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Building a roster is never an easy task, though it is a fun one. Right now, all NFL teams have 90 or 91 players. The Minnesota Vikings are taking advantage of the International Pathway Program, allowing them to roster 91. Once the clock reaches 5 p.m. CT on Aug. 30, all teams will have trimmed their rosters down to 53 players. Then, the mad dash to build a 16-man practice squad begins. A lot has changed since the last time the Vikings rostered just 53 players in Week 18 of the 2025 season. After playing just one game, chances are a lot will change between now and Aug. 30 too. For now, here’s my Vikings’ 53-man roster projection, plus a practice squad prediction. Related: Minnesota Vikings Unveil 2026 Depth Chart: 4 Initial Takeaways Quarterback (3) Last year, this position was a disaster. Now it’s a strength. Some things could be in flux, possibly a McCarthy trade, maybe Wentz overtaking the 2024 first-round pick for QB2 duties. Otherwise, Murray could reach his highest ceiling yet in Kevin O’Connell’s offense with Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, Jauan Jennings, and T.J. Hockenson. Durability questions could lead to McCarthy seeing the field at some point, giving the 23-year-old a chance to show off his development. Meanwhile, Wentz is a former Pro Bowler with 99 starts and 10 seasons of experience. He can definitely lead this offense in a pinch, likely better than last season, now that he’s had a full year to absorb it rather than being signed after training camp in 2024. The team is still optimistic about 25-year-old Brosmer’s future. Barring a strong preseason showing, he should be able to land back on the practice squad, but perhaps he’d prefer a chance to land higher than fourth on a depth chart elsewhere. - Kyler Murray - J.J. McCarthy - Carson Wentz - Practice Squad: Max Brosmer Related: 6 Alternative NFL Fits for Baker Mayfield in 2027 Running Back (4) This position was a major question mark going into the offseason. The Vikings asked Jones, who’s now 31, to take a pay cut, and he was willing to do so. If not, the starting job likely would be Mason’s. He might still snatch the job anyway, after coming back with a reshaped body, having lost weight and impressed the coaching staff by being in the best shape of his career. He legitimately looks quicker and more agile too. The team has hyped up assistant head coach Frank Smith’s impact on the running game, one that they feel Mason is a great fit for. After back-to-back 750-yard seasons, the 27-year-old feels like a good bet to top that mark in 2026. Meanwhile, Claiborne brings electric speed to the backfield, and the Vikings could find a few opportunities to put his home-run ability in play too. Bredeson, a fifth-round rookie, looks like a great fit to replace fan favorite Pro Bowler C.J. Ham, bringing a load as a blocker and being a capable pass-catcher too. While he played in 16 games last season, the 27-year-old Scott’s spot on the practice squad may not be safe. Though the Vikings don’t have another in-house option to replace him, so they may scrounge the waiver wire to find a different option for the practice squad. - Aaron Jones Jr. - Jordan Mason - Demond Claiborne - Max Bredeson (Fullback) - Practice Squad: Zavier Scott Related: 5 Minnesota Vikings Who Could Be Entering Their Final Season With The Team Wide Receiver (5) All five slots are locked in. There’s no debate over who the first, second, or even third receivers are in Minnesota. All could be in for big seasons with a more consistent Murray coming aboard. After his breakout summer, 2025 third-round pick Tay Felton seems to have secured the WR4 role, and his seam-stretching speed (4.37 40 time) could help him see the field when the Vikings are looking to go deep. Price, who’s making the team as a kick/punt returner, looks to have improved as a pass-catcher too, with his one-handed touchdown grab in the preseason opener serving as evidence. The real fun here revolves around the team’s ‘sixth’ receiver. While the Vikings don’t need to keep six receivers on the roster, being the next man up on O’Connell’s offense could be a desirable job. The ones jockeying for one to potentially three spots (1 maybe as a sixth