Evaluating and Projecting the 2019 Roster

[Krauser]

As training camp opens, the Vikings have 89 players on the roster.

On August 31st, they will cut the roster down to the final 53, and put together a practice squad.

Who do you think makes the cut? What are the strengths and weaknesses of this roster?

Here's an unofficial initial depth chart taken from an article at the Athletic: https://theathletic.com/1080285/2019/07/23/vikings-depth-chart-how-the-roster-stacks-up-going-into-training-camp/

Offense (44 players)

Quarterback: Kirk Cousins, Sean Mannion, Kyle Sloter, Jake Browning
Running back: Dalvin Cook, Alexander Mattison, Ameer Abdullah, Mike Boone
Fullback: C.J. Ham, Khari Blasingame
Wide receiver: Adam Thielen, Stefon Diggs, Jordan Taylor, Chad Beebe, Brandon Zylstra, Laquon Treadwell, Dillon Mitchell, Jeff Badet, Alexander Hollins, Davion Davis, Olabisi Johnson
Tight end: Kyle Rudolph, Irv Smith Jr., David Morgan, Tyler Conklin, Cole Hikutini, Brandon Dillon
Left tackle: Riley Reiff, Rashod Hill, Adam Bisnowaty
Left guard: Pat Elflein, Danny Isidora, Tiano Pupungatoa
Center: Garrett Bradbury, Brett Jones, Cornelius Edison, John Keenoy
Right guard: Josh Kline, Dakota Dozier, Dru Samia
Right tackle: Brian O’Neill, Aviante Collins, Oli Udoh, Storm Norton

Defense (41 players)

Left defensive end: Danielle Hunter, Tashawn Bower, Ifeadi Odenigbo, Anree Saint-Amour
Three-technique: Shamar Stephen, Hercules Mata’afa, Jalyn Holmes, Armon Watts
Nose tackle: Linval Joseph, Jaleel Johnson, Tito Odenigbo, Curtis Cothran
Right defensive end: Everson Griffen, Stephen Weatherly, Ade Aruna, Karter Schult
Strongside linebacker: Anthony Barr, Devante Downs
Middle linebacker: Eric Kendricks, Eric Wilson, Cameron Smith, Greer Martini
Weakside linebacker: Ben Gedeon, Kentrell Brothers, Reshard Cliett
Left cornerback: Trae Waynes, Mike Hughes, Craig James, Duke Thomas, Nate Meadors
Right cornerback: Xavier Rhodes, Holton Hill, Mackensie Alexander, Kris Boyd
Strong safety: Anthony Harris, Jayron Kearse, Jordan Martin, Micah Abernathy
Free safety: Harrison Smith, Derron Smith, Marcus Epps

Special teams (4 players)

Kicker: Dan Bailey
Punter: Matt Wile
Long snapper: Austin Cutting, Kevin McDermott
Punt returner: Chad Beebe, Brandon Zylstra, Mike Hughes, Ameer Abdullah, Holton Hill, Olabisi Johnson
Kick returner: Ameer Abdullah, Mike Hughes, Brandon Zylstra, Holton Hill, Chad Beebe

[SemperFeist]

Quarterback: Kirk Cousins, Kyle Sloter, Jake Browning
Running back: Dalvin Cook, Alexander Mattison, Mike Boone
Fullback: C.J. Ham
Wide receiver: Adam Thielen, Stefon Diggs, Jordan Taylor, Chad Beebe, Dillon Mitchell
Tight end: Kyle Rudolph, Irv Smith Jr., David Morgan, Tyler Conklin
Left tackle: Riley Reiff, Rashod Hill
Left guard: Pat Elflein
Center: Garrett Bradbury, Brett Jones
Right guard: Josh Kline, Dru Samia
Right tackle: Brian O’Neill, Oli Udoh

