53 man Roster etc...

[VikingsVictorious]

Vedarian Lowe traded to New England for a 6th round pick. We actually got a pick for one of our O Line would be cuts.

[VikingsVictorious]

Quarterbacks (3)

On the Initial 53: Kirk Cousins; Nick Mullens and Jaren Hall
Waived: Jordan Ta'amu
O'Connell said last week that an NFL rule change this offseason regarding a team's third quarterback and the team's interest in continuing to develop Hall were enticements when deciding whether to keep two or three quarterbacks.

Running Backs (3)
On the Initial 53: Alexander Mattison; Kene Nwangwu, Ty Chandler
Waived: DeWayne McBride, Abram Smith, Aaron Dykes
Chandler provided some nice moments in the preseason games while Nwangwu has been on the mend. McBride was a seventh-round pick; Smith and Dykes were added during the preseason.

Fullback (1)
On the Initial 53: C.J. Ham
No surprises here, as O'Connell and other coaches have spoken so glowingly about what Ham adds to the offense, special teams and locker room. He also can provide a little more depth at running back in a pinch.

Receivers (6)
On the Initial 53: Justin Jefferson and K.J. Osborn; Jordan Addison, Jalen Nailor, Brandon Powell, Jalen Reagor
Waived: Blake Proehl, Lucky Jackson, Jacob Copeland, Trishton Jackson, Thayer Thomas, Garett Maag
Some thought the Vikings might be choosing between Powell and Reagor, who both can return punts, but the Vikings opted for six receivers on the initial 53.


Tight Ends (4)
On the Initial 53: T.J. Hockenson; Josh Oliver, Johnny Mundt, Nick Muse
Waived: Ben Sims, Colin Thompson
The Vikings have spoken glowingly about Oliver's addition, as well as Mundt's underrated nature for his role. Muse turned in a strong camp and preseason as a second-year pro.

Offensive Line (8)
On the Initial 53: LT Christian Darrisaw, LG Ezra Cleveland, C Garrett Bradbury, RG Ed Ingram, RT Brian O'Neill; C Austin Schlottmann, G Blake Brandel, T Olisaemeka Udoh
Waived: Josh Sokol, Jack Snyder, Alan Ali, Jarrid Williams, Christian DiLauro
Traded: Vederian Lowe to New England
Placed on Reserve/Non-Football Injury: Chris Reed
The Vikings have valued continuity on the offensive line this offseason. All eight players on the Initial 53 were on the team in 2022 or beyond.

Defensive Line (5)
On the Initial 53: Dean Lowry, Harrison Phillips and Khyiris Tonga; Jonathan Bullard, Jaquelin Roy
Waived: Ross Blacklock, Esezi Otomewo, T.J. Smith, Calvin Avery
Contract Terminated: Sheldon Day
Roster Exemption: Junior Aho (International Player Pathway program)
The Vikings have worked Lowry, Phillips and Tonga together quite a bit during camp. Bullard adds plenty of experience, and Roy is a fifth-round pick.

Outside Linebackers (5)
On the Initial 53: Marcus Davenport and Danielle Hunter; D.J. Wonnum, Pat Jones II, Andre Carter II
Waived: Luiji Vilain, Benton Whitley
Carter, an undrafted rookie, joins a group of three returnees and free agent addition Davenport.

Inside Linebackers (4)
On the 53: Jordan Hicks, Brian Asamoah II; Troy Dye, Ivan Pace, Jr.
Waived: Wilson Huber
Waived/Injured: Abraham Beauplan
Contract Terminated: Troy Reeder, Tanner Vallejo
The Vikings were able to take an extended look at Pace, an undrafted rookie, while Asamoah was on the mend during the preseason.

Cornerbacks (5)
On the Initial 53: Byron Murphy, Jr., Akayleb Evans; Andrew Booth, Jr., Mekhi Blackmon, NaJee Thompson
Waived: Jaylin Williams, Jameson Houston, C.J. Coldon, Jr., Kalon Barnes
Waived/Injured: Tay Gowan
Contract Terminated: Joejuan Williams
Thompson made the roster as an undrafted free agent because of his shine on special teams.

Safeties (6)
On the Initial 53: Harrison Smith, Camryn Bynum; Josh Metellus, Lewis Cine, Jay Ward, Theo Jackson
Contract Terminated: Jake Gervase
The Vikings love their depth at this position group and are likely to make good use of it with Defensive Coordinator Brian Flores.

Specialists (3)
On the 53: Long Snapper Andrew DePaola; Kicker Greg Joseph, Punter Ryan Wright
The Vikings are positioned to have continuity among their specialists for a second consecutive season.

[VikingLord]

Anyone surprised by any of the cuts/keeps for the final 53?

Just for quick reference https://www.vikings.com/news/roster-mov ... jured-2023

Little surprised they waived McBride but they'll probably try to slide him onto the PS.

Same for Trishton Jackson at WR. Depth at WR looks great, as it does at TE.

No surprises on the OL. I am worried about quality depth with that group but this area has been what seems like a perpetual issue and somehow the offense manages to keep producing. We'll have to hope another year under their collective belts will make them more effective as an overall unit.

On the DL, little surprised to see Blacklock released. On the flip side, happy to see Roy retained as I really liked him as a prospect and still think the Vikings got a steal there.

At the OLB position, very surprised to see Carter II make the active roster. I expected them to try to slip him onto the PS, but he must be showing something for them to keep him on the active.

At ILB, not surprised to see Pace make the active, and would not be surprised to see him supplant Hicks as a starter this year.

CB is both surprising and not surprising. Seems like the philosophy was to throw guys at the wall and see who managed to stick. This is the unit that could make or break Flores' defense this year. Excited to see what Booth and Blackmon can do this year.

