By Matthew Coller
On Sunday afternoon, the Minnesota Vikings cut their roster down to 53 and left some interesting questions about depth positions and potential additions. In terms of fodder following the preseason, cutdown day is top notch intrigue. In terms of actually mattering to the result during the regular season, that’s pretty questionable.
When we look back at Vikings last-minute additions of the past, it’s tough to find many that had a legitimate impact. Back in 2017, the Vikings added cornerback Tramaine Brock, who was cut by the 49ers. He was on the field for 51 total plays. Tight end Blake Bell was also added that year. He caught three passes as a Viking.
In 2021, they brought in former Jets tight end Chris Herndon in exchange for a fourth-round pick. He made four catches, though one of them was a touchdown.
And last year’s Adam Thielen debacle took the cake. After haggling over price with Carolina for days, the Vikings finally were able to peel Thielen away from them. He finished 2025 with eight receptions in purple.
The point is: The Vikings’ roster may be tweaked going forward but for all intents and purposes the 53 that was announced Sunday is made up of the players who will determine whether the Vikings return to the playoffs in 2026 or not. So where are they the best? Where are the deepest and where are the biggest concerns? Let’s have a look:
Where they are the deepest
That conversation begins in the wide receiver room. The addition of Jauan Jennings to Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison looked like a home run signing in training camp, especially on the final day of camp when Jennings took a slant route over the middle for about 25 yards. His hands, ball tracking and connection with Kyler Murray this summer should give the coaching staff confidence that he can be a key receiver and play in bigger roles if called upon.
What the Vikings might not have been as sure about was the backup receiver positions. During Tai Felton’s rookie year, he was a punt gunner and rarely saw the field as a wide receiver. Myles Price was purely a kick and punt returner.
Felton flashed deep ability similar to that of Jalen Nailor throughout camp and replicated practice with a 50-yard reception. Myles Price was a vacuum for the football in camp and had five receptions for 59 yard and a one-handed touchdown in two preseason games.
Dillon Bell made the initial 53-man roster but was waived on Monday. We’ll see if the Vikings are able to get him through waivers and work with him as a project for the future.
The receiving corps has megastar talent at the No. 1 spot, a 1B talent in Addison, a No. 2 receiver playing No. 2 in Jennings, two young players on the rise and an intriguing youngster. You can’t ask for much more than that.
The next spot on the 53 with depth is cornerback.
It wasn’t clear whether the Vikings were going to keep four or five corners but 2025 UDFA Zemaiah Vaughn made the squad after a strong training camp and played all phases of special teams during the preseason. That gives them two solid starters in Isaiah Rodgers and Byron Murphy Jr. along with veteran James Pierre and emerging rookie Charles Demmings.
While Demmings went to Stephen F. Austin and expectations were that he would be more of a project, he immediately worked his way up the depth chart and rotated in with first-team reps by the end of camp. In the third preseason game, he had an impressive PBU and another strong play in coverage on a downfield throw. He may not be ready to start at the moment but if he was needed on the field, the highly-athletic and aggressive corner proved he would have a chance against starting receivers.
Flores also mentioned Jay Ward as a nickel corner during his last press conference of the preseason. In college, Ward played outside and inside corner and safety and has been trained through his first couple seasons in the NFL as a safety. However, with Josh Metellus moving back to a traditional safety spot, Ward has taken over his big nickel role. That gives the Vikings additional depth at both positions.
The other position that has an argument for being deep is linebacker. The Vikings have two quality veteran starters in Blake Cashman and Eric Wilson and added second-round draft pick Jake Golday, who flashed impressive movement skill for his size and play aggressively in the preseason games. The fourth linebacker is Ivan Pace Jr., who was a full-time starter just two years ago.
Where are the concerns?