Left defensive end: Danielle Hunter, Tashawn Bower
Three-technique: Shamar Stephen, Hercules Mata’afa, Jalyn Holmes
Nose tackle: Linval Joseph, Jaleel Johnson
Right defensive end: Everson Griffen, Stephen Weatherly
Strongside linebacker: Anthony Barr, Devante Downs
Middle linebacker: Eric Kendricks, Eric Wilson, Cameron Smith
Weakside linebacker: Ben Gedeon
Left cornerback: Trae Waynes, Mike Hughes, Craig James
Right cornerback: Xavier Rhodes, Mackensie Alexander, Kris Boyd
Strong safety: Anthony Harris, Jayron Kearse
Free safety: Harrison Smith, Marcus Epps

Kicker: Dan Bailey
Punter: Matt Wile
Long snapper: Austin Cutting

 

There are going to definitely be some tough cuts this year. 

[vikingsrule]

QB (3) Cousins, Mannion, Sloter

RB (3) Cook, Mattison, Abdullah

FB (1) Blasingame

WR (5) Thielen, Diggs, Taylor, Beebe, Mitchell

TE (4) Rudolph, Smith, Morgan, Conklin

OT (4) Reiff, O'Neill, Hill, Collins

OG (3) Elflein, Kline, Samia

C (2) Bradbury, Jones

DE (5) Hunter, Griffen, Weatherly, Bower, Odinigbo

DT (4) Joseph, Stephen, Johnson, Holmes

LB (6) Barr, Kendricks, Gedeon, Wilson, Smith, Downs

CB (6) Rhodes, Waynes, Hughes, Alexander, Boyd, James

S (4) Smith, Harris, Kearse, Epps

ST (3) Bailey, Wile, Cutting

 

Hill suspended. 

 

Areas of concern: 

WR depth. - what an awful group behind Diggs and Thielen. I see little upside that any of the depth will amount to being a solid contributor. Most of these players look like #5s

Interior OL still worries me. I don't expect much from Elflein or Kline. I assume we will see Samia playing at some point out of necessity. Excited to see Bradbury though. 

Interior DL - who's going to emerge as a pass rushing 3T? Losing Richardson and Johnson could hurt here. 

[SemperFeist]

I don’t think there’s a competition at fullback

[Krauser]

Training camp, day one -- post injury report: 

QB (3) Cousins, Mannion, Sloter
RB (3) Cook, Mattison, Boone
FB (1) Ham
WR (5) Thielen, Diggs, Beebe, Taylor, Mitchell
TE (4) Rudolph, Smith, Morgan, Conklin
OT (4) Reiff, O'Neill, Hill, Collins
IOL (5) Bradbury, Kline, Elflein, Dozier, Samia

DE (5) Hunter, Griffen, Weatherly, Odenigbo, Schult
DT (5) Joseph, Stephen, Johnson, Holmes, Mata’afa
LB (5) Barr, Kendricks, Gedeon, Wilson, Smith
CB (5) Rhodes, Waynes, Alexander, (Claiborne or other vet signing), Boyd
S (5) Smith, Harris, Kearse, Derron Smith, Epps

ST (3) Bailey, Wile, Cutting

PUP: Hughes
IR: Bower
SUSP: Hill
PS notables: Blasingame, Johnson, Davis, Udoh, Saint-Amour, Watts

[SteelKing728]

QB (2): Cousins, Sloter

RB (4): Cook, Boone, Mattison, Abdullah

FB (1): Ham

WR (5): Diggs, Thielen, Beebe, Taylor, Mitchell

TE (4): Rudolph, Morgan, Smith Jr, Conklin

OT (4): Reiff, O'Neill, Hill, Udoh

IOL (5): Elflein, Bradbury, Kline, Jones, Samoa

 

DE (4): Hunter, Griffen, Weatherly, Odenigbo

DT (5): Joseph, Stephen, Johnson, Mata'afa, Holmes

OLB (4): Barr, Gedeon, Wilson, Downs

MLB (2): Kendricks, Smith

CB (6): Rhodes, Waynes, Alexander, Hughes, Claiborne, Boyd

S (4): Smith, Harris, Kearse, Epps

 

K (1): Bailey

P (1): Wile

LS (1): Cutting

Bower tore his Achilles so he's done, I'm hoping Hughes can be ready by week 1, but if not, still not placed on PUP and Hill will be back when he's done being dumb. I see Treadwell being traded, not cut.

