Predict the Final 53: The Way Too Early Edition of 2021

[swede700]

Back for 2021, let's see where you think it stands after the draft...and then we can look back and laugh.

On 4/26/2020 at 10:36 AM, RpMc said:

Let's see them? How does the roster shake out?

Here are the new roster rules under the new CBA:

 

Quote

 

Yes. More jobs. That's another way the players benefit. The game-day active roster will increase from 46 to 48 players (although one of the extra players must be an offensive lineman, which will give teams more flexibility to have three extra linemen). Practice squads will expand from 10 players to 12 in 2020 and 2021 and to 14 starting in 2022. Practice-squad salaries also are going up -- the minimum salary is $8,000 per week in the current CBA, and it will rise to $11,500 by 2022 -- and those players will be eligible for 401(k) and tuition assistance benefits.

Two practice-squad players per week may be elevated to the team's roster, meaning game-week roster sizes could effectively increase from 53 to 55. And a player elevated from the practice squad to the 55-man roster could be sent back to the practice squad two times without having to clear waivers.

The changes will give teams more flexibility in managing their rosters and, if utilized fully, will offer more opportunity for practice-squad players to earn active-roster salaries.

 

 

[SemperFeist]

QB (2): Cousins, Mond

RB (4): Cook, Mattison, Nwangwu, Ham

WR (6😞 Thielen, Jefferson, Westbrook, Johnson, Smith-Marsette, Beebe

TE (4): Smith Jr., Conklin, Davidson, Zylstra

OT (4): Darrisaw, O’Neill, Hill, Udoh

OG (3): Cleveland, Davis, Dozier

OC (2): Bradbury, Cole

DE (5): Hunter, Weatherly, Wonnum, Jones II, Robinson

DT (5): Tomlinson, Pierce, Richardson, Watts, Tywman 

LB (5): Barr, Kendricks, Vigil, Dye, Surratt

CB (6) Peterson, Dantzler, Breeland, Alexander, Boyd, Hand

S (4): Smith, Woods, Bynum, Metellus 

ST (3): Joseph, Colquitt, DePaola

Edited July 25, 2021 by SemperFeist

[swede700]

I tried to get one UDFA on the roster, but I just couldn't get myself to do it.

QB (3): Kirk Cousins, Kellen Mond, Nate Stanley

RB (4): Dalvin Cook, Alexander Mattison, Kene Nwangwu, CJ Ham (FB)

WR (6):Justin Jefferson, Adam Thielen, Chad Beebe, Olabisi Johnson, Dan Chisena, Ihmir Smith-Marsette

TE (3): Irv Smith, Jr, Tyler Conklin, Brandon Dillon

OL (9): Christian Darrisaw, Ezra Cleveland, Garrett Bradbury, Wyatt Davis, Brian O'Neill, Rashod Hill, Mason Cole, Oli Udoh, Kyle Hinton

DL (10): Danielle Hunter, Dalvin Tomlinson, Michael Pierce, Stephen Weatherly, Patrick Jones II, DJ Wonnum, Janarius Robinson, Armon Watts, James Lynch, Jalyn Holmes  

LB (5): Anthony Barr, Eric Kendricks, Nick Vigil, Troy Dye, Chazz Surratt

DB (10): Patrick Peterson, Cameron Dantzler, Mackensie Alexander, Harrison Smith, Xavier Woods, Kris Boyd, Jeff Gladney, Harrison Hand, Mike Hughes, Josh Metellus, Camryn Bynum

K: Greg Joseph

P: Britton Colquitt

LS: Andrew DePaola

 

 

 

[Ozzy]

Smith-Marsette in a going to take that 3rd WR spot from Bisi and Chad Beebe in a short amount of time. Possibly the same thing can be said for Chazz Surratt taking that 3rd LB spot from Vigil and Dye but will see.  Smith-Marsette though if he picks up the offense quickly, he is no question better than Bisi all day long.

 

Also would not be surprised at some point in the year Weatherly is over taken by Jones II, Robinson or Wonnum.  

 

Probably one of the weakest spots is that safety spot behind Xavier Woods, so if he goes down could be an issue but with how much Bynum prepares hopefully he can be a quick study and get into the rotation quickly then develop into a starter down the road, will see.  

 

 

That TE group I am not amazing with, hopefully that athletic rookie can do something or Conklin can continue what little flashes he showed last year.  Also if they start two WRs then obviously one of those other TEs will be starting and or Ham will be starting at FB.

