FanPost

53 man roster predictions and season predictions


Good evening Daily Norseman hope everyone is having a great weekend so far. The Stanley Cup playoffs are in full swing and outside of Football season who doesn't like playoff hockey? The draft has come and gone over a month ago and after the dust settled and not only did our own community give RS and company but the rest of the "football experts" out there also gave the Vikings and there draft haul an A average throughout the draft. In case you have been living under a rock for the past month lets look at this years draft class one more time

Christian Darrisaw, LT, Virginia Tech

Kellen Mond, QB, Texas A&M

Chazz Surrat, LB, North Carolina

Patrick Jones, DE, Pittsburgh

Wyatt Davis, OG, Ohio St

Kene Nwangwu, RB, KR Iowa St

Camryn Bynum, S, Cal

Janarius Robinson, DE Florida St

Imir Smith Marsette, WR, Iowa

Zach Davidson, TE, Central Missouri

Jaylen Twyman, DT, Pittsburgh

Just a quick glance at this class I see at least 2 possible starters 3 players who will see significant playing time in 2021 2 ST guys and 3 guys who will be backups or PS guys

Starters

Darrisaw & Davis- This should come as no surprise as both guys were drafted to be day 1 starters. The lack of a opening day LT starter I think makes Darrisaw a lock to start. Davis is a bit more of a conundrum as you have a log jam at IOL with guys like Dozier, Cole and Samia, on the roster. I left Cleveland off this list because he will open the season I believe at RG. I do think Dozier could start opening day because of this knowledge of the offense but if Davis comes in to training camp and the preseason and takes over he could start next to Darrisaw week 1.

Rotational

Make no mistake, We were one of the worst defenses in the league last year as a Mike Zimmer defense gave up the most PPG in his tenure here. ranked near the bottom of the league in almost all categories including sacks as our team leader in sacks was traded to Baltimore for a 3rd round pick 5 games into the season. This was why the Vikings went out and drafted 2 DE/Edge players in Patrick Jones and Janarius Robinson then added Jaylen Twyman in the 6th who could get some inside push. The team was also active in FA bring in Dalvin Tomilson, then getting back Micheal Pierce after he opted out last year. If Hunter comes back 100 % from his back surgery this could be a resurgent year for this group. I see a combination or Weatherly or Wonnum starting at RE to start the year with a combination of Robinson and Jones coming in to keep a fresh pass rush coming at the QB's. Getting lost in the fray is Chazz Surratt who isn't getting alot of pre camp hype yet because the LB corp is probably the strength of this team. I do see him playing sometime his year and push Vigil or Dye for the WLB spot later in the season.

Bench

I know alot of fans are excited about the pick of Kellen Mond but he is a project as he needs to learn how to take a snap from under center and learn the offense. Unless a injury happens to KC I don't see Mond seeing the field for a year or 2. Bynum will be transitioning to S from CB and with us still having Smith and Xavier Woods signed in FA Bynum will probably make his money his year on ST. Also on ST will be one of our 4th round picks and our 5th round pick in Kene Nwangwu and Smith Marsette as both of these guys were brought in to push KJ Osborn and Ameer Abdullah as or PR, KR guys. I hope that these guys find a nitch on this team other than ST as I think the Punt and Kick returns are getting transitioned out of the game for player safety. I like Nwangwu as a 3rd down RB as in the 2 two we have had Mattison he hasn't done anything to say that if Cook were to go down that he is our starting RB. I'll say the same with ISM, you hope he makes the roster as more than just a KR but with Beebe and Johnson ahead of him on the depth chart and his inability to run routes both of these picks seem like reaches to me.

So the starting roster will look something like this

QB

Cousins, Mond

RB

Cook, Mattison, Nwangwu

WR

Thielen, Jefferson, Beebe, Johnson, Smith-Marsette

TE

Smith, Conklin, Davidson

OL

Darrisaw, Davis, Bradbury, Cleveland, O'Neal, Cole, Dozier, Samia, Udoh, Hill

DL

Weatherly, Wonnum, Hunter, Tomilson, Pierce, Robinson, Jones, Twyman, Lynch, Mata'afa

LB

Barr, Kendricks, Dye, Vigil, Surratt, Connelly, Borland, Smith

DB

Peterson, Dantzler, Breeland, Alexander, Smith, Woods, Hand, Bynum, Gladney, Boyd

