots are up for grabs. Personally I would try and sign a veteran like Knowshon Moreno from Denver if he gets cut. It all depends on how Jordan Todman does in camp.
The wide receivers spots are wide open too. I know some people think the team should keep 4 TEs but I wouldn't. I would rather keep 6 WRs. Burton could be the next Jaymar Johnson and has gotten that kind of love during this off season thus far. But I have to wait to see them in some action first.
I think they could be looking at 10 offensive linemen or at least 9 with a couple on the practice squad. Brown and DeGeare have been around now for a few years. I am not sure Brown has anymore practice squad eligibility. Weems and Saulsberry are interesting prospects too.
These are the defensive players that I think will be fighting hard for a job ...
1 | D'Aundre Reed | 91 | DE | 6-4 | 261
2 | Ernest Owusu | 95 | DE | 6-5 | 270
3 | Trevor Guyton | 92 | DE | 6-3 | 280
4 | Jeff Charleston | 94 | DE | 6-4 | 265
5 | Nick Reed | 66 | DE | 6-1 | 248
6 | Eric Latimore | 64 | DE | 6-6 | 277
7 | Anthony Jacobs | 67 | DE | 6-2 | 291
8 | Fred Evans | 90 | DT | 6-4 | 305
9 | Chase Baker | 62 | DT | 6-1 | 298
10 | Tydreke Powell | 60 | DT | 6-3 | 310
11 | Jasper Brinkley | 54 | LB | 6-1 | 252
12 | Audie Cole | 57 | LB | 6-5 | 239
13 | Larry Dean | 51 | LB | 6-0 | 216
14 | Tyrone McKenzie | 59 | LB | 6-2 | 248
15 | Solomon Elimimian | 59 | LB | 6-0 | 227
16 | Marvin Mitchell | 50 | LB | 6-3 | 249
17 | Tyler Nielson | 45 | LB | 6-4 | 235
18 | Corey Paredes | 47 | LB | 6-0 | 235
19 | Chris Carr | 25 | CB | 5-10 | 182
20 | Brandon Burton | 36 | DB | 6-0 | 185
21 | Marcus Sherels | 35 | CB | 5-10 | 175
22 | Nicholas Taylor | 39 | DB | 5-9 | 165
23 | Zack Bowman | 24 | CB | 6-1 | 196
24 | Bobby Felder | 43 | CB | 6-1 | 200
25 | Corey Gatewood | 30 | CB | 5-11 | 188
26 | Reggie Jones | 20 | DB | 6-0 | 193
27 | Robert Blanton | 36 | S | 6-1 | 200
28 | Andrew Sendejo | 34 | S | 6-1 | 225
29 | Eric Frampton | 37 | S | 5-11 | 205
Obviously the recent draft picks and free agents have a good shot but I would not set that in stone. I want to see them compete and win the jobs.
At DE I like Reed, Owusu, and Guyton. At DT I am hoping that someone besides Evans can make the team. Maybe Baker or Powell? Doubtful. I would definitely be ready to pounce if there is a camp casualty somewhere.
I think the LB spots are all up for grabs. Brinkley is probably going to be given a spot by default but hopefully he earns it. He should have no problem if he is good enough. Audie Cole may have a good shot just because they drafted him. I think they need to keep their eyes open for any cuts at LB too. Hard to say without seeing some of the other guys in action. The real question is if there is an injury during the year (knock on wood) can one of these other guys step up and start? If not then the depth is not good.
At CB there should be an open competition. Obviously Carr has a good shot being a veteran and a free agent signing. Although I think he is similar to Benny Sapp in ability. I am thinking they will keep 6 corners. I also would be interested in Mike Jenkins from the Cowboys. They have Brandon Carr and drafted Morris Claiborne. They also have Orlando Scandrick in the slot who they just signed to a 6 year 28 mil deal. I wonder if the Vikings could swing a trade. Maybe a 3rd or conditional 4th or maybe even Robison? That way Griffen can get on the field as an every down DE. Plus they have a lot of young interesting guys at DE too.
At safety the entire spots should be an open competition. But we know that is not how it works. I think they keep one other safety and that is probably Blanton who I have no idea can actually play safety especially in the NFL. I hope he can make the transition. It is a tough transition to make though. I also still think that Chris Cook is probably a better free safety than corner. I would not mind trading for Jenkins and having Cook and Smith at safety one day.
I think after a couple of preseason games I can do a final 53 man prediction. I would definitely still be on the lookout for DTs, LBs, CBs, and safeties.
In summary, I have only 35 spots that are filled right now with the rest up for grabs. I also will say that I think they should increase the roster size to 56 or 57 and also suit up everybody on game day. Why have a 53 man roster and then only can dress 46? If they are worried about player safety then playing more players is probably better. Also, if a team goes into a game with 7 offensive linemen and two suffer injuries during that game then they could be forced to put back in an already injured player if a third play gets hurt.