Taking a Look at the Minnesota Vikings 53 Man-Roster

the only place for everything Vikings six 1 2 Vikings welcome back to the 612 Vikings podcast I am Dustin alongside Drew here we're coming off of a undefeated preseason by the Minnesota Vikings we haven't seen that for a couple years now uh since the Zimmer days of the Minnesota Vikings so it's finally nice to see us win an actual game let alone go undefeated so uh Drew how we doing today man uh We've concluded the preseason and we're on to week one yeah it's a very uh jeckeln Hy uh preseason for us you know after having such a long losing streak of losing in the preseason it's actually kind of nice to have something different and uh you know I the you know clayy and Kevin Connell definitely had a tough Challenge on their on their hands for the first time in what seems like forever too because you know now it kind of came to be that time where it became difficult to cut guys versus just making it easy because guys were underperforming in preseason so it was definitely I could tell it was definitely a tough challenge we had to say goodbye to some some uh some former players that you know former all pros and uh some players that were definitely well-liked among the fan base but we'll uh we'll talk about that a little bit more I'm sure in the video so so yeah for sure and you know honestly we'll probably get right into it before we get into that I just want to shout out seek for you guys make sure you guys download SE uh use promo code that Vikings fan for $20 off your first order and hey $20 is $20 save yourself some money uh any sporting event any concert anything like that Monster Jam sometimes at usbank Stadium that's always fun so make sure you guys go download seek and we'll get right into this so we're going to go the 53 man roster because that just came out a day or two ago now and we're finally ready to kind of digest everything sleep on it uh get get our uh great takes on that so uh let's let's go over this and we will kind of go through the roster right now and then we'll go through our predictions on what we thought would happen so um just kind of going through this real quick you know not too many standouts um yeah just kind of it is what it is not not not too many surprises I should say and you know here's the IR um and then they got different subcategories as well but got got a lot of other guys on their practice squad so yeah like I said we'll get right into this uh first we'll go over our predictions so um Kenny nongu no longer on the roster CJ ham Tai Chandler and Aaron Jones are your three running backs because I don't know if CJ Ham's an actual running back but he's a fullback on our team Aaron Jones and Tai Chandler are only two running backs on the roster going into week one I assume that we'll probably sign a running back before then but Drew what what's your take on the running back situation right now to be honest I kind of came away with that a little bit confused because it it seems like you know going into the Giants game if Aaron Jones goes down or Tai Chandler goes down we're kind of in a pickle now because you're kind of relying on you know Aaron Jo let's say it's Tai Chandler that goes down Aaron Jones who let's face it does have a history of not being able to complete a full season and he did get hurt week one last year against the Bears he had a hamstring injury if you don't remember he had the big touchdown grab and I believe it was like a pulled hamstring or something like that so uh if one of them goes down we're kind of just biting our nails trying to see if you know Tai Chandler Aaron Jones whoever can get us to the Finish Line because you know CJ ham is a guy who hasn't played running back since college so he's been a career fullback in the NFL uh I just don't know if they're going to really address it I hope it is something they do address I don't think that this initial 53 man roster is set in stone there have been some steam there's been some steam un like Brian asoa still being traded and Caleb Evans being traded so just because these guys are on the initial 53 Main roster doesn't mean uh we'll see that uh lineup on game days so I'm still thinking there's possibly one move left out there um I was looking at a guy like Sam perine you know that he has a Bruiser bulldozer kind of back which we do kind of need because Tai Chandler is kind of more your speed guy Aaron Jones is more of your receiving back I would say and we just really don't have that Bruiser to kind of get in those short and you know short yard situations and I thought that was a guy that fit what the Vikings would you know were looking for perfectly but he did just get signed by the Chiefs so uh we'll see if there's anybody out there uh you know there's some running backs still out there I'm sure there's always some running backs there but seems like they're all kind of getting snubbed up right now uh with the waiver wire being so hot right now so uh we'll see what they do I mean they they very well might roll with two guys for week one it's not something I would personally agree with um I do think you need just a little bit more depth out of that but we'll see how it goes in week one and between now and week one to say so we'll see what happens yeah for sure and uh to add you know Kenny nangu for those of you that don't know just got signed by the Saints earlier uh today so that there's your two running backs and then yeah Kenny wongu he's on the Saints CJ ham obviously so on the Vikings uh wide receiver Justin Jefferson