Daily Norseman Way Too Early 53 Man Roster

This write-up is just for laughs.

This has some pretty notable cuts with a lot of roster turnover at certain positions...  not sure I agree.

Here would be my "Way to Early" roster prediction (starters in bold):

QB (3): Kirk Cousins, *Sloter/Mannion, and Browning

* I think the team is looking at Sloter or Mannion as their QB2 and whoever loses the battle gets cut.  Browning sticks on the roster as the developmental QB3.  The Vikings gave him the largest signing bonus for an UDFA and I don't think they do that unless they expect to keep him on the roster.

RB/FB (4): Dalvin Cook, Alexander Mattison, Mike Boone, and C.J. Ham

* With Cook and Mattison as your 1-2 punch, I think Boone sticks and Ham is a good FB.  I'm not sure how much a FB will be used in our new offense so Ham is a guy that could be a surprise cut.  Roc Thomas gets cut (may be added to the practice squad) after his arrest.

WR (6): Adam Thielen, Stefon Diggs, Laquon Treadwell, Chad Beebe, Dillon Mitchell, and *Jordan Taylor/Brandon Zylstra

I think Laquon gets one more opportunity to prove himself...  Patterson got 4 years so I think the Vikings will let him play out his rookie deal.  I think Beebe makes it after the team was reportedly high on him last year and Mitchell has a lot of talent if Zimmer can get his mind right...  I think that last spot goes to whoever fits best on special teams.  Could be Taylor, Zylstra, Bisi Johnson, etc...

TE (3): Kyle Rudolph, Irv Smith Jr., David Morgan

I have Conklin not making it since I have Ham making the roster above.  Morgan gets the nod because he's our best blocking TE and is an asset in the run game.  If Ham is a surprise cut, I think Conklin may have a chance to stick on the roster.

OL (9): Riley Reiff, Pat Elflein, Garrett Bradbury, Josh Kline, Brian O'Neill, Aviante Collins, Dru Samia, Rashod Hill, and Oli Udoh.

I know some might be surprised that Brett Jones and Isidora are cut...  but I don't think Isidora is a good scheme fit and Jones was only signed to a cheap 1-yr deal.  I think he was purely insurance as a backup C/G depending on how the draft went.  Now that we came away with Bradbury and Samia, we don't need another backup C.  I think Udoh has a lot of raw talent and the Vikings may opt to keep a 4th OT since we're pretty versatile and heavy on the interior now.

DL (9): Everson Griffen, Linval Joseph, Jaleel Johnson/Shamar Stephen, Danielle Hunter, Stephen Weatherly, Jalyn Holmes, Tashawn Bower, Armon Watts

This could go a number of different ways...  I think Weatherly has the top backup DE spot solidified, but after that you have Bower and Aruna fighting for that 4th DE spot and Holmes, Odenigbo, Watts, and others vying for one or two spots.

LB (5): Anthony Barr, Eric Kendricks, Ben Gedeon, Eric Wilson, Cameron Smith/Devante Downs/Hercules

Zimmer wasn't happy with the LB depth last year and said as much...  yet, we didn't do much to address this in FA or the draft.  I would expect Cameron Smith to make it, but really I think it depends on whoever plays best on special teams...  could be Smith, Downs, Hercules or someone else.  I also think we only keep 5 LBs...  especially if the team is considering experimenting with Kearse at LB.  He could operate as our "6th" LB and a backup S/big nickel guy.

CB (6): Xavier Rhodes, Trae Waynes, Mackensie Alexander, Mike Hughes, Holton Hill, and...

I think the Vikings will keep 6 guys here.  Zimmer loves CBs and with Waynes and Alexander heading into their last year (and Holton Hill suspended for the first couple games)...  we'll keep 6 again.  Who that 6th guys ends up being is anyone's guess...

S (5): Harrison Smith, Anthony Harris, Kris Boyd, Jayron Kearse, and...  

With Kearse possibly splitting time at LB, the Vikings may keep a 5th safety.  I could see them going down to 4 if they don't want to have Kearse play some LB and they keep a 6th LB instead.

