Vikings 53-Man Roster Projection: Shocking Cuts & Unsettled Battles
Minnesota Vikings 2025 Roster Projection: Who Makes the Final 53?
The Big Picture: What’s Happening Right Now?
Imagine you’re the coach of a huge football team with 90 players on the roster. But the NFL rules say you can only keep 53 players when the real games start. That means 37 people have to go — some get cut, some go to the "practice squad" (like a junior varsity team), and some might get traded.
Right now, the Minnesota Vikings are in that exact spot:
- 16 of 19 training camp practices are done
- Two joint practices with the Baltimore Ravens (like a big scrimmage with another team)
- Only 9 days left until the August 30th, 5:00 PM deadline to trim from 90 to 53
- Two preseason games left: Saturday vs. Ravens, then next Friday vs. Broncos
General Manager Nolan Teasley and Head Coach Kevin O’Connell have some tough choices ahead — especially at the bottom of the roster. Defensive Coordinator Brian Flores will have a big say on the defense side.
Let’s break down exactly who might make the final offensive roster (25 spots projected).
Important Dates & Context at a Glance
KEY DATES TO REMEMBER
- Roster Cut Deadline: August 30, 2025 at 5:00 PM
- Preseason Game 2: Saturday vs. Baltimore Ravens
- Preseason Game 3: Next Friday vs. Denver Broncos
- Regular Season Opener: September 13 vs. Green Bay Packers
- Current Roster Size: 90 players → Must cut to 53
Offensive Roster Projection (25 Players)
Quarterbacks (3 Spots) — The "Brain" of the Offense
| Making the Team | Likely Cut / Practice Squad |
|---|---|
| Kyler Murray (Starter) | Max Brosmer |
| J.J. McCarthy | |
| Carson Wentz |
The Simple Story:
This one’s pretty clear. Kyler Murray is the new starter (QB1). J.J. McCarthy and Carson Wentz are safely on the roster. The only real question: Who’s the backup (QB2) for Week 1 against Green Bay — McCarthy or Wentz? Max Brosmer, a rookie, will almost certainly go to the practice squad unless someone gets hurt.
Running Backs (3 Spots) — The Ball Carriers
| Making the Team | Likely Cut |
|---|---|
| Aaron Jones Sr. (Veteran leader) | Jermar Jefferson |
| Jordan Mason | Zavier Scott |
| Demond Claiborne (Rookie, 6th round) |
The Simple Story:
Jones and Mason are the clear 1-2 punch. Claiborne is a speed demon (ran a 4.37-second 40-yard dash!) — too fast to risk losing on waivers. But — he’s had fumbling problems (dropped the ball in practice). Can they trust him if Jones or Mason gets hurt? Zavier Scott had a quiet last year (32 carries, 114 yards) and is on the bubble.
Fullback (1 Spot) — The "Human Bulldozer"
| Making the Team |
|---|
| Max Bredeson (Rookie, 5th round) |
The Simple Story:
Bredeson is replacing C.J. Ham and he’s a lock. New assistant head coach Frank Smith (ex-Dolphins OC) loves using a fullback — Miami used one on ~25% of offensive plays! Bredeson is special because he also played tight end and "H-back" (a hybrid tight end/fullback) at Michigan. Think of him like a Swiss Army knife for the run game.
Wide Receivers (5 Spots) — The Pass Catchers
| Making the Team | Likely Cut / Practice Squad |
|---|---|
| Justin Jefferson (Superstar #1) | Dillon Bell |
| Jordan Addison (#2) | Michael Briscoe |
| Jauan Jennings (#3) | Terrill Davis |
| Tai Felton (Rookie, 3rd round, 2025) | Dontae Fleming |
| Myles Price (2nd year, return specialist) | Jeshaun Jones |
| Trayvon Rudolph | |
| Marcus Sanders Jr. |
The Simple Story:
Top 3 are set in stone: Jefferson, Addison, Jennings.
Felton (rookie) and Price (Year 2) battle for spots 4 & 5.
- Felton: Barely played as a rookie (5% snaps, 3 catches). But he’s looked way better this camp. Only worry: drops.
- Price: Made team last year as a return man (2% offensive snaps, 0 targets). This summer? Catching everything — including a crazy one-handed TD catch from Wentz! He might actually get offensive plays now.
Fleming & Jones (practice squad last year) made some plays but are long shots.
Tight Ends (3 Spots) — The "Big Guys Who Catch & Block"
| Making the Team | Likely Cut |
|---|---|
| T.J. Hockenson (Star, took pay cut) | Marshall Lang |
| Josh Oliver (Great blocker) | Bryson Nesbit |
| Gavin Bartholomew (Rookie, 6th round, 2025) | Ben Yurosek |
The Simple Story:
Hockenson & Oliver are locks. Hockenson took a pay cut after a down year (438 yards) — but Murray loves throwing to tight ends, so he should bounce back. Oliver is a blocking beast for the run game.
The tough call: TE3.
- Yurosek: Good blocker, played 12 games last year. Was the early favorite.
- Bartholomew: Missed all last year (back injury), but has caught everything thrown his way in camp. He gets the nod.
- Lang: Teasley knew him from Seattle days — but not enough to make it.