rostered receiver, 2 on practice squad) are UDFAs Dillon Bell and Dontae Fleming, plus 26-year-old Jeshaun Jones, who’s been on the practice squad for the past two seasons and has played in one game. Bell brings a unique element, almost like a Deebo Samuel/Percy Harvin rushing threat, as seen on end-arounds in his preseason debut. Fleming could see opportunities as a returner in case of emergency. Bell is 22, and Fleming is 24, so they offer more long-term upside than Jones. - Justin Jefferson - Jordan Addison - Jauan Jennings - Tai Felton - Myles Price - Practice Squad: Dillon Bell and Dontae Fleming Tight End (3) There’s some real competition here, and for good reason. Hockenson is only signed through the rest of the season, Oliver through 2028. While the latter is ideal for his TE2 role as a top-tier blocker who can also haul in passes, he’s likely not a future starter. That’s where the Vikings can use the third tight end spot to play around and see if they can luck into someone with more long-term upside. That player might be Bartholomew, a 2025 sixth-round pick who has impressed in training camp. Yet, the Vikings also like Yurosek, who played in 12 games last season. Yet, it was 2025 UDFA Marshall Lang who impressed with a diving catch in the preseason opener. Lang was a Nolan Teasley signing who saw time with Seattle and New England’s practice squads as a rookie. Another 2025 UDFA, Bryson Nesbit, can’t be counted out yet either. As noted, this is a competitive group for the third TE spot, and possibly one or two more jobs on the taxi squad. - T.J. Hockenson - Josh Oliver - Gavin Bartholomew - Practice Squad: Ben Yurosek and Marshall Lang Related: 5 Minnesota Vikings Making An Early Case To Earn A Roster Spot Offensive Tackle (4) Signs suggest Darrisaw is back to his peak form, which is a very good sign for the Vikings’ offense. He, along with Pro Bowler Brian O’Neill, gives the Vikings one of the NFL’s best offensive tackle tandems. Yet, after Darrisaw played in just 17 games in the past two seasons and seeing the 30-year-old O’Neill miss three, the Vikings added some veteran depth in Demark, who, if nothing else, can impact the game as an occasional swing tackle with his huge 6-foot-6, 307-pound frame. Demark has appeared in 43 games with six starts in the past three seasons. Meanwhile, the Vikings also invested in a long-term developmental project with third-round rookie Caleb Tiernan, who should be seen as a lock to make the team, even if he may not be active much, if at all, on gamedays this season. The 23-year-old Leigh was a three-year starter at left tackle for Clemson and was one of the Vikings’ priority undrafted free agent signings in April. - Christian Darrisaw - Brian O’Neill - Ryan Van Demark - Caleb Tiernan - Practice Squad: Tristan Leigh Offensive Guard (3) Another position that could see more production in 2026 than in 2025, the Vikings are confident in what their guards bring to the table. The 28-year-old Fries enters his sixth season and started all 17 games at right guard. Meanwhile, Jackson, the 24th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, is just 23 years old and should be more prepared after making 14 starts at left guard as a rookie. The 24-year-old Huber was an undrafted free agent signing who made the team last year and ended up starting a game and making 12 appearances. At 6-foot-5, 310 pounds, Huber brings NFL size and positional versatility after also practicing at center and playing right tackle in college too. Meanwhile, Rouse is a 2024 sixth-round pick who’s still just 25 years old but appears to have made the switch from tackle to guard this offseason and played well in the preseason debut. After playing in seven games last season, he has the upper hand as a practice squad candidate who could play right away if need be. Byrd is a 27-year-old who’s entering his fourth season and made his way into two games with the Vikings as a guard, and now is working at tackle. Undrafted rookie Tomas Rimac could push for a spot here too. - Donovan Jackson - Will Fries - Joe Huber - Practice Squad: Walter Rouse and Henry Byrd Center (3) It’s a make-or-break year for Brandel, who’s done everything the Vikings have asked after arriving in the league as an offensive