Specialists (3): Dan Bailey, Matt Wile, *Kevin McDermott

*Maybe this Air Force long snapper pushes out McDermott, but I'll keep him here since we don't know if the other guy can even play (or has to finish two years of service)

Not much I would disagree with here. 

I think Blasingame will give Ham a good battle for a roster spot but ultimately land on the practice squad. I think if the Vikings find either a startring left tackle or a right tackle post June 1, Reiff will be released. I won't call it likely, but it could happen. I think Isidora's a solid zone fit, but he just hasn't progressed like he should have by now. I too wouldn't be surprised to see him released considering the new names on the interior, especially if Collins is a guard. I like that you have Boyd at safety. Hoping that's where he lands. I'll predicts Downs beats out Smith and Jordan Taylor beats out Zylstra. In this offense (more 12 personnel, less 11), Vikings might choose to keep 4 tights and 5 wides. 

Good projection, some variances IMO:
@"Wetlander" said:RB/FB (4): Dalvin Cook, Alexander Mattison, Mike Boone, and C.J. Ham

I know Mike Boone is popular here, but he's not elusive and so this looks like "Dalvin Cook + 3 short-yardage runners". (And I do know Mattison has more versatility.) I think they are going to seek a change-of-pace back, and Ameer Abdullah can offer that and play best in a zone scheme. Maybe Abdullah is just not a NFL player, but I think the Vikings want him to stick.Cook, Mattison, Abdullah, Ham

@"Wetlander" said:WR (6): Adam Thielen, Stefon Diggs, Laquon Treadwell, Chad Beebe, Dillon Mitchell, and *Jordan Taylor/Brandon Zylstra

I think Kubiak was planning to use Treadwell as some kind of combo WR/TE - until we picked Irv Smith. Now I think he's done. And I think there will still be a desire to add some speed. My bet would be on these 6: Thielen, Diggs, Jordan Taylor, Chad Beebe, Dillon Mitchell....and one of Jeff Badet or a re-signed Aldrick Robinson.

@"Wetlander" said:OL (9): Riley Reiff, Pat Elflein, Garrett Bradbury, Josh Kline, Brian O'Neill, Aviante Collins, Dru Samia, Rashod Hill, and Oli Udoh.

Why only 9? I know, it's probably what they will do, but that's how we lose developmental prospects or depth. Besides, we're switching to a new blocking scheme, so some of the guys who are still adjusting on September 1 might be the best blockers by November 1. Keep 10, live with 4 safeties or 8 DL.Other question: where will Aviante Collins play? If they try him at RT and he looks good, Vikings could move O'Neill to LT. Rashod Hill is dodgy to trust at RT full-time and Udoh won't be ready for a year (or two). We have enough people at G/C now to let Collins stick to his college position, where I think he could start, and then O'Neill could push Reiff out.My 10: O'Neill, Elflein, Bradbury, Kline, Collins, Samia, Jones, Isadora, Hill, Udoh
@"Wetlander" said:DL (9): Everson Griffen, Linval Joseph, Jaleel Johnson/Shamar Stephen, Danielle Hunter, Stephen Weatherly, Jalyn Holmes, Tashawn Bower, Armon Watts

I'm going to make a prediction: Griffen will be a surprise end-of-camp cut. Hunter, Joseph, Weatherly, Jaleel Johnson, Stephen, Holmes, Aruna, Bower (Watts to PS)

My big question is DT.  Who is going to come through there.  Shamar isn't dynamic enough.  Is Jaleel ready?

@"greediron" said: My big question is DT.  Who is going to come through there.  Shamar isn't dynamic enough.  Is Jaleel ready?

I thought Collins only played left side in college?  I recall watching him at RT in the preseason last year, and I did not like what I saw.

@"ArizonaViking" said:

@"greediron" said: My big question is DT.  Who is going to come through there.  Shamar isn't dynamic enough.  Is Jaleel ready?

Jaleel better be ready or we will be seeing a lot more of Watts.