One week closer to cut day, the Vikings’ roster picture is starting to sharpen - and in a few spots, it’s getting messier.
Minnesota has until 5 p.m. CST on Sunday, August 30, to hand in its final 53-man roster, and after more than two weeks of practice plus one preseason game, some early trends are already hard to ignore. Joint practices and Saturday’s preseason game against the Ravens will matter most, but the first real draft of the roster is taking shape.
At quarterback, the projection stays the same for now. That could change quickly if Carson Wentz keeps outpacing J.J.
McCarthy the way he has through camp. If the next week goes the same way as last week - and really, much of camp - Wentz could move ahead as QB2, push McCarthy off the final 53 altogether, and create a path for Max Brosmer to stick.
McCarthy has been too inconsistent to feel locked in.
The backfield has another name making a strong case. Demond Claiborne has been uneven, including in the game against the New York Giants, but the explosiveness is real and hard to dismiss. The Vikings made their interest in the Wake Forest back clear during the draft process, and that kind of profile doesn’t look like one they’ll walk away from easily.
There’s also a fullback in this camp who keeps turning heads. Every day seems to strengthen the case that the Vikings found a legitimate wrecking ball in the Michigan fullback.
At receiver, Jeshaun Jones has worked his way into the projection by passing Dontae Fleming for the WR6 spot. The race remains tight, and it’s still no sure thing Minnesota keeps six wideouts, but Jones has the edge based on what he’s shown over the past few weeks.
Tight end doesn’t look all that different, except for one encouraging note: T.J. Hockenson and Kyler Murray appear to be developing a dependable red-zone connection. Ben Yurosek, meanwhile, profiles as a strong practice-squad option who could help if called up.
The biggest concern on the roster may now be center. That has jumped ahead of even safety in terms of urgency, and Nolan Teasley is going to have to chase help there, likely through a trade, to bring some much-needed stability. Brandel can slide back into his utility role, while Michael Jurgens remains in position as the backup center.
Up front on defense, the depth chart stays put for now. Banks and Orange could see plenty of action as rookies, but they’ll benefit from the veterans around them rotating through. Levi Drake Rodriguez continues to look like an underrated space-eater, and Jalen Redmond keeps standing out as one of the most overlooked defensive players in the league.
At edge rusher, the Vikings still don’t look fully settled. More help would make the room behind AVG and DT15 feel a lot safer before Week 1. Ingram-Dawkins at least flashed this week, getting his long arms into a Kyler Murray pass and swatting it to Dallas Turner at Monday’s practice.
Inside, Ivan Pace’s camp has been better than the online reaction might suggest. He took heat after getting Moss’ed by Giants rookie receiver Malachi Fields in the end zone last weekend, but that was a tough setup for a 5’10” linebacker against a 6’4” target. Overall, Pace has had a solid camp, and with Jamal Adams’ move to safety before his season-ending injury, the path for Pace looks even more open now.
Cornerback has been trimmed to four in this projection because safety has become such a pressing issue. Chuck Demmings has made a strong early impression as a rookie, and James Pierre looks like the kind of under-the-radar free-agent pickup that can pay off. Dwight McGlothern and Zemaiah Vaughn would be in the fight for the last spot if Minnesota keeps five corners.
Safety is the most complicated room on the roster. Tavierre Thomas is really a special teamer first and may not make it if someone else steps up.
Adams had moved mostly into the first-team safety mix before tearing his quad against the Giants last weekend, and the possibility of a Harrison Smith return hangs over everything. Jacob Thomas is also making noise as a UDFA rookie, picking off a pass against the Giants and getting first-team reps with the defense on Monday.
Special teams may not be any less interesting. Brett Thorson was the favorite before camp, and that hasn’t changed, but a year in the NFL’s international player pathway and time learning from Johnny Hekker might be the best move for him right now. Will Reichard keeps building the kind of trust that no Vikings fan should probably feel while watching him line up to kick.
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For Vikings fans, it was the kind of camp clip that can spark optimism about what the offense might look like heading into the 2026 season, and it also gives fantasy players another reason to keep Jefferson near the top of their boards. The chemistry with Murray was a particularly interesting wrinkle in a practice filled with attention-grabbing moments, even if the bigger question is how much of that connection carries into the games that count. [Read more 🡒]