Edited July 27, 2019 by SteelKing728

[VIKINGS101011]

On 7/23/2019 at 8:04 PM, vikingsrule said:

QB (3) Cousins, Mannion, Sloter

RB (3) Cook, Mattison, Abdullah

FB (1) Blasingame

WR (5) Thielen, Diggs, Taylor, Beebe, Mitchell

TE (4) Rudolph, Smith, Morgan, Conklin

OT (4) Reiff, O'Neill, Hill, Collins

OG (3) Elflein, Kline, Samia

C (2) Bradbury, Jones

DE (5) Hunter, Griffen, Weatherly, Bower, Odinigbo

DT (4) Joseph, Stephen, Johnson, Holmes

LB (6) Barr, Kendricks, Gedeon, Wilson, Smith, Downs

CB (6) Rhodes, Waynes, Hughes, Alexander, Boyd, James

S (4) Smith, Harris, Kearse, Epps

ST (3) Bailey, Wile, Cutting

 

Hill suspended. 

 

Areas of concern: 

WR depth. - what an awful group behind Diggs and Thielen. I see little upside that any of the depth will amount to being a solid contributor. Most of these players look like #5s

Interior OL still worries me. I don't expect much from Elflein or Kline. I assume we will see Samia playing at some point out of necessity. Excited to see Bradbury though. 

Interior DL - who's going to emerge as a pass rushing 3T? Losing Richardson and Johnson could hurt here. 

Don’t discount D Mitch. Were You thinking Diggs and Thielen had the upside they lived up to after there draft years?

[Krauser]

After preseason game one:

QB (3) Cousins, Mannion, Sloter
RB (3) Cook, Mattison, Boone
FB (1) Blasingame
WR (5) Thielen, Diggs, Beebe, Zylstra, Johnson
TE (4) Rudolph, Smith, Conklin, Hikutini
OT (4) Reiff, O'Neill, Hill, Udoh
IOL (5) Bradbury, Kline, Elflein, Isidora, Samia

DE (4) Hunter, Griffen, Weatherly, Odenigbo
DT (5) Joseph, Stephen, Johnson, Holmes, Mata’afa
LB (6) Barr, Kendricks, Gedeon, Wilson, Downs, Smith
CB (5) Rhodes, Waynes, Alexander, Hughes (reports are that he’s making progress), Boyd
S (5) Smith, Harris, Kearse, Derron Smith, Epps

ST (3) Bailey, Wile, Cutting

PUP: Morgan
IR: Bower
SUSP: Hill
PS notables: Watts, Mitchell, Dillon, Saint-Amour, Meadors

[Ozzy]

1 hour ago, Krauser said:

After preseason game one:

QB (3) Cousins, Mannion, Sloter
RB (3) Cook, Mattison, Boone
FB (1) Blasingame
WR (5) Thielen, Diggs, Beebe, Zylstra, Johnson
TE (4) Rudolph, Smith, Conklin, Hikutini
OT (4) Reiff, O'Neill, Hill, Udoh
IOL (5) Bradbury, Kline, Elflein, Isidora, Samia

DE (4) Hunter, Griffen, Weatherly, Odenigbo
DT (5) Joseph, Stephen, Johnson, Holmes, Mata’afa
LB (6) Barr, Kendricks, Gedeon, Wilson, Downs, Smith
CB (5) Rhodes, Waynes, Alexander, Hughes (reports are that he’s making progress), Boyd
S (5) Smith, Harris, Kearse, Derron Smith, Epps

ST (3) Bailey, Wile, Cutting

PUP: Morgan
IR: Bower
SUSP: Hill
PS notables: Watts, Mitchell, Dillon, Saint-Amour, Meadors

So you cut Treadwell?  What to say around $2 million for this one year since we have almost zero cap room next year?

