The Vikings 2020 roster is shaking up to be quite different than how it looked in 2019.
Minnesota drafted 15 players in the recent NFL Draft, the most ever by a team in the seven-round format. The Vikings added some talent who could come in and start, while others can possibly beat out incumbent reserves for a spot on the depth chart. Minnesota added players at positional needs such as wide receiver, cornerback and offensive line.
There will also likely be so me rookies who don’t make the team, considering there were so many Vikings rookies drafted on the third day. So, that got us at Vikings Wire thinking, what will Minnesota’s 53-man roster look like?
There’s a lot of time for players to prove themselves and make the team, but it’s interesting to look at how the team could present itself in 2020, especially with all the new faces.
Here are the choices we made:
*: Denotes a player who is at multiple positions on the depth chart.
Quarterback: Kirk Cousins, Sean Mannion, Nate Stanley
Analysis: Minnesota will have quite a quarterback competition for the backup spot. Between Mannion — the backup quarterback in 2019 — Jake Browning and Nate Stanley, the Vikings will have to make some tough decisions, and probably cut at least one of them.
I like Nate Stanley. Maybe he doesn’t beat out Browning, but he could. Cousins is the obvious starter for 2020, but after that, it could be anyone’s game.
Running back: Dalvin Cook, Alexander Mattison, Mike Boone, Ameer Abdullah, C.J. Ham (fullback)
Analysis: Cook is clearly the starter, but due to his injury concerns, it makes sense to have plenty of depth behind him. Mattison is a serviceable backup, as is Boone. Abdullah is more of a special teams player, but he can still serve as a different dimension in the offense if need be.
Wide receiver: Adam Thielen, Justin Jefferson, Bisi Johnson, Tajae Sharpe, Chad Beebe, Quartney Davis, K.J. Osborn*
Analysis: It will be a big task to replace Stefon Diggs. The Vikings traded Diggs away to the Bills for draft picks. The team drafted a wide receiver with one of the picks it received from the Bills: LSU wideout Jefferson. He can come in and take the wide receiver two spot.
After that, it’s up in the air. I think Johnson could take the wide receiver three position, barely beating out Sharpe. Davis barely makes the roster, and Osborn is more of a special teams player. I went a little heavy with the wide receivers on this one, taking seven, but Osborn has another role in this scenario and it will take a group to replace Diggs.
Tight end: Kyle Rudolph, Irv Smith Jr., Tyler Conklin
Analysis: This one is pretty self-explanatory. Rudolph is the clear starter, Smith Jr. and Conklin are the two reserves. It would have been interesting if the team added an extra tight end in the draft. Oh, well, maybe the Vikings sign an undrafted free agent at that position.
Tackle: Brian O’Neill, Riley Reiff, Ezra Cleveland, Rashod Hill, Oli Udoh
Analysis: Cleveland will battle for the starting spot with Reiff. If Cleveland is able to be a starting-caliber tackle, then Reiff could probably move to guard, solidifying the offensive line.
Guard: Pat Elflein*, Dru Samia, Blake Brandel, Dakota Dozier
Analysis: Elflein and Samia win the starting spots in this scenario. Brandel and Dozier both make for adequate reserves. As much as I like Kyle Hinton, it will be hard for him to make the team.
Center: Garrett Bradbury, Brett Jones, Pat Elflein*
Analysis: Elflein could be the starting center in case Bradbury gets injured. Bradbury should be able to improve on an offensive line that added more depth this offseason. Guard Josh Kline is a big loss to the position group as a whole, but they could still re-sign him to a cheaper deal or find another offensive lineman in free agency.
Defensive end: Danielle Hunter, Ifeadi Odenigbo, Anthony Zettel, D.J. Wonnum
Analysis: Minnesota didn’t get better at defensive end this offseason, though they didn’t take a huge step back. I think since the Vikings didn’t draft a defensive end in the first couple rounds, that the team believes in its reserves. One of those reserves is Odenigbo, who I think will become the starter.
Defensive tackle: Michael Pierce, Shamar Stephen, Jaleel Johnson, Armon Watts
Analysis: Pierce signed with the team in free agency. Stephen is a returning starter. I think that the team probably should have done more with this position, but maybe the likes of James Lynch can make the team and move up the depth chart. I also think Hercules Mata’afa could make the team over some of these other players, but it gets tough because Minnesota has so many problems at other positions that likely need more depth.
Linebacker: Eric Kendricks, Anthony Barr, Eric Wilson, Ben Gedeon, Troy Dye
Analysis: Kendricks and Barr are the clear starters at this position. Wilson will probably be the other starter if the season began today, but maybe the rookie Dye can step up and surprise some people. You never know.
Cornerbacks: Mike Hughes*, Jeff Gladney, Holton Hill, Kris Boyd, Cameron Dantzler
Analysis: Hughes and Gladney are the two starters if I had to predict. Hill is the nickel corner, though he can definitely win one of the spots out wide. Dantzler and Harrison Hand seem like good rookies, who can add depth to a position group that faces big losses in free agency.
Safety: Harrison Smith, Anthony Harris, Mike Hughes*, Josh Metellus
Analysis: Smith and Harris arguably make up the best safety duo in the NFL. That means Minnesota doesn’t need to have a bunch of help at safety behind them. Also, Hughes can play the position if Harris or Smith go down. Metellus could pan out, too.
Special Teams: Kicker Dan Bailey, Punter Britton Colquitt, long snapper Austin Cutting, kick returner K.J. Osborn*, punt returner Mike Hughes*.
Analysis: These first few players are pretty easy, Bailey is obviously the kicker, Colquitt is obviously the punter and Cutting is obviously the long snapper. After that, it’s anyone’s guess. I think Osborn could very well get one of the return spots. Also having him on special teams makes for more depth at wideout. Hughes has been a competent return man in the spot. He gets the nod at punt returnin.
