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Minnesota Vikings final 53-man roster prediction: Who gets to keep their playbook?
By Tyler Forness,
12 hours ago
The Minnesota Vikings have finished the preseason with a big 26-3 win over the Philadelphia Eagles. It gives the Vikings an undefeated preseason and head coach Kevin O'Connell now had a 3-6 record in his preseason career.
Now that the preseason has concluded, it's about putting together the 53-man roster and practice squad . O'Connell and general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah have quite the task ahead of them to make 38 cuts before Tuesday.
Here is my final prediction on who makes the initial 53-man roster.
Quarterback
Sam Darnold
Nick Mullens
Jaren Hall
With Hall having a great final two games, he keeps the roster spot. While he may never be a starter, Hall gives you enough to like as a long-term backup after the season.
Running back
Aaron Jones
Ty Chandler
Kene Nwangwu
C.J. Ham
Nothing crazy here. Nwangwu has done a great job showing development as a running back, allowing him to make the roster. The other three are chalk. Watch for DeWayne McBride and Myles Gaskin to potentially make the practice squad.
Wide receiver
Justin Jefferson
Jordan Addison
Jalen Nailor
Brandon Powell
Trishton Jackson
Trent Sherfield is the only other player who could realistically make the roster here, but he didn't do enough to earn that roster spot. Watch for him to be added to the practice squad due to his special teams acumen.
Tight end
T.J. Hockenson (PUP/IR)
Josh Oliver
Johnny Mundt
Nick Muse
It will be tough to not have Robert Tonyan on the list, but he hasn't played at all during the preseason due to back spasms. The Vikings could keep four tight ends for that reason.
Offensive tackle
Christian Darrisaw
Brian O'Neill
David Quessenberry
Walter Rouse
Nothing to see here. This has been the room for the majority of training camp. Doug Nester has shown out a little bit and might have earned himself a spot on the practice squad.
Interior offensive line
Garrett Bradbury
Blake Brandel
Ed Ingram
Dan Feeney
Michael Jurgens
Jurgens needed to have a good game and he was solid. I think his youth and potential gets him the job over Dalton Risner.
If Gabriel Murphy was able to play during the preseason, I think he would have made the roster. As it sits, unless Jones gets traded, watch the practice squad to be flush with edge rushers.
Defensive line
Harrison Phillips
Jerry Tillery
Jonathan Bullard
Jaquelin Roy
Levi Drake Rodriguez
Rodriguez has been very impressive in a surprisingly good group of players. The one intriguing element that needs to be considered here is the status of Tillery. After not playing the entire preseason, could he be on the bubble?
Inside linebacker
Blake Cashman
Ivan Pace Jr.
Brian Asamoah
Kamu Grugier-Hill
Dallas Gant
One of the few surprises here is that Gant makes the roster. With NaJee Thompson out for the season , they will need a special teams maven and Gant has the chops to be that player.
Cornerback
Byron Murphy Jr.
Shaquill Griffin
Stephon Gilmore
Akayleb Evans
Fabian Moreau
Dwight McGlothern
No real surprises here. The addition of Gilmore makes the room significantly better and the back end you feel good about. This wasn't the room we expected to have at cornerback, but it will work.
Safety
Harrison Smith
Camryn Bynum
Josh Metellus
Theo Jackson
Lewis Cine
No Jay Ward here, who I believe could be a possible trade candidate. His brutal game against the Browns exposed him. Plus, Cine has shown out in a big way.
Specialists
K Will Reichard
P Ryan Wright
LS Andrew DePaola
These have been set in stone since the Vikings waived Seth Vernon earlier this week.
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