K

Riley Patterson

P

Britton Colquitt

Season prediction

It's always fun doing these but obviously a lot can happen during the season in terms of injuries or suspensions its all up in the air so lets jump into the season

Week 1 At Cincinnati

Key pickups

Jamar Chase

Trey Hendrickson

This is one of those games that on paper the Vikings should win but these are also the same games that we cringe at because of Zimmer's pour planning for teams we should beat. Tee Higgins showed enough at the end of the season to let AJ Green go and then the Bengals go out and add Jamar Chase to give Joe Burrow a lethal duo of weapons out wide. Returning also to the RB position is Joe Mixon who looks the part as a franchise RB. If The Bengals can protect Joe Burrow which was something they couldn't do last year with a revamped OL in Rookie Jackson Carman, Jonah Williams and our own Riley Reiff up front this could be a sleeper team in 2021. I do think Chase is going to break out in this game and do this best to show up his former LSU teammate in JJ. With so much uncertainty up front and our ablity to stop the run I think Burrow throws a late INT and going to go out on a limb here though and say we beat the Bengals to start the season on a late 4th QTR FG

Win 27-24

Week 2 At Arizona Cardinals

Key Additions

AJ Green

JJ Watt

Zaven Collins

Rodney Hudson

Rondale Moore

Kliff Kingsbury and Kyler Murray enter into crucial year 3 in the dessert as Arizona went all in and brought in WR help in AJ Green to go opposite of Deandre Hopkins and then Drafted Rondale Moore the speedster from Purdue to add with Christian Kirk. Murray will have a bunch of weapons to throw to and along with that he's a dual threat QB like Lamar Jackson but a better passer than Jackson at this point in his career. This game a lot like the Cincy game will be decided on if the Vikings can get to and get Murray on the ground. Zimmer has had issues in the past with running QBs and I also don't think we have the ability to cover all of Arizona's weapons either.

Loss 31-21

Week 3 Seattle Seahawks

Key additions

Gabe Jackson

Carlos Dunlap

To say Seattle had a drama of a offseason is a understatement. Russell Wilson reportedly wanted out of Seattle becaue of a lack of protection up front so the Seahawks went out and traded for all pro G Gabe Jackson but will it be enough? Seattle has dealt alot of draft choices over the years electing to bring in Jamal Adams for draft picks and seemingly hitting a HR with the 2nd round selection of DK Metcalf. This is a team that seems to be on a downward slide as the stalwart players who helped the win the SB are almost all gone with Wilson and Wagner all that's left. I don't think the addition of Gabe Jackson is enough as the Vikings win this game convincingly as the pass rush will be fierce. I think PP #7 will give Metcalf fits as he's played him a lot over the past few years. We go out and win our home opener

Win 27-14

Week 4 Cleveland Browns

Key Additions

John Johnson III

Jadaevon Clowney

Greg Newsome- Rookie

Grant Delpit- 2nd year- injury

Malik Jackson

The Browns last year if you watched the game against the chiefs were screwed to say the least as Higgins was clearly across the goaline when the ball came out and unlike what happened to Harrison Smith were he was ejected for a helmet to helmet Sorsenson wasn't and the Chiefs escaped at home to win the divisional round of the playoffs. The Browns went out and added some weapons on defense to help a pass rush get to QB's like Mahomes, Jackson and Allen. Baker Mayfield is the real deal and will be getting a big contract soon. With the 2 headed monster at RB and the weapons Mayfield has at his disposal I think the Browns win this big. This will be Darrisaw's 1st big test against Myles Garrett and again I think we will have issues with the weapons the Browns have on the outside in OBJ and Landry. Stefanski makes his return to Minnesota and essentially leaves with the W telling the Wilfs he should've been the HC not Zimmer. The Browns are my dark horse team to win the AFC as all the pieces are there and now can the team bring it together.