Jordan Addison Jaylen Naylor Brandon Paulo Trent sherfield trisan Jackson uh correct me if I'm wrong but I'm pretty sure this is what they've actually kept with opposed to our prediction so yeah that's that's what they actually went with so no issues there I don't think any guy should have made it over another guy unless you disagree no like I said these were our predictions going in to the cutdown day so uh this is something we both kind of were talking about and this just seemed like almost like a consensus uh you know wide receiver room and I think they all kind of compliment each other other fairly nicely um outside of Jefferson and aen who you just know are going to show up and produce on day one I don't think there's any issues with that but the depth after that after the departure of KJ Osborne uh it was really who's going to step up as the wide receiver three and it's looking like it's going to be Jaylen Naylor uh Brandon Powell I believe is going to be the potential replacement on the new kickoff rules so he will see some action in the kick return game uh Tai Chandler will be your kick returner one now uh so that you know those two guys will be the primary uh uh kick returners uh then you got Trent surfield who brings a little bit of a different aspect he's a little bit more of a bigger body but he can run block very very good uh hopefully that can open up those stretch plays which is something Kevin oconnell and that zone blocking scheme is definitely a big part in uh and it is something we really kind of didn't see last year it might explain some of the struggles we had um we weren't really able to to run wide and we were very limited because Alexander Mass really isn't that speed guy uh and then when Ty Chandler came in you just saw the running game open up beautifully and it was really prevalent against uh Cincinnati so uh I think Tren sherfield you know will'll be wide receiver five I don't think he's really there to be the thou you know potential sleeper like an Adam Thelen in the past uh who's kind of buried late in the uh 53 man roster and you saw him rise I think he'll just be a guy who could block and open up the Run game a little bit and then obviously the preseason hero Tristian Jackson he'll most likely see some special teams action uh showed up really well in the pre-season so maybe if anyone were to be like an Adam Thelen where you start off at the bottom and then you move up uh could be trishan Jackson we'll know well you know we'll we'll see what it you know it brings us but uh yeah we'll see what happens with trisan Jackson I I do think it'll be primarily special teams though uh usually guys probably out in the wing or uh field goal returns or something that's probably my guess for it but nice little depth depth piece in case Jaylen aay goes down yeah and to add on to Tristan Jackson too is he's 26 years old too and you know that that light at the end of the tunnel is really opening up uh or getting smaller depending on how you look at it because being 26 years old you know this is your last chance to make an NFL roster and he's proven time and time again in training camp that he's played pretty well and a couple times last year in the Falcons game he stepped up pretty big and he's just haven't really had his main shot to be consistently you know get some playing time I guess so we we'll see how Tristan Jackson gets used in in uh in the next coming weeks in this year at least so yeah well we'll see how Tristan Jackson is uh tight ends uh with TJ hackinson on I are or I guess uh the pup list we got Josh Oliver Johnny Mt Nick Muse uh nil Harry he's on the practice squad we'll get to that later as well but your three tight ends rolling into the season Oliver Mt and Muse I think Johnny Mt will be your starter tight end because that's what he was in training camp where he was in that hackinson role so other than that you know no real big surprises here yeah you know I it is something I thought they were going to roll out um it's pretty clear with obviously the injury to JJ McCarthy for the season I think they're going to try to ease darnold into the season try not to put too much pressure on him because I you know the Vikings are saying this is still a win now season even with darnold at the quarterback but you know Guy having a guy like Oliver Mt you know those two tight ends I don't care what you know I'm sure we've you've probably seen on Tik Tok you're scrolling through or Twitter you get all the fantasy football you know experts that are going and saying don't draft Aaron Jones Aaron Jones will do very very well these first few weeks with guys like Oliver and Mont blocking and like I said Aaron Jones will be guy a guy that will stretch it out you're gonna see a lot of toss plays a lot of stretch plays they're going to try to expand that defense and make him run sideline to sideline Aaron Jones will do very well in this offense to start especially at the team like the Niner I'm sorry the team against the Giants and potentially the Niners you know I did like we kind of ran the ball pretty effectively with cakers uh against Niners last season so I I think Aaron Jones is going to be a nice secret weapon where people are going to you know kind of bite their words you know bite their lip bite their words however uh you prefer to say it but I think Aaron Jones GNA do really well having two blocking tight ends uh Josh aliver I I think is still the best blocking tight end in the league uh if you're just talking strictly blocking Johnny mutt is a excellent blocking