Offensive Line (10 Spots) — The "Great Wall" Protecting the QB
| Projected 10 (9 Locks + 1 Battle) | Likely Cut |
|---|---|
| Christian Darrisaw (LT — Star) | Gavin Gerhardt (7th round rookie) |
| Donovan Jackson (LG) | Joshua Gray |
| Blake Brandel (C — moving from guard) | Vershon Lee |
| Will Fries (RG) | Tristan Leigh |
| Brian O’Neill (RT — Star) | Delby Lemieux |
| Ryan Van Demark (Backup T, from Bills) | Tomas Rimac |
| Michael Jurgens (Backup C/G) | Walter Rouse (2024 6th round) |
| Joe Huber (Backup G, UDFA 2025) | |
| Caleb Tiernan (Backup T, 3rd round rookie) | |
| Henry Byrd (Backup G/T — wins last spot) |
The Simple Story:
9 of these 10 are basically guaranteed. The starting 5 (Darrisaw, Jackson, Brandel, Fries, O’Neill) are set. Backups Van Demark, Jurgens, Huber, Tiernan are safe.
The Final Spot Battle:
- Henry Byrd (listed as guard) played LEFT TACKLE with the 2nd team this week when Tiernan was hurt (ankle). That versatility = roster spot.
- Walter Rouse (2024 6th round) is the other candidate.
- Gavin Gerhardt (7th round rookie center) would be the only 2025 draft pick cut — likely heads to practice squad.
NOTE ON BRANDEL: He’s moving from guard to center and has had some snap issues (shotgun/pistol snaps). Jurgens is his direct backup.
CALLOUT: THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS TO WATCH
TOP 5 STORYLINES FOR THE FINAL CUTS
- QB2 Battle: McCarthy vs. Wentz for backup role by Sept 13 vs. Packers
- Claiborne’s Hands: Can the speedy rookie RB stop fumbling?
- TE3 Decision: Bartholomew’s hands vs. Yurosek’s experience/blocking
- OL Depth: Byrd’s versatility (played LT in a pinch!) vs. Rouse’s draft capital
- WR5 & Returner: Price’s amazing camp vs. Felton’s draft status & drop concerns
- Preseason Games Matter: Sat vs. Ravens & Fri vs. Broncos = final auditions!
SUMMARY: THE PROJECTED 25-MAN OFFENSIVE ROSTER
| Position | Count | Key Names |
|---|---|---|
| Quarterback | 3 | Murray (QB1), McCarthy, Wentz |
| Running Back | 3 | Jones Sr., Mason, Claiborne |
| Fullback | 1 | Bredeson |
| Wide Receiver | 5 | Jefferson, Addison, Jennings, Felton, Price |
| Tight End | 3 | Hockenson, Oliver, Bartholomew |
| Offensive Line | 10 | Darrisaw, Jackson, Brandel, Fries, O’Neill, Van Demark, Jurgens, Huber, Tiernan, Byrd |
| TOTAL OFFENSE | 25 |
Defense & Special Teams projection coming next! (Another ~28 spots)
FAQ: Your Burning Questions Answered
Q1: What exactly is the "practice squad" and why does it matter?
A: Think of it as the JV team — up to 16 players who practice with the team but don’t play in games (unless elevated). Players like Max Brosmer (QB) and Gavin Gerhardt (C) will likely go here. Other teams can sign them off our practice squad to their active roster — that’s why the Vikings want to keep guys like Claiborne (speed) and Bartholomew (hands) on the 53 instead of risking waivers.
Q2: Why does Kyler Murray being named starter matter for J.J. McCarthy?
A: McCarthy was a 1st-round pick in 2024 — normally he’d be the "QB of the future." But the Vikings traded for Murray (ex-Cardinals star) this offseason. Now McCarthy sits and learns. The big question: Is he QB2 (active on game days) or QB3 (inactive, emergency only)? Wentz is a vet who knows the system — that’s the competition.
Q3: What’s an "H-back" and why is Max Bredeson special?
A: An H-back is a hybrid player — lines up like a tight end but moves like a fullback. They block, catch passes, and create mismatches. Jim Kleinsasser (Vikings legend, 1999–2008) was the ultimate H-back. Bredeson did this at Michigan — so he’s not just a "lead blocker," he’s a weapon in the passing game too. That’s gold in Frank Smith’s offense.
Q4: Why keep 10 offensive linemen? Isn’t that a lot?
A: Injuries happen constantly on the O-line. You need 5 starters + 5 backups who can play multiple spots.
- Van Demark = backup both tackles
- Jurgens = backup center & guard
- Huber = backup both guards
- Tiernan = future RT replacement for O’Neill (3rd round pick)
- Byrd = just played LT in a pinch!
Versatility = roster spots. Gerhardt (center only) is the odd man out.
Q5: When do we know the FINAL 53 for sure?
A: August 30th at 5:00 PM — that’s the NFL-wide deadline. But the last two preseason games (Sat vs. Ravens, Fri vs. Broncos) are basically final exams for bubble players. One great game — or one bad fumble — can flip a roster spot.
Want the defense & special teams projection too? Stay tuned — the other ~28 spots (DL, LB, DB, K, P, LS) have their own dramas unfolding!