Loss 31-10

Week 5 Detroit Lions

Key additions

Jared Goff- trade

Michael Brockers- trade

Penei sewell- Draft

Detroit saw alot of changes in 2021 offseason as a new HC and staff came in along with the departure of Matt Staffrd out to the Rams for Jared Goff and essentially Michael Brockers as Dan Campbell and his ties to LA brought these two to the Motor City. The pick of Sewell is a home run and should be a decade starting LT for the team. Detroit along with Brockers drafted 2 other guys along the DL so Campbell is committed to winning in the trenches. We win this one as I just don't think the Lions have enough to get the job done. Cousins should rebound after a rough game against the Browns and we get our 1st win in the division for the year

Win 35-7

Week 6 At Carolina Panthers

Key Additions

Sam Darnold- Trade

AJ Bouye- FA

Jaycee Horn- Draft

Hasson Reddick- FA

Terrance Marshall- Draft

Brady Christensen- Draft

I like what Matt Rhule is doing in Carolina has he continues to build a defense that last year saw him draft guys like Derrick Brown and defensive ROTY in Jermey Chinn whos a swiss army knife in that defense. This year they go out and add the best CB in the draft in Jaycee Horn and add Veteran AJ Bouye on the other side to help shore up the outside. Carolina also swung for the fences in a trade with NYJ and brought Sam Darnold in to restart his career and get off to a good start. Darnold has the talent, the weapons, and protection to get the job done in Carolina. I know the goat is in TB still but with Christain McCaffrey coming back and a improved defense look for Carolina to shock some people and win the NFC south. I also predict them to win this game against us in a close one as Carolina wins on a late 4th QTR turnover by KC and a winning FG.

Loss 24-21

Week 7 Dallas Cowboys

Key additions

Micah Parsons

Keanu Neal

Damontae Kazee

Dak Prescott should be back and ready to play all will depend on if he trusts the broken ankle he suffered last year and still Jerry Jones made him the richest QB in the league. Dan Quinn comes over from Atlanta to be the DC and brings some of his Atlanta secondary with him in Neal and Kazee. I think Micah Parsons is going to come in from day one and establish himself as a day 1 starter. The offense in Dallas isn't the issue as the trio of Copper, Lamb and Gallup at WR and Elliot in the backfield. What use to be the best unit in the NFL now has some question marks as the OL isn't what it used to be. I think we pull this one off in a shootout as neither defense really stops the other and it comes down to who has the ball last.

Win 38-35

Week 8 at Baltimore Ravens

Key additions

Kevin Zeitler- FA

Sammy Watkins- FA

Jayson Oweh- Draft

Rashod Bateman- Draft

Ben Cleveland- Draft

We all know Lamar Jackson can run it all over the yard, the question out there is can he throw it consistently. The Ravens went out and got him some weapons in Sammy Watkins and Drafted Rashod Bateman to team with Hollywood Brown to give Jackson along with last years 3rd round pick JK Dobbins. This should be one of the best Offenses in the league this year despite the ravens trading Orlando Brown to conference rival KC which makes no sense to me but hey this is why I'm not a GM. A lot like the Kyler Murray matchup early in the year I think Lamar is going to give Zimmer's defense fits as the Ravens pull away late. I know at the midway point of the year I sound like a broken record but I'm really concerned with our CB's on the outside. If this team cannot generate a pass rush we are in serious trouble this year. I'm going to go out on a limb here and say again that Zimmer will be out coached by Harabaugh late in the 4th QR.

Loss 31-21

Week 9 At LA Chargers

Key Additions

Corey Linsey- FA

Rashawn Slater- Draft

Asante Samuel Jr- Draft

The chargers went out and invested in protecting Justin Herbert going and getting Corey Linsey for the Packers and then drafting Rashawn Slater to protect the young QBs blind side. The chargers were already sitting pretty with weapons with Allen and Williams on the outsides despite losing Hunter Henry to the Pats. They picked Derwin James 5th year open which outside of a great rookie year he's injury prone and I don't think he will be a long term solution if he can't stay healthy. I love this matchup as I think it's a game we win agaist one of the best young QB's in the league but with a new coaching staff and scheme I think we go out west and win a close but fun game

Win- 27-21

Week 11 Green Bay

Key additions

Amari Rodgers

Blake Bortles

Eric Stokes

Green Bay has been a bit of a mess this offseason as draft weekend reviled that Rodgers doesn't want to be back with GB in 2021. This goes back to reportedly being upset with the teams drafting of Jordan Love in 2020. Is love ready to be the starter in 2021 well if the team is desperate to bring in Blake Bortles to either start or back up Love what does it say about where Rodgers is going to be in 2021? I do in fact think that Rodgers will be traded by the start of the preseason. Rodgers has made it clear he doesn't want to be back so it time to move on. I ultimately think Denver will be the team that lands him as it's a team that's built to win now with the weapons around it. If Rodgers goes to Denver they are instantly the superbowl favorites out in the AFC. Back to GB with Rodgers gone this team is in flux as I'm not sure we will know how well the team works with Love or Bortles under center. The defense is still the same train wreck its been and outside of Alexander is Eric Stokes ready to shut down JJ or Thielen? I think the Vikings O Line is able to hold up against Kenny Clark and Zadarius Smith. Party in the streets folks we have a win over GB this season.