I think we keep Treadwell at least through this season, he is giving decent effort and is a better player than Zylstra is.  Hikutini also culd be easily cut but will see how Morgan recovers.  They could maybe get Troy Niklas as a big body TE and a fine blocker, he is on the market.  I would keep Storm Norton especially with O'Neill being injured possibly down the road, need those tackles.

Derron Smith and Epps, sure one or both will make it but honestly there is not a ton to be excited about with them I feel but they need someone.  Also wish Kearse developed more than he has.

 

[perrynoid]

Wonder if Sloter ends up 3rd string, if we get any trade offers this time around and actually take them? Thoughts?

[Ozzy]

Just now, perrynoid said:

Wonder if Sloter ends up 3rd string, if we get any trade offers this time around and actually take them? Thoughts?

Sloter has a better arm, is younger and is way more athletic and way better throwing on the move.  If he ends up 3rd string that is sad.  Mannion looked decent last night but Sloter has more promise and upside.  Maybe Mannion is the starter if Kirk goes down but they have to keep a promising QB with upside and potential, to let him go and trade him you would get very little in return I feel.  Browning is better mentally and leadership wise but can barely throw the ball 30 yards.

[Krauser]

26 minutes ago, Ozzy said:

So you cut Treadwell?  What to say around $2 million for this one year since we have almost zero cap room next year?

I think we keep Treadwell at least through this season, he is giving decent effort and is a better player than Zylstra is.  Hikutini also culd be easily cut but will see how Morgan recovers.  They could maybe get Troy Niklas as a big body TE and a fine blocker, he is on the market.  I would keep Storm Norton especially with O'Neill being injured possibly down the road, need those tackles.

Derron Smith and Epps, sure one or both will make it but honestly there is not a ton to be excited about with them I feel but they need someone.  Also wish Kearse developed more than he has.

Treadwell is a liability. He keeps taking dumb penalties. He choked in big game situations multiple times last year. They should release him or trade him for a conditional 7th if anyone will take him. Zylstra is good enough as a depth option, plays special teams, and won’t shoot the team in the foot. 

Hikutini has been excellent in camp as per multiple reports. Dillon has been good too. Morgan isn’t getting extended so this is his last year, and he’s been hurt. I think they’ll find a way to keep at least one of the depth TEs beyond Conklin, so they can replace Morgan now with the next few years in mind. They don’t need to bring in any other TEs. 

Rather keep Udoh than Norton as a developmental tackle. They both looked good last night but Udoh’s even more athletic and presumably has more upside as a rookie than Norton does heading into year 3.

Derron Smith played well last night, nearly had a pick. Don’t know how much more you can ask from a 4th safety. Kearse is fine for what he is, he improved a lot last year. Epps wasn’t good but he’s done well in camp. I think they’ll keep 5 safeties and 5 CBs since their depth options are better at 4th/5th safety than 5th/6th CB. Kearse can backup in the slot, and Epps may be able to as well.

[Ozzy]

3 minutes ago, Krauser said:

Treadwell is a liability. He keeps taking dumb penalties. He choked in big game situations multiple times last year. They should release him or trade him for a conditional 7th if anyone will take him. Zylstra is good enough as a depth option, plays special teams, and won’t shoot the team in the foot. 

Hikutini has been excellent in camp as per multiple reports. Dillon has been good too. Morgan isn’t getting extended so this is his last year, and he’s been hurt. I think they’ll find a way to keep at least one of the depth TEs beyond Conklin, so they can replace Morgan now with the next few years in mind. They don’t need to bring in any other TEs. 

