53-man roster projection: Vikings go all-in at receiver
Change is coming to a Minnesota Vikings team that finally has an offensive-minded head coach in the building with Kevin O’Connell.
After riding shotgun with Sean McVay as the offensive coordinator for the Super Bowl-winning Los Angeles Rams, O’Connell is now getting the keys to his own Porsche to burn rubber on opposing defenses.
There will be an even greater emphasis at the receiver position when roster-building for the 2022 season. The old adage that only a good defense wins championships was killed the moment Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs won a Super Bowl with playground football.
No, quarterback Kirk Cousins isn’t Mahomes, but he is good enough to feed the many receiving weapons O’Connell will surely have at his disposal on the final roster.
Here’s my 53-man roster prediction.
QB Kirk Cousins
Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports
QB Kellen Mond
Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
RB Dalvin Cook
Billy Hardiman-USA TODAY Sports
RB C.J. Ham
Billy Hardiman-USA TODAY Sports
RB Alexander Mattison
AP Photo/Julio Cortez
RB Kene Nwangwu
Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
RB Ty Chandler
Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports
WR Justin Jefferson
Matt Blewett-USA TODAY Sports
WR Adam Thielen
Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
WR K.J. Osborn
Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports
WR Ihmir Smith-Marsette
AP Photo/Stacy Bengs
WR Jalen Nailor
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
WR Bisi Johnson
AP Photo/Kelvin Kuo
WR Albert Wilson
Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports
TE Irv Smith Jr.
AP Photo/Al Goldis
TE Johnny Mundt
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
TE Ben Ellefson
AP Photo/Stacy Bengs
OL Brian O'Neill
Matt Blewett-USA TODAY Sports
OL Christian Darrisaw
AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn
OL Ezra Cleveland
AP Photo/Jim Mone
OL Garrett Bradbury
David Berding-USA TODAY Sports
OL Jesse Davis
Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports
OL Ed Ingram
Vasha Hunt-USA TODAY Sports
OL Oli Udoh
Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
OL Chris Reed
Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
OL Austin Schlottmann
Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
S Harrison Smith
Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports
S Lewis Cine
Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports
S Cam Bynum
AP Photo/Julio Cortez
S Josh Metellus
AP Photo/Jim Mone
CB Patrick Peterson
AP Photo/Stacy Bengs
CB Cameron Dantzler
Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports
CB Chandon Sullivan
Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
CB Andrew Booth Jr.
Ken Ruinard-USA TODAY Sports
CB Akayleb Evans
Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
CB Kris Boyd
Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
LB Eric Kendricks
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
LB Jordan Hicks
Billy Hardiman-USA TODAY Sports
LB Brian Asamoah
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
LB Blake Lynch
Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
OLB Danielle Hunter
Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports
OLB Za'Darius Smith
Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
OLB D.J. Wonnum
Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
OLB Janarius Robinson
Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
DL Harrison Phillips
Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports
DL Dalvin Tomlinson
AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn
DL Armon Watts
Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
DL Esezi Otomewo
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
DL James Lynch
AP Photo/Rick Osentoski
DL Jaylen Twyman
Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
K Greg Joseph
Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
P Jordan Berry
Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
LS Andrew DePaola
Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
