53 Highlights for 53 Players: Matt Fries' Vikings Roster Projection

Matt Fries projects the Minnesota Vikings' 53 man roster, complete with a highlight from every player projected to make the cut.

You know why you’re here. The NFL’s roster cutdown day is on Tuesday, and the Vikings need to decide who to cut and who to keep as the season approaches. Obviously there are tough decisions to make at the bottom of the roster, and we’ll go into detail on each of them. But Week 1 is also fast approaching, so we should also get excited about the top-end talent the team has.

Let’s review every player I think should make the Vikings’ roster, accompanied by a highlight to get excited about.

Quarterback (3)

The Vikings have one true roster lock at the QB position, and it’s the player they hope is their future at the position: JJ McCarthy. Coming off of a meniscus tear that caused him to miss the 2024 season, McCarthy looks ready to step in as the team’s leader in 2025. While we only have preseason tape to go off of for McCarthy so far, there are exciting plays, including this throw from 2024:

Beyond that, the team has a decision to make. Sam Howell has reportedly looked bad in training camp, and then looked good in Week 1 of the preseason before bombing in Week 2. I still expect him to make the roster as a player with starting experience whom the Vikings traded for this offseason:

Keeping Howell leads to an interesting decision between Brett Rypien and Max Brosmer. The reason Rypien has stuck in the NFL is likely due to his Monday-Saturday work helping starters prepare than what he’s done on the field. I hope Howell is up for that role, and therefore made my case for the Vikings keeping Brosmer, who I think has strong upside. He certainly outplayed Rypien in the preseason:

Running Back (4)

The Vikings invested heavily in their top RBs this offseason, re-signing Aaron Jones and then trading for and extending Jordan Mason. Jones, while aging, is a very consistent runner who still provides an explosive element in the run and pass game:

Mason, while not an explosive athlete, has a fantastic feel for zone runs and the power to run through arm tackles and push piles for tough yardage. He should be a great complement to Jones:

The other roster lock is fullback CJ Ham. Ham is a quality lead blocker, trusted in pass protection, and plays a ton of snaps on special teams. Here’s his TD run from last year:

The Vikings have a major decision to make with their third RB. Do they go with Ty Chandler, who is entering the final year of his rookie deal? Chandler has never done more than flash as a runner, but he does play a significant special teams role, including occasionally returning kicks.

For my money, I’d rather choose Zavier Scott. The Maine product hasn’t made a team since entering the NFL in 2023, but he’s put two quality preseason games on tape. He seems to have burst, some power, and a decision-making ability that Chandler has never mastered. He’s also been playing multiple roles on special teams this preseason. If the Vikings like his work there, in my opinion, they should keep him over Chandler:

Undrafted rookie Tre Stewart also deserves a mention. He hasn’t had much of a chance to shine in preseason, but I’m projecting that the Vikings keep him for their practice squad and try to let him develop for a year.