Rather keep Udoh than Norton as a developmental tackle. They both looked good last night but Udoh’s even more athletic and presumably has more upside as a rookie than Norton does heading into year 3.

Derron Smith played well last night, nearly had a pick. Don’t know how much more you can ask from a 4th safety. Kearse is fine for what he is, he improved a lot last year. Epps wasn’t good but he’s done well in camp. I think they’ll keep 5 safeties and 5 CBs since their depth options are better at 4th/5th safety than 5th/6th CB. Kearse can backup in the slot, and Epps may be able to as well.

Hikutini cannot block and if they do not have Morgan for awhile would be nice to have a blocking TE in there.  Rudolph is better than Conklin or Smith at it but even he is not great at it.  Who would be the blocker in that group that Morgan was?  Could argue if we play two TEs though having 4 TEs is more important than having 5 WRs, really would only need 4 WRs because only two will play most of the time.

I agree they keep Udoh no question, they cannot cut him but cutting Norton might not happen either.  Sure keep Epps or Smith they should not keep both, they can easily sign one if there is an injury issue.  Still long term Derron Smith and Epps do not provide much upside or talent I feel, Anthony Harris was way more talented as a UDFA than Smith or Epps and it is not even close.  

Again with Treadwell if it was a few years ago everyone would have loved that block he put down.  At least he is doing something out there, and he is better than Zylstra, only reason they cut Treadwell is if they want to get that money back potentially.  Sure trade him but doubt many would want him honestly.  Why not keep him around at least one more year and see what he does.

Cameron Smith could easily be cut also, good player but would be hard to cut Downs or Wilson and not sure they would need 6 LBs unless they want one for special teams.  Sherels was so good at special teams even in coverage, will be curious who fills that spot as the special teams guy.  Wilson can do it, Kearse and Gedeon even CJ Ham.  Not sure any of those WRs are great gunners but will see.  Maybe Derron Smith or Epps are decent at it but I have not seen much of that.  Brothers has been on special teams for the Vikings awhile during the season but he will have a hard time beating out Downs I feel.

[SemperFeist]

QB (3):

Kirk Cousins

Sean Mannion

Kyle Sloter

 

RB (4):

Dalvin Cook

Alexander Mattison

Mike Boone

CJ Ham*

 

WR (5):

Adam Thielen

Stefon Diggs

Chad Beebe

Bisi Johnson

Jeff Badet*

 

TE (4):

Kyle Rudolph

Irv Smith

Tyler Conklin

David Morgan

 

OL (10):

Riley Reiff

Pat Elflein

Garrett Bradbury

Josh Kline

Brian O’Neill

Rashad Hill

Brett Jones*

Storm Norton*

Dru Samia

Oil Udoh

 

DL (9):

Danielle Hunter

Linval Joseph

Shemar Stephen

Everson Griffen

Stephen Weatherly

Jalyn Holmes

Jaleel Johnson

Hercules Mata’afa

Ifeadi Odenigbo*

 

LB (5):

Anthony Barr

Eric Kendricks

Ben Gedeon

Eric Wilson

Cameron Smith*

 

DB (10):

Xavier Rhodes

Trae Waynes

Mackensie Alexander

Kris Boyd

Jayron Kearse

Mike Hughes

Harrison Smith

Anthony Harris

Derron Smith

Marcus Epps

 

ST (3):

Dan Bailey

Kaare Vedvik

Austin Cutting

 

The ones marked with * are the only roster spots I feel are still up for grabs. 

[Krauser]

I’d keep Boone over Abdullah but I doubt he’s a lock at this point. 

Don’t think Morgan’s job is safe. He wasn’t effective last year, he’s been hurt all this year, and he’ll be gone next year anyway so they might move on from him now. Hikutini and Dillon have been impressive. 

5 tackles seems like overkill. I want Udoh to make it but if he’s good enough to roster they should pick one of Hill and Norton not both. 

How do you see the kickers being used that they’d keep Bailey?