tackle; now he’s moved all the way to the inside as the team’s starting center. Entering his sixth season, the 6-foot-6 Brandel is an interesting fit at center, especially with a 5-foot-10 Murray seeking sightlines behind him. Yet, the Vikings seem to prefer big centers, and Brandel’s imposing frame could create advantages in the running game. Meanwhile, since the 29-year-old Brandel is still unproven as a long-term fit at the pivot, evaluating the depth behind him is important. The 6-foot-5 Jurgens is another big presence, and the 26-year-old 2024 seventh-round pick brings experience at guard too, having played 18 games (three starts) in the past two seasons. Gerhardt is a rookie seventh-round pick whose roster spot could be in flux, but would otherwise be a strong candidate for the practice squad. The same goes for Lemieux, a 6-foot-5 22-year-old UDFA who’s switching from tackle to center in the NFL after playing at Dartmouth. - Blake Brandel - Michael Jurgens - Gavin Gerhardt - Practice Squad: Delby Lemieux Related: 4 Moves Minnesota Vikings Should Make After Naming Kyler Murray Starter Defensive Line (6) The Vikings have a star in the making in Redmond, who they found from the XFL in 2024. Behind him is a competitive group that coach Flores will likely mix and match throughout the season. For now, veterans like Drake Rodriguez and Ingram-Dawkins appear to have the upper hand over the rookies, but Banks and Orange have higher upside. The starting spot to watch here is Ingram-Dawkins, who is working more along the edge. Yet, the Vikings may want to find a more veteran upgrade in free agency. Williams is a 23-year-old UDFA from 2025 who ended up playing in seven games last season, and he’s already flashed this summer, including a sack in the preseason. The practice squad spot is to be determined, possibly even coming from another team’s roster cuts. For now, it goes to the 6-foot-7 Loudermilk, a 28-year-old who’s played 60 games in five seasons. The Vikings could also prefer the 26-year-old Taki Taimani, who’s appeared in nine games in the past two seasons. - Jalen Redmond - Levi Drake Rodriguez - Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins - Caleb Banks - Domonique Orange - Elijah Williams - Practice Squad: Isaiahh Loudermilk Related: 6 Minnesota Vikings Who Have Impressed At Training Camp Edge Rusher (5) The 23-year-old Turner looks primed for a “monster” year, and he already led the team with eight sacks last season. The hope is the 31-year-old Van Ginkel can stay healthier after playing 12 games last season, but still recording a respectable 7.5 sacks. Yet, they may not have their top backup edge rusher on the roster quite yet. Several options are available, and while it’s understandable that the Vikings want to evaluate their younger options first, they’ll eventually cave and add a vet like Leonard Floyd, Derek Barnett, or Kyle Van Noy. The Vikings have Golday, their 23-year-old second-round pick learning a multitude of roles, much like AVG does off the edge and in coverage, though the rookie could find himself operating as an inside linebacker on occasion too. Batty is the winner of a trio of former UDFAs vying for the final edge spot on the roster after impressing in training camp. - Dallas Turner - Andrew Van Ginkel - Free Agent Signee - Jake Golday - Tyler Batty - Practice Squad: Bo Richter and Chaz Chambliss Related: Minnesota Vikings Insider Hints At Adding Veteran Edge-Rusher: 8 Potential Fits Linebacker (4) This area took a bit of a hit once Jamal Adams was lost with a season-ending injury, though he may have made more of an impact as a safety too. Plus, it’s not like the Vikings went into the summer with Adams as a big part of their plans after just adding him in August. Still, the Vikings are pleased with their starting tandem of Cashman and Wilson, but would like to see improvement from Pace, whose erratic play can create havoc and lead to big gains. The Vikings could add a veteran to compete with Pace or play more on special teams as the team’s fourth linebacker. For now, that job goes to the 24-year-old CFL signee Jacob Roberts, who recorded an interception in the preseason opener. The Vikings will want to keep evaluating the position’s depth, so keeping an undrafted