Minnesota Vikings: Way-Too-Early 53-Man Roster and Depth Chart Predictions

The Minnesota Vikings complemented a free-agency haul featuring offensive linemen Alex Boone and Andre Smith with eight picks in the 2016 NFL draft, including receiver Laquon Treadwell in the first round. Add in a class of undrafted free agents, and the Vikings now have the bulk of the roster that will start training camp with the club come this summer. 

The next steps will eventually include cutting the roster down to the 53-man limit. 

Under the guidance of general manager Rick Spielman, the Vikings have built one of the NFL's most talented and deep rosters—which means tough decisions are coming down the roster in terms of building the club's best 53-man group. 

In the following slides, we will take a way-too-early look at the Vikings' potential opening roster and depth chart following free agency and the 2016 NFL draft. 

Quarterback

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Quarterbacks (2)

1. Teddy Bridgewater
2. Shaun Hill

The Vikings have a stable situation at quarterback, with Teddy Bridgwater—who has made 28 starts in his first two seasons—and veteran Shaun Hill. Taylor Heinicke should battle Joel Stave for the practice squad spot, but Minnesota has no need for three quarterbacks on the roster. 

Stave was signed as an undrafted free agent right after the draft Saturday night, per Dave Heller of Fox Sports.

Running Back

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Running back (4)

1. Adrian Peterson
2. Jerick McKinnon
3. Matt Asiata
4. Zach Line

No surprises here. 

Peterson is coming off a rushing title in 2015, McKinnon is an ideal change-of-pace backup with starting-level skills, Asiata runs hard and makes plays in the screen game, and Line is a combo fullback-tight end who scored three touchdowns last season.

Minnesota didn't draft a running back or fullback, although sixth-round pick David Morgan has some potential as a combo player like Line.

One undrafted free agent to watch: New Mexico's Jhurell Pressley, who signed Saturday night, according to his school. His mix of speed, size and college production could make life difficult for Asiata in terms of keeping a roster spot this summer. 

Receivers

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Receiver (5)

1. Laquon Treadwell
2. Stefon Diggs
3. Jarius Wright
4. Charles Johnson 
5. Cordarrelle Patterson

There will be difficult decisions to make at receiver.

Treadwell, Diggs and Wright look like good bets to be Minnesota's opening-day starters, with Treadwell and Diggs outside and Wright manning the slot. Behind them, Johnson has an opportunity to come back from an injury-plagued season in 2015 and make an impact—as he showed nice chemistry with Teddy Bridgewater when healthy late in 2014. 

After the top four, the Vikings are in a tough spot. 

Adam Thielen is a fan favorite and an ace special teams player, while German-born receiver Moritz Boehringer was the darling of the draft's third day. Both will have a strong chance to make the final roster, but they'll have to prove themselves more valuable than Patterson's rare ability on kickoff returns.

We'll give Patterson the slightest of edges here, but it wouldn't be at all surprising if he's a goner by the end of the camp. An athletic marvel needing to learn the game, Boehringer is an obvious candidate for the practice squad.

Tight End

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Tight end (4)

1. Kyle Rudolph
2. MyCole Pruitt
3. Rhett Ellison
4. David Morgan

The Vikings added Morgan in the sixth round. He's a strong run-blocker with college production catching the football, making him a nice insurance policy on Ellison—who is entering the final year of his deal. Rudolph and Pruitt form a strong 1-2 punch in the passing game, with Pruitt likely to demand more targets as he transitions into his second season. 

Offensive Line

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Offensive Line (10)

1. LT Matt Kalil
2. LG Alex Boone
3. C John Sullivan
4. RG Brandon Fusco
5. RT Phil Loadholt
6. OG Mike Harris
7. OT Andre Smith
8. OT T.J. Clemmings
9. C Joe Berger
10. OT Willie Beavers

The Vikings added three new players along the offensive line this offseason, signing Boone and Smith in free agency and drafting Beavers during the draft's second day. All three should make the roster, with Boone starting at left guard and the other two providing depth.

Kalil will have one more year to prove he's the team's long-term option at left tackle, while Clemmings figures to be his primary backup. 

Fusco and Harris will battle to start at right guard, while Sullivan and Berger make up a good tandem at center. 

Tough cuts here include center Nick Easton, tackle Austin Shepherd and guard Jeremiah Sirles. The Vikings now have a good problem up front: too many options along the offensive line. 