S looks surprisingly deep.

Special teams is what I expected.

For the most part, the offense heads into this year largely the same. Cook is gone but they add Addison. Should put up a lot of yards and points again.

The defense has major turnover over the 31st-ranked unit of last year. It will be interesting to see what Flores can do with these guys and whether he'll get the most out of them.

I'm excited for the season to finally get underway!

[J. Kapp 11]

Some surprises for me:

• Nwangwu makes the 53. He has not participated in training camp at all. They must really like him ... or really be disappointed in McBride. Honestly, this is an area of concern for me. That is not good depth at RB. I have to believe Nwangwu is being kept for his KR abilities.

• Only 8 OL. This could be good. All the non-starters play multiple positions. Definitely will have to keep some guys on the practice squad for injury depth. Or perhaps they'll wait until after Week 1 to sign somebody like Dalton Risner (signing him after Week 1 means they don't have to guarantee his contract).

• Nick Muse makes the 53. This is actually fantastic. He really showed out during camp and preseason. I'm just surprised they kept four TEs. Maybe O'Connell is serious about using a lot of 12 personnel.

• Joejuan Williams cut. Not that he's a superstar, but he's long, and he played for a year in New England when Brian Flores was there. Figured his experience would win out. But NaJee Thompson is so good on special teams that they couldn't cut him.

• SIX safeties(!) What on earth? All I can say is that BFlo must really have some STUFF planned. How many safeties can he get on the field at once? I have a feeling we're going to find out.

• Andre Carter II makes the 53. He showed next to nothing in camp and barely played in the preseason. The Vikings obviously like his potential, given that they gave him the biggest bonus and the highest salary of any UFA in history, then kept him on the roster.

Overall, it's about the kind of roster most of us expected. Man, I can't wait for September 10. I'm gonna be there! Baker Mayfield played like garbage but still beat us with Cleveland in 2021. Time for payback!

[VikingLord]

Man, I can't wait for September 10. I'm gonna be there! Baker Mayfield played like garbage but still beat us with Cleveland in 2021. Time for payback!

Have a great time at the game! Hopefully the Vikes get the season started on the right foot because the schedule gets ugly in a hurry.

[Texas Vike]

In addition to those pointed out up thread, I'm a bit surprised to see Luiji Vilain cut. He looked disruptive on nearly every snap I watched.

[VikingsVictorious]

In addition to those pointed out up thread, I'm a bit surprised to see Luiji Vilain cut. He looked disruptive on nearly every snap I watched.

Yes I hated that one. We kept Carter over him and Carter I guarantee will not play one defensive Snap this year. I'm concerned Villain will be poached.

[VikingsVictorious]

I think it's a certainty that we add a CB and Duke Shelley was just cut. Lot of interest on the web about us claiming him.

[VikingsVictorious]

I know many are anti-Reagor, but his physical talent is amazing and it really seems he turned things around this offseason. If we don't trade him I'm going to be very happy to have him on the team.

[CharVike]

I would like them to go after OL Darian Kinnard who the Chiefs cut. They have a deep and talented group so a guy cut could be worth looking at.

[makila]

Signing Myles Gaskin to the thin rb room.

[CharVike]

Anyone surprised by any of the cuts/keeps for the final 53?

Just for quick reference https://www.vikings.com/news/roster-mov ... jured-2023

Little surprised they waived McBride but they'll probably try to slide him onto the PS.

Same for Trishton Jackson at WR. Depth at WR looks great, as it does at TE.

No surprises on the OL. I am worried about quality depth with that group but this area has been what seems like a perpetual issue and somehow the offense manages to keep producing. We'll have to hope another year under their collective belts will make them more effective as an overall unit.

On the DL, little surprised to see Blacklock released. On the flip side, happy to see Roy retained as I really liked him as a prospect and still think the Vikings got a steal there.

At the OLB position, very surprised to see Carter II make the active roster. I expected them to try to slip him onto the PS, but he must be showing something for them to keep him on the active.

At ILB, not surprised to see Pace make the active, and would not be surprised to see him supplant Hicks as a starter this year.

CB is both surprising and not surprising. Seems like the philosophy was to throw guys at the wall and see who managed to stick. This is the unit that could make or break Flores' defense this year. Excited to see what Booth and Blackmon can do this year.

S looks surprisingly deep.

Special teams is what I expected.

For the most part, the offense heads into this year largely the same. Cook is gone but they add Addison. Should put up a lot of yards and points again.

The defense has major turnover over the 31st-ranked unit of last year. It will be interesting to see what Flores can do with these guys and whether he'll get the most out of them.

I'm excited for the season to finally get underway!

Our IOL will get a test right out of the gate when they face Vita Vea from the Bucs. This guy is a monster and also chipped in with 6.5 sacks which is very impressive for a blocker eating NT. Supposedly Vea overwhelms at the point of attack. This is a big challenge for them. We'll see if they're up for it.

[CharVike]

I know many are anti-Reagor, but his physical talent is amazing and it really seems he turned things around this offseason. If we don't trade him I'm going to be very happy to have him on the team.

They waived him.

[VikingsVictorious]

Signing Myles Gaskin to the thin rb room.

What is so great about Myles Gaskin. The Dolphins one of the most RB deprived teams in the NFL cut him and now we are waiving Reagor and eating 2Million in salary to sign Gaskin.

[VikingsVictorious]

Since Gaskin is a vet is his contract now guaranteed? For his career he averages 3.8 yards per career. Last 2 years 3.5 and 2.6. Only got 10 carries last year. Small but slow 198 pounds and 4.58 speed.