Win 28-14

Week 12 at San Francisco

Key additions

Trey Lance

Jason Verrett

Deommodore Lenior

Ambry Thomas

The 9'ers were one of the head scratchers of last season after losing many key starters to devastating season injuries. After trading Deforest Buckner to the Colts then drafting Javon Kinlaw he had a year with mixed results. Losing Jimmy Garrapolo to a season ending injury and Deebo Samuel to a foot. Brandon Aiyuk stepped up last year and quietly had a great year. If this Shanahan offense is back clicking like it was in SF's SB year its not a reach to say they could be back in the fold this year. That Defense and pass rusher is legit with Armstead, Bosa and Kinlaw along with Warner and Greenlaw in the LB core the only weakness is in the secondary. If Verett can get back to Pro bowl form and avoid the injuries could be a steal. The biggest shock of the off seaon could be that Trey Lance beats out Jimmy G for the Starting gig or starts to struggle. This should be a great game to cap off the Thanksgiving day festivities as both teams could be fighting for their playoff lives. This game is decided by one of 2 things If the Vikings O line can hold up against the front seven of SF we could win this game. The second is if Jimmy G throws tis game away. The weapons and play calling is all there, but the FO went out and got Trey Lance for a reason. Alot like Green bays situation we could be seeing a young signal caller under center when this game comes up. I think this could be another close game as both teams are evenly matched, it will all come down to which QB and OL. I'm going to give the edge to SF at this point because of all the youth on Defense and a young OL we lose a close tough game.

Loss- 28-24

Week 13 at Detroit

Looking back at the week 5 win we continue our winning ways against Detroit as I don't think they have figured it out with Goff under center yet. With this win it puts us at 7-7 and at least if our Division is close with Rodgers gone that could be our only way in to the playoffs as I Think the wildcard race is going to tight in the NFC as usual.

Win 31-14

Week 14 Steelers

Key additions

Najee Harris

Kendrick Green

Key Losses

Alejandro Villanueva

James Connor

Bud Dupree

Tyson AluAlu

Avery Williamson

Vince Williams

Mike Hilton

The Steelers seem to be a team with the Old guard being Ben Roethlisberger and Mike Tomlin trying to gather up enough around them to give it one last go. Juju Smith-Schuster decided to come back to the Steelers after not receiving any offers in FA. I think this could be a comeback year for SS after he was humbled a bit in FA that he's not the player he thought he was. Pittsburgh threw the ball all over the yard last year and couldn't seem to run the ball to save their lives. They went into the NFL and made the selection everyone knew was coming in Najee Harris to take the pressure off of Big Ben and get back to Pittsburgh football which is running the football. Sporting one of the best WR cores in the NFL with SS, Johnson and the emergence last year of Chase Claypool "Mapletron" the Steelers should still be one of the better teams in the NFL. But, I think they're the 3rd best team in the division and I have serious doubts on if the Steelers can protect Ben up front along with the exodus of defensive players that left the team. With these 2 issues I think the Steelers cane be beaten but we will need to have a few breaks bounce our way. These close games are what make or break seasons and coaching ultimately is what wins or loses games. We pull out a late INT of Big Ben and win a close game at home.