tight end but um I still think Josh Oliver will be the tight end one uh I I I you know we kind of look back to when you know he did get hurt Josh Oliver uh was still the guy that was kind of starting that in that TJ Hawk Ral last year uh me personally I I don't think there's anything that's going to really change between last year at Jenny M and now uh I think he's pushing his late 20s right now so I think he kind of is who he is um but Nick Muse if anyone could maybe surprise I think it could be Nick Muse he's been very efficient uh you know PFF has list him as a very he's always getting graded really high in the preseason even in the uh during the regular season he had a couple plays but he's always traded really really highly I think Nick Muse is a guy who could be a potential you know sleeper pick who could get in some uh into the mix to with some uh some plays and honestly I think that's kind of my underrated pick to see if anyone is going to step up I would say Nick Muse will probably be the guy who probably step up the most out of those three guys in the receiving game um mostly but yeah I really like that Nick M made this roster I think it's long overdue he's been kind of balancing you know going back and forth balancing between the roster and the practice squad so to see a guy you know who's definitely got an interesting unique personality to say the least he's he's finally made the initial 53 so I'm definitely excited for him for that yeah and he's really showed out through the preseason games and in training camp as well the coaching staff really likes them so that's good and to start on the 53 man roster to start week one is is a big step for a guy like Nick Muse where he's like you said bounced around on the roster and the practice squad so it it'll be nice to see all three of those tight ends get a shot at you know obviously some playing time and you know a guy like nikil Harry he might be on the roster and the practice squad here and there just because of him switching positions from wide receiv superer to tight end you know he might see the field every once in a while in some games or you know a couple games or two this year so we we'll see how that tight end room kind of shakes out the rest of the season but I really do like how it is set right now until hackinson comes back and I I think we got a good group of guys there so moving on to the offensive line I'm just gonna kind of group these three positions together uh we're gonna go with Christian Dera obviously lock O'Neil lock Walter Rouse the rookie David quesenberry the swing tackle Blake brandle is your starting left guard Ed Ingram is your starting Right Guard Michael Jurgens I believe he is now the third string Center but also plays guard I think he's a backup guard as well uh Garrett Bradberry and then Dan feni is your backup center so uh no I don't think anybody Let's see we can take a look actually yeah nobody different from the prediction so I I like that group of guys as well yeah for sure sorry um yeah David uh David quesenberry is kind of the interesting one for me but you know Dalton Ryner is a guy that made that short-term IR I didn't want to throw that out uh is there still a spot for him on this roster I don't I I it's really tough to say because if he does come off that shortterm IR you know that 21-day window will open up I think they're going to try and Max it out as most as they can but think David quesenberry is probably going to be the odd man out if they do want to still keep Dalton Ryner on this roster and then they use Walter Rouse to be more of that swing tackle uh but I think all of it I mean really it's just going to depend on how darasa and O'Neal um you know if they stay healthy because darasa has had some Seasons where he's been banged up and missed a few games you know Brian O'Neal you know people do forget two years ago he did have a torn Achilles uh you know that's something that you know definitely builds up Scar Tissue it's really not the same strength as it was when you know pre-injury so I especially as a heavy guy like him exactly yeah yeah exactly and David quesenberry I think he's in his early 30s I think he's like early mid-30s I want to say he's like 33 so you know he was really good in the preseason I I do think he deserved to make the roster given that Dalton Riser was on IR uh I know we just had Tyler on last episode he doesn't think Dalton Riser was going to make it um you know obviously he's somewhat correct you know he's still on the Vikings roster just on the short-term IR but I I do think that there is still a path for Dalton Ryner to make this roster but I do think it's going to come between quesenberry and Ryner for that final roster spot because I do think that they could maybe use brandle or Ingram or Ryner based on whoever they want to start uh and then Jurgens will obviously play more of that Chris Reed role from last year so U but we'll see how it goes uh DT r I don't think that he's I wouldn't write him off just yet to be out like off the roster but uh we'll see how this goes uh and who who knows too he might just be a guy who starts on short-term IR finishes off on the long-term IR just to keep him on the roster for another year so we'll see how this thing shakes up and I think it'll be definitely uh exciting when week four rolls around when these short term IR guys bounce off the uh when they're eligible to come off the the IR there yeah for sure and one thing to add to before we move on to the defense is the the Vikings really value their guys that