 

Also my guess is Patterson wins the kicking job hopefully and takes that over but with all of them it depends on who plays better and at least this year they have way more options than the year before.

[VikeManDan]

For reference here were the position counts and final 2020 roster.

https://www.vikings.com/news/2020-roster-53-man-announced

QB (2)
RB (5) - Ham included here
WR (7)
TE (3)
OL (9)
Offense (26)

DL (11)
LB (5)
CB (6)
S (2)
Defense (24)

Specialists (3)

[Boda]

On 5/3/2021 at 4:02 PM, swede700 said:

I tried to get one UDFA on the roster, but I just couldn't get myself to do it.

QB (3): Kirk Cousins, Kellen Mond, Nate Stanley

RB (4): Dalvin Cook, Alexander Mattison, Kene Nwangwu, CJ Ham (FB)

WR (6):Justin Jefferson, Adam Thielen, Chad Beebe, Olabisi Johnson, Dan Chisena, Ihmir Smith-Marsette

TE (3): Irv Smith, Jr, Tyler Conklin, Brandon Dillon

OL (9): Christian Darrisaw, Ezra Cleveland, Garrett Bradbury, Wyatt Davis, Brian O'Neill, Rashod Hill, Mason Cole, Oli Udoh, Kyle Hinton

DL (10): Danielle Hunter, Dalvin Tomlinson, Michael Pierce, Stephen Weatherly, Patrick Jones II, DJ Wonnum, Janarius Robinson, Armon Watts, James Lynch, Jalyn Holmes  

LB (5): Anthony Barr, Eric Kendricks, Nick Vigil, Troy Dye, Chazz Surratt

DB (10): Patrick Peterson, Cameron Dantzler, Mackensie Alexander, Harrison Smith, Xavier Woods, Kris Boyd, Jeff Gladney, Harrison Hand, Mike Hughes, Josh Metellus, Camryn Bynum

K: Greg Joseph

P: Britton Colquitt

LS: Andrew DePaola

 

 

 

You think Twyman wont make the roster?

[swede700]

1 minute ago, Boda said:

You think Twyman wont make the roster?

He might, but as a 6th rd pick, he's got an uphill climb as he'd have to pass either Watts or Lynch, as they generally only keep 4 DTs because of the flexibility of a lot of the DEs to move inside on 3rd down.  It's highly unlikely that he surpasses Watts (who will likely be Pierce's primary backup), but has a decent chance on surpassing Lynch.

[battle2heaven]

1 minute ago, swede700 said:

He might, but as a 6th rd pick, he's got an uphill climb as he'd have to pass either Watts or Lynch, as they generally only keep 4 DTs because of the flexibility of a lot of the DEs to move inside on 3rd down.  It's highly unlikely that he surpasses Watts (who will likely be Pierce's primary backup), but has a decent chance on surpassing Lynch.

If Twyman gets back to 2019 physical shape and weight, I think he does pretty easily. 

[vikesfan89]

27 minutes ago, swede700 said:

He might, but as a 6th rd pick, he's got an uphill climb as he'd have to pass either Watts or Lynch, as they generally only keep 4 DTs because of the flexibility of a lot of the DEs to move inside on 3rd down.  It's highly unlikely that he surpasses Watts (who will likely be Pierce's primary backup), but has a decent chance on surpassing Lynch.

They could try redshirting him as the 5th DT if they like his potential enough.  It doesn't seem like there has been many young DTs with potential where they would need a 5th spot to keep them all but idk

[solidvikingfan]

52 minutes ago, swede700 said:

He might, but as a 6th rd pick, he's got an uphill climb as he'd have to pass either Watts or Lynch, as they generally only keep 4 DTs because of the flexibility of a lot of the DEs to move inside on 3rd down.  It's highly unlikely that he surpasses Watts (who will likely be Pierce's primary backup), but has a decent chance on surpassing Lynch.

Actually we've started both of the last two seasons with 5 DTs on the roster it was Johnson, Stephen, Watts, Mata'afa, and Lynch last year and the same group except Joseph in place of Lynch the year before.

[swede700]

5 minutes ago, solidvikingfan said:

Actually we've started both of the last two seasons with 5 DTs on the roster it was Johnson, Stephen, Watts, Mata'afa, and Lynch last year and the same group except Joseph in place of Lynch the year before.