Win 24-21

Week 15 At Chicago Bears

Key Additions

Justin Fields

Teven Jenkins

Dazz Newsome

Damien Williams

Artie Burns

Key Losses

Kyle Fuller

Mitch Turbisky

I know some of you will chuckle when I put Turbisky on the Key losses list when you bring in a guy like Justin Fields. The rumor mill on draft night was the Vikings wanted Fields now we get to go against him 1st hand. RS didn't want to give up anymore to draft the signal caller from OSU and instead we drafted Kellen Mond in the 3rd. Fields went from the 2nd best QB in the draft then tumbled down after a poor final 2 showings in the big ten championship against Northwestern and even after a gutsy performance against Clemson in which Tre Sermon went off for a 2nd straight game Fields laid a egg against a superior Alabama Defense. Make no mistake this is a make or break year for both Ryan Pace and Matt Nagy who need to win to keep their jobs. They keep a defense together that still features Kahlil Mack and then signed Mario Edwards to go opposite of Mack. Eddie Jackson is one of the best Safety's in the game and Roquan Smith is coming into this own in the middle. It's Fields team to start the year as I think Andy Dalton will back him up. Allen Robinson is back along with a healthy Tarik Cohen and add a solid #2 WR in Dazz Newsome to the Mix along with David Montgomery this is our biggest advisory in the division. Chicago has had our # in recent years especially in soldier field. I think we fall short in this one guys as Justin Fields wins it with his legs late. Darrisaw gets another test here in Mack but that interior OL gives up a late pressure and Cousins throws a late INT.

Loss 24-21

Week 16th Rams

Key Additions

Matt Stafford

Desean Jackson

Tutu Atwell

Key Loss

Micheal Brockers

John Johnson III

The Rams made a major move prior to the NFL going out and getting a QB we are all familiar with in Matthew Stafford and trading Jared Goff after a disappointing playoff game against the Packers. Goff had clearly hit his ceiling with the Rams and the team thought they needed to go out and being in win now mode made the trade for Stafford. Stafford comes over with Seam Mcvay along with I think a player everyone will be familiar with by the end of the year in Cam Akers. When this team went to the SB a few years ago it was because of the running of Todd Gurley that got them there not Jared Goff's arm. Stafford has the best team around him he's ever had in his career and a stellar defense still lead by Aaron Donald and Jalen Ramsey. Make no mistake the Rams are going for it this year and they get it done against us as we loss again for a 2nd week in a row. I think it'll come down to coaching again s Zimmer will get exposed in late game situations where I think Mcvay excels. It's a veteran defense lead by a solid core and a Offense that will be back to form after 2 disappointing years but now with a healthy RB. This is a brutal few weeks for the team as we drop a key game in the NFC playoff race and fall a 1/2 game back of the Bears.

Loss- 27-14

Week 17 At Green Bay

This team is reeling after 2 straight tough losses as I think injuries could start to play a role at this point in the year. As I stated earlier in the year I'm worried about our depth at CB. Yes we have Patrick Peterson and Signed Breeland along with Mack again but this is still a unit with alot of youth that if someone goes down it'll hurt us. Lambeau is a tough place to play let alone win in December. I think Love will play better in our 2nd game against him, The question that still linger is can Cousins win a game we need to keep our playoff hopes alive. To win in GB in December you have to run the ball will Cook be able to stay healthy at the end of the year when it matters most? Its a down year for the packers with all the changes and FO upheaval from the Aaron Rodgers fallout. Jordan Love looks the part of a Franchise QB but isn't there quiet yet. We squeak out a must win game to keep our playoff hopes alive, and sweep the packers for the 1st time since the Rodgers injury year.

Win 28-14

Week 18 Chicago

In recent years when going into the final week of the season we have had our destinies in our hands but have laid a egg when we needed a win the most. Zimmer needs to win this year to save his job and the only way I see that is we make the playoffs. We always play Chicago tough at home and this year even last year when we lost basically everyone on defense. Cousins and the Offense play well enough at home to get us a needed win at home to close out the year. This is for the Division and a playoff birth, This is a veteran QB and Cousins comes through in the clutch for the 2nd week in a row against a division rival. Mike Zimmer is able to generate enough pressure up front to force Fields into a late mistake and we win the game on a late FG.

Win 24-21

Its a 10-7 year in that 10 wins get you a division crown with 2 new rookie QB's and a turnover in Detroit. This is a make or break year for Mike Zimmer as if he didn't make the playoffs he was out. We have a Veteran QB and a decent team around him this is also a make or break year for Cousins as well due to a rookie behind him. Lets hear it guys love talking about our team and I've been working on this for a few months when I couldn't log in and being busy with work. Hope you all are having a good summer so far

This FanPost was created by a registered user of The Daily Norseman, and does not necessarily reflect the views of the staff of the site. However, since this is a community, that view is no less important.