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Prediction: 3 Vikings that should make the final 53-man roster
By Chris Schad,
1 day ago
The Minnesota Vikings wrapped up the preseason with a win over the Philadelphia Eagles on Saturday afternoon but the fun is just beginning.
The Vikings and the rest of the NFL will be busy early this week as they make their final cuts ahead of Tuesday's deadline to determine a final 53-man roster. While the deadline doesn't completely put the roster in concrete as teams will scour the waiver wire to put the finishing touches, it is still significant to players on the bubble in the final hours.
So which players deserve to make the Vikings' final 53-man roster? Here's a look at those who played their way in.
Hall was on the bubble coming into training camp but may have gotten a little luck when J.J. McCarthy suffered a season-ending injury. If McCarthy had remained healthy, Hall may have been a lock for the practice squad unless the Vikings decided to trade Nick Mullens, but Hall took the opportunity and ran with it.
Hall had a shaky performance in the preseason opener against the Raiders but looked more composed in the final two games. Against Cleveland and Philadelphia, Hall completed 21-of-30 passes (70% completion rate) for 276 yards and four touchdowns including 17-of-25 passes for 189 yards and two touchdowns against the Eagles on Saturday.
This decision may also be made based on 2025. Nick Mullens is in the final year of his contract and having Hall as a backup to McCarthy would be an advantage as someone who has spent multiple years in Kevin O'Connell's system which has proven to be difficult for incoming quarterbacks to pick up.
Put it all together and Hall may have earned a roster spot over the final two weeks.
Trent Sherfield Jr.
Receiver may be more stabilized than some of the other positions on the roster, but depth is still needed. Jordan Addison's ankle injury and potential suspension for a DUI last month are cause for concern but so is Jalen Nailor's injury history, leaving the bottom half more important than ever.
While Nailor and Trishton Jackson have had strong training camps, the Vikings might want to keep one more receiver around, which could open the door for Trent Sherfield.
Sherfield isn't a dynamic receiver but is a capable blocker in the running game. While K.J. Osborn was pegged as a receiver in the minds of Vikings fans, he also did a lot of the dirty work, running underneath routes to free up other options and sealing the perimeter in the running game.
With Hockenson out for at least the first month of the season, keeping Sherfield around makes sense and helps him earn a spot on the final 53-man roster.
Dwight McGlothern
Brian Flores's defense was good last season but there are a couple of areas where it could use improvement. While the Vikings have spent the majority of the offseason improving the pass rush, they also could use a few more turnovers after ranking 20th with 11 interceptions and 22 total takeaways last season.
An undrafted cornerback out of Arkansas, McGlothern could help that cause. McGlothern registered five tackles, an interception and a pass deflection in three preseason games and his ball skills could help create the type of turnovers that Flores's defense was missing a year ago.
The Vikings may have to get creative to keep McGlothern around and it could mean trading Akayleb Evans or cutting a veteran such as Fabian Moreau. But in a room full of veterans McGlothern could be a project that provides depth in the secondary.
Aug 24, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback Jaren Hall (16) throws against the Philadelphia Eagles during the second quarter at Lincoln Financial Field.
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