Defensive Line

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Defensive Line (8)

1. DE Everson Griffen
2. DT Linval Joseph
3. DT Sharrif Floyd
4. DE Brian Robison
5. DE Danielle Hunter
6. DT Tom Johnson
7. DT Shamar Stephen
8. DE Stephen Weatherly

Griffen, Joseph, Floyd and Robison return as the defense's front-four starters, with Hunter and Johnson as super-subs with huge disruption ability. 

While the first six are set in stone, it will take camp to decide the rest of the depth chart.

Stephen has a ton of talent and some position versatility, and Weatherly has all the tools to become a productive rotational pass-rusher. The two make the 53 here, but each will have to beat out other options, such as Scott Crichton, Justin Trattou, Kenrick Ellis, B.J. Dubose and Zach Moore. The Vikings have enviable talent and depth along the defensive line, making a number of combinations possible for the final 53.

Linebackers

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Linebackers (7)

1. Anthony Barr
2. Eric Kendricks
3. Chad Greenway
4. Emmanuel Lamur
5. Kentrell Brothers
6. Travis Lewis
7. Audie Cole

Barr and Kendricks figure to be Mike Zimmer's starting linebackers for years to come, while Greenway returned for one final season in 2016. Lamur and Lewis were signed in free agency for rotational and special teams roles, while Brothers was a strong pick as a run-stuffing Mike linebacker during the draft. 

It's a messy mix of possibilities after those six. 

Cole is the pick for the seventh linebacker in this projection, but the Vikings also have Brandon Watts and Edmond Robinson fighting for a roster spot in 2016. While special teams ability will likely play into who makes the team, it's also possible the Vikings will keep more than seven linebackers—especially if one or two of the young defensive backs don't pan out. 

Defensive Backs

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Defensive Backs (10)

1. CB Xavier Rhodes
2. S Harrison Smith
3. S Andrew Sendejo
4. CB Trae Waynes
5. CB/S Terence Newman
6. CB Captain Munnerlyn
7. S Michael Griffin
8. CB Mackensie Alexander
9. CB Marcus Sherels
10. S Anthony Harris

The Vikings have a balanced mix of veterans and youngsters in the secondary. While Rhodes, Smith, Sendejo and Waynes look like the favorites to start in the base defense to begin 2016, Minnesota will have a number of options for who is playing backup roles. 

First, the veterans. Newman is returning for what could be a dual cornerback-safety role, Munnerlyn is an experienced slot corner and Griffin arrived from Tennessee in free agency. Sherels is a vital special teams player, both in covering kicks and returning punts. 

The youngsters will push for spots. Alexander was a second-round steal who could eventually force his way into the nickel defense. Harris could emerge in the safety competition after flashing in spot safety duty last season. 

Antone Exum, Jabari Price and Jayron Kearse are among those left off this list, but it's possible the Vikings could get Kearse back on the practice squad. The seventh-round pick is worth the development, even if he can't squeeze himself onto the initial 53-man roster. 

Specialists

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Specialists (3)

1. K Blair Walsh
2. P Jeff Locke
3. LS Kevin McDermott

The Vikings didn't add a specialist, so Walsh, Locke and McDermott should be safe. Walsh is coming off a catastrophic miss to end the playoffs, while Locke is a replacement-level punter who had a terrible 2015 season. 

53-Man Roster Projection

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Quarterbacks (2): Teddy Bridgewater, Shaun Hill

Running backs (4): Adrian Peterson, Jerick McKinnon, Matt Asiata, Zach Line

Receivers (5): Laquon Treadwell, Stefon Diggs, Jarius Wright, Charles Johnson, Cordarrelle Patterson

Tight ends (4): Kyle Rudolph, MyCole Pruitt, Rhett Ellison, David Morgan

Offensive Line (10): Matt Kalil, Alex Boone, John Sullivan, Brandon Fusco, Phil Loadholt, Andre Smith, Mike Harris, Joe Berger, T.J. Clemmings, Willie Beavers

Defensive Line (8): Everson Griffen, Linval Joseph, Sharrif Floyd, Brian Robison, Tom Johnson, Danielle Hunter, Shamar Stephen, Stephen Weatherly

Linebackers (7): Anthony Barr, Eric Kendricks, Chad Greenway, Emmanuel Lamur, Kentrell Brothers, Travis Lewis, Audie Cole

Defensive Backs (10): Xavier Rhodes, Harrison Smith, Andrew Sendejo, Trae Waynes, Terence Newman, Captain Munnerlyn, Michael Griffin, Marcus Sherels, Mackenzie Alexander, Anthony Harris

Specialists (3): Blair Walsh, Jeff Locke, Kevin McDermott