rookie standout like Bangally Kamara makes sense. - Blake Cashman - Eric Wilson - Ivan Pace Jr. - Jacob Roberts - Practice Squad: Bangally Kamara Related: 5 Minnesota Vikings Who Could Be Entering Their Final Season With The Team Cornerback (5) After years of uncertainty, the Vikings have to be pretty pleased with their starting tandem. After taking a chance on Jeff Okudah reaching his potential as a former top-five pick last year, now the Vikings are leaning on experience with the 29-year-old Pierre, who’s entering his seventh season and brings 95 games of experience (13 starts). Yet, Demmings, a 23-year-old fifth-round rookie, is making a lot of noise in training camp. He could fight for opportunities to see the field in his first season. Coach Flores loves his big corners, and that’s the profile that the 6-foot-3 Vaughn fits. The 24-year-old Vaughn was on the team’s practice squad and made it into a game last year, but may have taken a second-year leap. After Vaughn, the Vikings have six players competing for a cornerback job, but the opportunities are there to make this roster. For now, the job goes to Allen, a 6-foot-2 undrafted rookie out of North Carolina, but the Vikings may prefer Dwight McGlothern Jr., who’s also 6-foot-2 and somehow is still just 24 despite appearing in 15 games in the past two seasons. An outside addition is possible for the practice squad or CB5 job too. - Byron Murphy Jr. - Isaiah Rodgers - James Pierre - Charles Demmings - Zemaiah Vaughn - Practice Squad: Marcus Allen Safety (5) There’s nothing the Vikings would love more than for a 37-year-old Harrison Smith to decide he wants to play a 15th season. For now, the 28-year-old Metellus is gaining some extra insight as this group’s veteran leader. In fact, Smith’s departure will lead to an opportunity for Ward, a 2023 fourth-round pick, to emerge as a starter. The 26-year-old has appeared in 50 games in his three-year career, including five starts last season. Behind him is a third-round rookie in Thomas who could push for early playing time too. The 27-year-old Jackson enters his fifth season (all with the Vikings) and has played 57 games, including eight starts last season. Meanwhile, the undrafted rookie Thomas made an interception in his preseason debut and may have secured a roster spot too. Hailassie enters his fourth season and has played in 10 games (one start), but hasn’t appeared in a game since 2024. The 25-year-old has to be itching to show he’s ready to break out, and the Vikings may not be ready to give up on him yet. Notably absent here is special teams standout Tavierre Thomas. The 30-year-old played 83% of the team’s special teams snaps last season, but the Vikings may not be able to afford to keep him on the roster purely for special teams, seeing as he offers no long-term upside on their starting defense. - Joshua Metellus - Jay Ward - Jakobe Thomas - Theo Jackson - Jacob Thomas - Practice Squad: Kahlef Hailassie Related: 5 Bold NFL Predictions For 2026, Including Kyler Murray’s Big Season Ahead Special Teams (3) According to the Associated Press, the Vikings have the NFL’s best kicker in Reichard, last year’s First-Team All-Pro. He’s a perfect 69-for-69 on extra point opportunities. While he now has a different holder after Ryan Wright’s departure in free agency, the 36-year-old four-time First-Team All-Pro Johnny Hekker won’t be a downgrade as a holder. Seeing how much he has left in the tank as a punter remains to be seen after playing for the Panthers and Titans in the past two seasons. Yet, that’s what the International Pathway Program’s Brett Thorson is here for. The undrafted Aussie rookie has an outside chance to win the job outright, but the Vikings will likely hand the job to Hekker, knowing Thorson doesn’t count against the team on the practice squad, meaning they can keep 17 players on the taxi squad rather than 16. Meanwhile, DePaola is 39 years old and entering his 12th season, but there’s no competition for the two-time First-Team All-Pro’s job after earning Second-Team All-Pro honors again in 2025. - K Will Reichard - P Johnny Hekker - LS Andrew DePaola - Practice Squad: P Brett Thorson (IPP) Related: Minnesota Vikings’ Undrafted Rookie Making ‘Pretty Good’ Case to Earn Roster Spot