can play multiple positions on the offensive line so a guy like David quber where he can play left tackle and right tackle Walter Rouse he in the preseason games we just saw he played right tackle for like the first quarter and then played Right Guard for the second quarter or whatever it was a guy like Blake brandle he can play tackle and guard uh you have a guy a rookie like Michael where he plays center and guard so someone that can play multiple multiple positions on that offensive line are very valuable for the Vikings and a guy like Dolan Ryner he plays left guard all the time that's that's his position and he hasn't played any other position in the NFL and when the Vikings told him hey we want you to play Right Guard or compete at Right Guard for the starting spot you're going to have to earn that he's never played at that position before for so really CH challenge Ed Ingram where he's Ed Ingram has played in that position at Right Guard in the NFL and you know not not to say that he hasn't had success but he's been very inconsistent at that you know it's really telling of that as well so to keep Ryner on a IR list instead of just releasing him or anything really is interesting as well because they they like him enough to keep him around but everybody thought that they were just going to let go of Ryner and I remember a couple months back when we resigned him I was like could he be a potential cut candidate and everybody looked at me and was like oh why would you do that he's a great depth piece blah blah blah and you know looking back at it now the the Vikings didn't really you know I don't know what it was miscommunication or whatever but uh to keep them on IR for now is is an interesting move so we'll see how that plays out like you said when he's eligible to come off that list so yeah and I do I do want to finish off before we move on to the defense it is relieving that we won't have to throw out a guard who's never played center before in his life like we did against the Packers in 2022 where we had to throw Chris Reed Under Fire against one of the best nose tackles in the league against Kenny Clark that Michael Jurgens like Dustin said earlier is a guy that can play guard and Center Dani can play guard and Center so basically we essentially have three centers on this roster and the odd of you going down three centers in one game is obviously slim to none so it is relieving that we don't have to worry about snaps going over Kirk's head and helping contribute to a momentum killer and being blown out on the road against your biggest rival so it is relieving now that Michael Jurgens is a guy that could do both and he'll be the third string there so yeah uh going on to the defensive line I'm I don't know if I should group these together but I I'll separate them for now we'll go Ed Ed and then defensive tackle so your Edge rookie Dallas Turner Jonathan gernard from the Texans Andrew van GLE Jihad Ward and Patrick Jones um uh just comparing this to the actual roster yeah no no surprises there so far we've only had one wrong which is actually really surprising for all I guess the surprising moves that the Vikings had so yeah that the Ed what what are we thinking about that pretty pretty standard I think yeah um looking when when we were doing this I was you know I was really on the fence and I think Dustin and you were too but we like that fifth Edge spot was I felt like that was the one that was up for grabs I know the fans really love Bo RoR I just didn't see a path for him to make it um and it's not that he was bad it's just that the edge room is just going to be that damn good next year and it's something I'm really looking forward to and honestly Edge depth has been a edge depth has been a thing that we've really been lacking in the last three to four years because before it was just Neil Hunter and on the other end it would be a Band-Aid in zarius Smith or you know a tail yeah DJ wanam tail end of his career Everson Griffin so they really didn't have that second guy and now that you really have three guys that can uh rush the passer and especially a guy like uh van GLE he's I kind of think he's more of a like I kind of compare like Josh matelis he's like a like a Swiss army knife for the front seven so Josh matelis is more the guy that play slot corner he play linebacker play safety van GLE can kind of do that all too he can kind of rush through the a gap stand as a standard Edge guy in a three4 he also play a little sub linebacker too which might come in handy those passing Downs so uh maybe on those man blitzes van gingle can become really nice tool to have so uh it it's really relieving to have those three guys and I I think Dallas Turner will get his he was the best Edge uh best defensive prospect in this past draft so he should be fine I that's the guy like if I'm not if there's anyone I was least worried about it would be Dallas Turner when it came to the rookies uh and then Jad Ward I also like to Dustin you said earlier that the Vikings like guys who could play multiple positions Jihad Ward kind of does have that build who I kind of think he's similar to like what a Josh Pascal is in Detroit he could play that you know hand in the dirt and be more of that 3 four defensive end but can also stand up and rush the passer from there from a from a standup position and be a standard Edge so you can kind of move him all around I feel like you know he has that build I think he's like 270 is well he's also played D tackle too in training camp which is interesting yeah yeah