The Vikings’ initial 53-man roster already looks a little more temporary than permanent, and the last day and a half proved that point. Quarterback Max Brosmer and wide receiver Dillon Bell were cut loose to clear space for waiver claims offensive guard Trevor Keegan and center Nick Samac.
If Minnesota keeps tinkering, or if a certain future Hall of Fame safety comes back, more moves will have to follow. The roster is in decent shape overall after Monday’s addition at center, but edge rusher and safety still stand out as the spots most likely to change before the Vikings open against the Packers on Sept. 13.
That puts a few players in the crosshairs if the team needs room.
Zemaiah Vaughn is one of the names that stands out. His spot on the initial roster was a bit of a surprise, even after he flashed at times during the summer. Defensive coordinator Brian Flores has not leaned heavily on the cornerback spot during his time in Minnesota, and when the Vikings moved on from Dwight McGlothern with an injury designation, Vaughn had a path to stick if he made the most of it.
The Vikings clearly liked what they saw from the 24-year-old. But his place could get shaky if Harrison Smith returns.
Minnesota is already carrying plenty of safeties, and there does not seem to be much appetite to cut someone already in that room, especially after undrafted free agent Jacob Thomas impressed throughout camp and the preseason. A Vaughn-for-Smith swap would keep the defensive back group at 10 and would be the cleanest way to make it work.
Ben Yurosek is another possible casualty if the Vikings need to clear space. The former Stanford and Georgia tight end impressed at last year’s training camp, and with Gavin Bartholomew sidelined by a season-ending injury, Yurosek’s place on the 2025 roster made sense. This summer, though, Bartholomew was the one who stole the show in the tight end group.
Even so, Minnesota kept four tight ends, which was a little surprising. That could point to the team’s interest in the revamped run game, or maybe Kevin O’Connell wants more help in the passing game near the goal line. Either way, the position looks crowded, and Yurosek could become expendable if the Vikings need to add help somewhere else.
Chaz Chambliss is the toughest one to imagine losing. The 2025 UDFA from Georgia made the roster and appeared in 12 games, though he finished with just eight tackles.
Still, he’s been a gritty presence and even took snaps at fullback in the final preseason game to give Max Bredeson a break. O’Connell said Chambliss changed his number from 57 to 40 so that when he lines up at FB, he doesn’t have to report as eligible.
His effort has made him a favorite of Flores, but the numbers at edge rusher are thin, and the Vikings are almost certain to look for more pass-rush help after losing OLB Tyler Batty. If Minnesota adds another player, Chambliss could be the one squeezed out, though the team would probably explore other options before cutting further into that spot.
In Other News...
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Vikings May Already Have C.J. Hams Successor In Place
C.J. Hams retirement after 10 years in Minnesota leaves the Vikings with a familiar kind of hole, one that matters more than it might outside the building. The fullback role has never been glamorous, but it has long been part of the identity of this offense, especially when the Vikings want to lean into physical football and make life easier for their backs and tight ends.
Enter Max Bredeson, the fifth-round pick who already looks like a logical fit for that job. He is expected to bring the kind of blocking and versatility the Vikings value, and his ability to work in heavy packages alongside T.J. Hockenson and Josh Oliver gives Minnesota some flexibility as it shifts toward a more run-heavy approach. The question now is less about whether the role will be filled and more about how quickly Bredeson can make it his own. [Read more 🡒]