Minnesota Vikings security Theo Jackson celebrates with teammates after a pivotal defensive play throughout a street victory in Seattle. Following an interception within the fourth quarter on Dec. 22, 2024, at Lumen Area in Seattle, Washington, Jackson led a celebration with a number of Vikings defenders as Minnesota closed out an vital late-season win. Necessary Credit score: Joe Nicholson-Imagn Pictures.
In late August, the Minnesota Vikings, together with 31 different groups, will prune their rosters from 90 to 53 gamers, an exercise head coach Kevin O’Connell has described as his least-happy day of the 12 months. This go-around will assuredly some painful cuts; that’s simply the character of the beast.
And if well-liked gamers get the axe, a listing may appear to be this. The next gamers are listed in alphabetical order.
Vikings’ Summer time Roster Crunch Features a Few Acquainted Names
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Max Brosmer and kicker Will Reichard share a postgame second on the sphere at U.S. Financial institution Stadium following a hard-fought contest. The interplay mirrored the crew’s concentrate on execution and situational soccer after the ultimate whistle. The change occurred on Dec. 25, 2025, as gamers wrapped up vacation recreation duties. Necessary Credit score: Matt Krohn-Imagn Pictures.
Max Brosmer | QB
Let’s be clear: Brosmer is forecasted to succeed in the follow squad.
However what if he doesn’t? The man appeared completely horrendous as a rookie in 2025, and his complete repute amongst Vikings followers was based mostly on preseason hype. Preseason efficiency virtually by no means interprets to common season success. Ask EDGE rusher Gabriel Murphy about it.
Like Jaren Corridor in 2023-2024, Minnesota may lower ties with Brosmer, particularly if it finds a special quarterback on the post-cutdown market, maybe Will Levis or Anthony Richardson.
Tai Felton | WR
Felton heads into summer season with rather a lot to show. His distinctive pace was the explanation Kwesi Adofo-Mensah drafted him within the Third Spherical final 12 months, regardless of most draft analysts projecting him as a 4th or Fifth-Spherical decide. The technique was clear: purchase a pace demon to stretch defenses and supply a deep menace.
Nonetheless, Felton noticed minimal taking part in time throughout his rookie season. Not like most Third-Spherical huge receivers who sometimes get an instantaneous alternative, Felton didn’t. It makes his second summer season critically vital. Whereas he nonetheless has an opportunity to climb to WR4 if he performs nicely in camp, he is likely to be on the roster bubble.
New basic supervisor Nolan Teasley, who was not concerned in drafting Felton, has no inherent favoritism in direction of him. Felton might want to impress the brand new management from the bottom up.
Theo Jackson | S
Jackson misplaced his job to Jay Ward late final 12 months, and few observed. Minnesota additionally drafted security Jakobe Thomas from Miami in April, together with onboarding promising undrafted security Jacob Thomas.
And that’s along with the prospect of Harrison Smith returning for Yr No. 15. Final summer season, people had been optimistic that Jackson may seamlessly substitute Camryn Bynum. This summer season, he appears like a roster bubble straddler.
Ivan Tempo Jr. | LB
Tempo Jr. began his profession with a bang — typed like Mike Breen says it — an unabashed UDFA success story for Adofo-Mensah. He additionally performed nicely in 2024, however not fairly as stellar as his rookie marketing campaign. Quick ahead to 2025, and Tempo Jr. all of a sudden couldn’t deal with as nicely, and veteran Eric Wilson swiped his beginning job.
The Vikings re-signed Tempo Jr. this offseason — exercised his restricted free-agent tender — however that doesn’t imply his future is completely safe. If rookie Jake Golday, a 2nd-Rounder, is the true deal, that complicates the roster math of Tempo Jr.
Minnesota Vikings linebacker Ivan Tempo Jr. celebrates after recording an interception in opposition to the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium. The rookie defender delivered one of many recreation’s pivotal performs and helped energize Minnesota’s protection. The turnover occurred on Dec. 10, 2023, throughout a low-scoring contest between the Vikings and Raiders. Necessary Credit score: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports activities.
The Viking Age‘s Adam Patrick noted on Pace Jr. in May, ‘With Wilson back, Pace will likely spend a bunch of time on special teams again in 2026. He’ll additionally most likely be referred to as upon to begin sooner or later subsequent season if Wilson or Blake Cashman are unable to play as a consequence of harm.”
“Will Pace use his 2025 season as motivation to prove people wrong in 2026 when he gets back on the field, or will it be more of the same from a guy who hasn’t ever been able to duplicate the unexpected success he had as a rookie with the Vikings?”
Myles Worth | WR
Do we predict Worth might be lower? No. Is it a risk? Sure.
Final summer season, the Vikings didn’t have many choices for kick and punt returners. In 2026, they’ll have further options, like new working again Demond Claiborne of Wake Forest. Worth is a large receiver by commerce, however Minnesota didn’t use him on offense as a rookie.
Whereas Worth is a promising younger returner, there’s a small likelihood the Vikings drop him in favor a person who can play speical groups and offense.
Walter Rouse | OT
The Vikings added two uncuttable offensive tackles this offseason: Third-Spherical rookie Caleb Tiernan from Northwestern and veteran Ryan Van Demark from the Buffalo Payments. In a standard offseason, Minnesota often finds one free-agent or rookie deal with for depth behind Christian Darrisaw and Brian O’Neill.
Minnesota Vikings offensive linemen Donovan Jackson and Walter Rouse take part in minicamp drills on the crew’s coaching facility in Minneapolis. Each gamers continued their improvement whereas competing for roles alongside the offensive entrance. The follow session occurred on June 10, 2025, as Minnesota labored by its obligatory offseason minicamp schedule. Necessary Credit score: Matt Krohn-Imagn Pictures.
Including Tiernan and Van Demark raises the stakes for Rouse, a participant getting into his third 12 months who has not performed a lot since becoming a member of the NFL in 2024.
If it comes right down to the teaching workers wanting to maintain an additional huge receiver or EDGE defender, for instance, Rouse might be on the chopping block as a result of the membership now has Tiernan and Van Demark.
Dustin Baker is a novelist and political scientist. His second novel, The Invaders , is out now. So is … Extra about Dustin Baker
