Minnesota Vikings training camp is finally here, which means we are one step close to the start of the J.J. McCarthy era. On Sunday, the rookies and quarterbacks reported and the rest of the team will report on Tuesday. 

The start of training camp is a special time, as we get to see the rookies for the first time extensively, and McCarthy getting all the starting quarterback reps. Outside of that, there are going to be numerous storylines to look at, especially with the wealth of talent on the fringes of the roster. 

Ahead of the first training camp practice, here’s the latest 53-man roster projection.

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Minnesota Vikings 53-Man Roster Prediction

Quarterback (3)

IN: J.J. McCarthy, Sam Howell, Max Brosmer
OUT: Brett Rypien

The skinny: When you look at this group, the only real discussion points here are with QB3 and 4. Rypien is the veteran who the Vikings replaced Jaren Hall with after final cuts, but ahead of week one. Brosmer has a lot of traits that Kevin O’Connell likes in a quarterback, which could elevate him to the 53-man roster.

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Running back (4)

IN: Aaron Jones, Jordan Mason, Ty Chandler, C.J. Ham (FB)
OUT: Tre Stewart, Zavier Scott

The skinny: This is a pretty set in stone group right now, but there is a path to either Stewart or Scott to make the roster over Chandler: special teams. Chandler has developed into a really good special teams player, and that’s a crucial role for an RB3. If Stewart and Scott want to make the roster, it will require them performing on special teams.

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Wide receiver (6)

IN: Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, Jalen Nailor, Tai Felton, Jeshaun Jones, Tim Jones
OUT: Rondale Moore (PUP), Thayer Thomas, Lucky Jackson, Dontae Fleming, Robert Lewis, Silas Bolden, Myles Price

The skinny: There is one major change from the last time we did a 53-man roster projection. Jeshaun Jones replaced Jackson after reports that he’s been playing well throughout the offseason program. If Moore is healthy, he will likely replace Jones on the roster, but until we see Moore on the practice field, he’s going to project to be on the PUP list.

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Tight end (3)

IN: T.J. Hockenson, Josh Oliver, Gavin Bartholomew
OUT: Benjamin Yurosek, Bryson Nesbit, Giovanni Ricci

The skinny: Bartholomew missed mandatory minicamp, which creates some intrigue with the TE3 spot. If he goes into training camp healthy, then it’s a different discussion. We don’t know a whole lot about his injury, but it could be a hindrance to him making the team. Watch for Yurosek to make this decision more difficult for Vikings brass.

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Offensive tackle (4)

IN: Christian Darrisaw, Brian O’Neill, Justin Skule, Walter Rouse
OUT: Logan Brown, Marcellus Johnson, Leroy Watson

The skinny: The top three tackles are essentially set in stone right now. The intrigue is in the final spot. Brown is the real wild card. A former five-star recruit, he was the 143rd-ranked player on the consensus board, but likely went undrafted due to allegedly beating up a teammate and getting kicked out of Wisconsin. He’s got the skill set to beat out Rouse. However, if the Vikings cross train Rouse at guard, it will give him a leg up in earning one of the final roster spots.

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Interior offensive line (5)

IN: Will Fries, Ryan Kelly, Donovan Jackson, Blake Brandel, Michael Jurgens
OUT: Henry Byrd, Joe Huber, Zeke Correll, Vershon Lee

The skinny: The one intrigue with the interior offensive line is who ends up as the backup center. We don’t really know who will be that guy, but the top option looks to be Michael Jurgens. When the Vikings selected him in the seventh round last year, general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah is on camera saying he thinks there is starting potential in Jurgens. However, he struggled mightily last preseason. Is there substantial growth that happened over the last year? That could be the biggest factor.

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Defensive line (6)

IN: Jonathan Allen, Javon Hargrave, Harrison Phillips, Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins, Levi Drake Rodriguez, Jalen Redmond
OUT: Taki Taimani, Travis Bell, Jonathan Harris, Alexander Williams, Elijah Williams

The skinny: This group is going to be the most intriguing when it comes to who makes the roster. 

Last year, Taimani and Redmond were so good in the preseason that they made the final 53-man roster. They are primed to make it again, but some additions during the draft cycle in Ingram-Dawkins and Elijah Williams could make things interesting.

Plus, there is the presence of last year’s seventh-round pick Rodriguez, who has a motor that runs red hot, which could complicate things. The strategy of building the defensive line is one of the biggest intrigues on this team.

Jalen Redmond highlights after dark pic.twitter.com/xHwX2edTob

— Tyler Forness (@TheRealForno) December 6, 2024

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Edge rusher (5)

IN: Jonathan Greenard, Andrew Van Ginkel, Dallas Turner, Tyler Batty, Bo Richter
OUT: Gabe Murphy, Chaz Chambliss

The skinny: We know that the team has three starters at edge rusher, something that defensive coordinator Brian Flores talked about when discussing Turner, but the depth pieces will be interesting. Murphy will have the edge going into camp, but UDFA Batty has a profile that is truly versatile, especially with his power profile and ability to kick inside.

Richter is probably going to get a roster spot due to his versatility to play off the ball and on special teams, but how they build out the edge room will be important to understanding how Flores wants to build this defense.

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Inside linebacker (4)

IN: Blake Cashman, Ivan Pace Jr., Eric Wilson, Kobe King
OUT: Max Tooley, Brian Asamoah II, Austin Keys, Dorian Mausi

The skinny: Not a lot of mystery with this group, and it could finally be the end of Asamoah’s time in Minnesota. It’s limited dead capital with him entering the final year of his rookie contract. King has a lot of ability to thrive on special teams, while potentially being able to grow into a starting role.

The inside linebacker position doesn’t have a ton of mystery to it right now. Cashman and Pace are the unquestioned starters going into the season with Wilson firmly entrenched as the top backup. Asamoah has been a special teams maven for the Vikings over the course of the last two years, but hasn’t made any impact on defense under Flores. He is in major danger of losing his roster spot to King, who the Vikings are high on after selecting him in the sixth round.

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Cornerback (6)

IN: Byron Murphy Jr., Isaiah Rodgers, Mekhi Blackmon, Jeff Okudah, Dwight McGlothern, Zemaiah Vaughn
OUT: Keenan Garber, Tavierre Thomas, Reddy Steward, Ambry Thomas, Khalef Hallassie

The skinny: This group is the weakest for the Vikings, not necessarily when it comes to bodies, but rather the major questions across the board. Rodgers looks to be the second cornerback with his competition being Blackmon coming off of a torn ACL and an often injured NFL Draft bust in Okudah.

The wild cards here are going to be both McGlothern and Vaughn with each being a UDFA in the last two years. They have similar profiles in that the are tall, long, and linear explosive. If either has a great training camp, I could see them having some sort of role on defense this season.

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Safety (4)

IN: Harrison Smith, Josh Metellus, Theo Jackson, Jay Ward
OUT: Mishael Powell

The skinny: This group is pretty simple on the surface. Powell is a likely cut, but watch out for Ward potentially being replaced if he has a poor training camp.

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Specialists (3)

IN: Will Reichard (K), Ryan Wright (P), Andrew DePaola (LS)
OUT: Oscar Chapman

The skinny: I’d be surprised if this changes at all, unless an impressive veteran punter becomes available at final cutdown.

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