Mata'afa is a tweener and I'm not sure anyone, the team included, has really ever considered him strictly a DT...he's more of a DE that plays DT on occasion.  IMO Johnson, Stephen, Watts and Lynch are the DTs.  

[Boda]

Offense: (24)

QB(2) - Cousins / Mond

HB(5) - Cook / Mattison / Abdullah / Nwangwu / Ham 

WR(6) - Thielen / Jefferson / D.Westbrook / Johnson / Beebe / Smith-Marsette

TE(3) - ISJ / Conklin / Dillon 

OL(8) - Darrisaw / Cleveland / Bradbury / Davis / O'Neil / Hill / Udoh / Cole 

Defense: (26)

DL(10) - Hunter / Pierce / Tomlinson / Kerrigan / Wonnum / PJ2 / Twyman / Robinson / Lynch / Watts 

LB(6) - Barr / Kendricks / Surratt / Dye / Vigil / Borland

DB(10) - Peterson / Dantzler / Alexander / Smith / Woods / Gladney? / Hand / Bynum / Hughes / Boyd

Special Teams: (3)

ST(3) - Joesph / Colquitt / DePaola

 

Edited May 9, 2021 by Boda

[Eric dunn]

QB- Cousins, Mond
RB- Cook, Mattison, Nwangu, Ham
WR- Thielen, Jefferson, veteran not yet signed, ISM, Johnson, Proehl
TE- Smith, Conklin, Dillon
OT- Darrisaw, O'Neil, Hill, Udoh
G- Cleveland, Davis, Dozier
C- Bradbury, Cole

DE- Hunter, Wonnum, Weatherly, Jones, Robinson
DT- Pierce, Tomlinson, Lynch, Watts, Twyman
LB- Barr, Kendricks, Vigil, Surratt, Dye, Connelly
CB- Peterson, Dantzler, Alexander, Hand, Boyd, Hughes (Gladney gets 4-8 game suspension & returns to team)
S- Smith, Woods, Bynum, Metellus

K- Joseph, Colquitt, DePaola

[SteelKing728]

QB: Cousins, Mond, Stanley (3)

RB: Cook, Mattison, Nwangwu, Abdullah, Ham (5)

TE: Smith, Conklin, Davidson (3)

WR: Thielen, Jefferson, Beebe, Smith-Marsette, Johnson, Proehl (6)

OL: O'Neill, Darrisaw, Hill, Udoh, Davis, Cleveland, Jones, Brandel, Bradbury, Cole (10)

---(27 offense)

DE: Hunter, Weatherly, Jones, Robinson, Wonnum (5)

DT: Pierce, Tomlinson, Lynch, Twyman (4)

LB: Kendrick, Barr, Surratt, Dye, Vigil (5)

CB: Peterson, Dantzler, Alexander, Hand, Boyd, Gladney* (5)

S: Smith, Woods, Bynum, Martellus (4)

--(23)

K: McLaughlin

P: Colquitt

LS: DePaola

--(3)

*Gladney is suspended the first 6 games, so Boyd stays for awhile

I'm not confident that Dozier, Samia or our kicker keep their jobs. Holmes and Connelly gone too.

 

[DisplacedViking]

47 minutes ago, SteelKing728 said:

QB: Cousins, Mond, Stanley (3)

RB: Cook, Mattison, Nwangwu, Abdullah, Ham (5)

TE: Smith, Conklin, Davidson (3)

WR: Thielen, Jefferson, Beebe, Smith-Marsette, Johnson, Proehl (6)

OL: O'Neill, Darrisaw, Hill, Udoh, Davis, Cleveland, Jones, Brandel, Bradbury, Cole (10)

---(27 offense)

DE: Hunter, Weatherly, Jones, Robinson, Wonnum (5)

DT: Pierce, Tomlinson, Lynch, Twyman (4)

LB: Kendrick, Barr, Surratt, Dye, Vigil (5)

CB: Peterson, Dantzler, Alexander, Hand, Boyd, Gladney* (5)

S: Smith, Woods, Bynum, Martellus (4)

--(23)

K: McLaughlin

P: Colquitt

LS: DePaola

--(3)

*Gladney is suspended the first 6 games, so Boyd stays for awhile

I'm not confident that Dozier, Samia or our kicker keep their jobs. Holmes and Connelly gone too.

 

I like this prediction and would only make two changes.

1) Move Stanley to the practice squad and add the versatile DT Watts.

2) Cut the redundant Abdullah and let Hughes have a final prove it year.