The Minnesota Fightin’ Vikings are days away from trimming the 90-man roster down to 75 after the Dallas preseason game and then the final 53 after Tennessee as the 2015 campaign begins.
Since my mock draft skills are itching to get out, I did a mock 53-man roster and practice squad prediction/projection/forecast. Enjoy! (Also please be quick to tell me where I’m wrong, suck, and am terrible.)
QUARTERBACK (2)
5 Teddy Bridgewater
13 Shaun Hill
–I think this makes the most sense to keep 2 QBs on the roster & toss the kid Heinicke (who has shown some promise in spurts) on the practice squad.
RUNNING BACK (3)
28 Adrian Peterson
31 Jerick McKinnon
44 Matt Asiata
–Pretty much a Stone Cold Lock with these three.
FULLBACK (0)
First Hot Take. The organization does like Line and gave him a showcase game against Tampa, but his duties can be filled by an h-back combo of Ellison & Pruitt.
WIDE RECEIVER (6)
11 Mike Wallace
12 Charles Johnson
17 Jarius Wright
19 Adam Thielen
14 Stefon Diggs
84 Cordarrelle Patterson
–CP84 hangs on. Probably more out of stubbornness than anything.
TIGHT END (4)
82 Kyle Rudolph
85 Rhett Ellison
86 Chase Ford
83 MyCole Pruitt
–Four tight ends with not keeping a fullback. Chase Ford’s “birthday” game against the Raiders has rekindled my love for him. *Cue the Nightranger*
OFFENSIVE LINE (9)
75 Matt Kalil
63 Brandon Fusco
65 John Sullivan
79 Mike Harris
68 T. J. Clemmings
61 Joe Berger
67 Zac Kerin
66 David Yankey
74 Austin Shepherd
–Most teams carry eight o-linemen, but nine felt right with this group. Bonus is that Berger, Yankey, and Shepherd can backup multiple positions.
DEFENSIVE ENDS (5)
97 Everson Griffen
96 Brian Robison
99 Danielle Hunter
95 Scott Crichton
94 Justin Trattou
–The top four were a lock. Just hoping that Trattou can sneak in on the 53 to start the year. Great things happen when #94s on the field.
DEFENSIVE TACKLES (4)
98 Linval Joseph
73 Sharrif Floyd
92 Tom Johnson
93 Shamar Stephen
-Standard.
LINEBACKERS (7)
55 Anthony Barr
57 Audie Cole
52 Chad Greenway
50 Gerald Hodges
54 Eric Kendricks
58 Brandon Watts
45 Brian Peters
–Brian Peters is the clear surprise, but you’d be hard pressed to find anyone who doesn’t think he’s outplayed his peers and deserves a spot.
CORNERBACKS (6)
29 Xavier Rhodes
30 Terence Newman
26 Trae Waynes
24 Captain Munnerlyn
35 Marcus Sherels
27 Shaun Prater
–Carrying six cornerbacks (if you consider Prater a corner) with Josh Robinson on the PUP & Jabari Price on two-game suspension making it eight. If Captain doesn’t get his mess together, I wouldn’t be shocked if the team cuts him after Price returns.
SAFETIES (4)
22 Harrison Smith
36 Robert Blanton
32 Antone Exum
34 Andrew Sendejo
–Standard.
SPECIALISTS (3)
18 Jeff Locke
47 Kevin McDermott
3 Blair Walsh
OTHER (2)
21 Josh Robinson (PUP)
25 Jabari Price (2-game suspension)
PRACTICE SQUAD (10)
76 Isame Faciane
90 B. J. Dubose
23 Joe Banyard
48 Zach Line
6 Taylor Heinicke
59 Tom Farniok
72 Tyrus Thompson
40 Edmond Robinson
41 Anthony Harris
38 Justin Coleman
–I think the team wants to keep Line in the fold and are still enamored by Faciane transitioning to guard. Then the standard mix of young kids in development.
INTERNATIONAL PRACTICE SQUAD EXEMPTION (1)
69 Babatunde Aiyegbusi
Not sure this is a lock…
SOL (21)
20 DuJuan Harris, 49 Blake Renaud, 43 Dominique Williams, 16 DaVaris Daniels, 2 Donte Foster, 9 Jordan Leslie, 15 Isaac Fruechte, 89 Ryan Whalen, 81 Brandon Bostick, 78 Stephen Goodin, 64 Bobby Vardaro, 62 Chigbo Anunoby, 69 Greg Hickman, 78 Leon Mackey, 91 Caesar Rayford, 64 Chrishon Rose, 51 Josh Kaddu, 56 Michael Mauti , 39 Jalil Carter, 33 Josh Thomas, 37 DeMarcus Van Dyke
Anyways that’s my 53. Let me know where I screwed up!
[Image Courtesy of Vikings.com]
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