and that's and that's why I think they kind of kept him on there is because he's a guy that can play multiple positions he's not going to light up the you know the statue I know he's coming off a six sack performance last year but I think you know I don't I wouldn't really expect that year in and year out um he's pff's really not a big fan of him but it is a guy that provides a body and provides versatility uh and basically kills two birds with one stone with having them on the roster and I think Patrick Jones I think he'll just be a body on this team uh I I don't think he'll be I don't think he'll get as much snaps as he has in years's past um because what's he in year three now I want to say right I believe year four uh for who Patrick Jones he's in year four now entering year four so he is on a contract year um I don't see them really retaining him past this I think this will be his last year as a Minnesota Viking third round pick really don't expect him to be a superstar but there there was a lot of shades of of a a skinnier zarius Smith uh that I saw unfortunately just doesn't work out I didn't think he was going to be that great uh you know I wouldn't expect all pro levels out of him but his play style was very similar to zarius Smith and when he was here you know kind of brought that similarity for the scheme which I did really like so but I do think Patrick Jones's uh time is ticking when it comes to the Vikings now that he's the fifth Edge guy okay defensive tackle Harrison Phillips Jerry Tillery Jonathan Bard Levi Drake Rodriguez the rookie and jquan Roy which is now obviously uh cut so that one we also got wrong compared to the uh 50 actual 53 man roster so on the actual one uh Jaylen Redmond made the roster and so did Taki taiani uh Taki I think is undrafted so is uh Jaylen Redmond too so great for them to make you know that interior off or defensive line because the Vikings needed those big bodies and they're big body people so we need those guys to step in and you know fill the Gap you know they're they're not big stat sheet fillers but Taki dman had I think the highest graded what was it overall rookie or Defensive Rookie rating for PFF so you know awesome for him to make the roster and then yeah other than that I think all pretty pretty standard Levi Drake Rodriguez making the roster awesome shown that motor uh in the preseason games which was awesome so other than that yeah um yeah if you go back to our uh our predictions we had uh Jerry tiller I I I think that was obviously given they brought him in this is definitely his last his last chance to and he he's kind of in he's I would say the defensive version of Sam darnold he's been on multiple teams at this point former first round pick uh this is pretty much it for him uh if he if he doesn't show anything really of significance now he's never going to show it uh I this is pretty much his last chance you I would say and it's unfortunate because he is a guy that did bring some speed I believe he went to Notre Dame so it's just it's unfortunate he just hasn't really been able to pick up on other teams but the Vikings are providing him one last shot we'll see how it works out I don't really have that many like high expectations for him but he is coming off a building year kind of similar to Sam darn was when his last year was a starter you know Jerry till is coming off that building year so we'll see what kind of happens there but my expectations aren't going to be very high and if he obviously exceeds that I'd very much welcome that um and then Jonathan Bullard I I think that's just a guy who's just going to be a run stuffer kind of similar to Harrison Phillips I think he'll balance in and out between Jihad Ward and Levi Drake Rodriguez as that like third pass rusher uh just depending on what down in distance you are then Levi Drake Rodriguez just has that explosion uh big fan favorite he is a guy that a lot of people are kind of saying similar to John Randall I wouldn't put that expectation on him but you could definitely see the shades to him kind of like I was saying earlier with Patrick Jones uh he does have that that motor that drive to definitely get after the quarterback which is something fans will always love and respect out of the guys and then uh earlier uh we had Jaylen Redmond and Taki taiani uh Taki taiani was a guy that we were kind of debating between uh him and quill and Roy uh we just went with the ladder of you know jqu and Roy because he is a guy as a veteran he's kind of been around the block uh knows the Playbook a little bit but obviously that's not where they're going but they're going to shake things up on the defensive line and they they feel like they've seen enough out jqu and Roy which you know he's just a guy that really just doesn't have a lot of explosion uh kind of comes off slow but he's a big body guy you know it's just unfortunately one of those things where he just didn't work out in Minnesota which you know it happens it's the NFL uh and then Jaylen Redmond um he the UFL defensive player of the year uh Vikings brought him in had the big Force fumble against the Eagles and we'll see what happens with him uh hopefully we can kind of get more of that Brandon Aubrey magic out of Jaylen Redmond of guys who found success in the UFL that tend to translate that over to the NFL so we're kind of seeing it more and more out of the Special Teams guys uh you know guys like kavante Turpin and Brandon Aubrey who have both won all Pros uh yeah the UFL is definitely bringing in some talent to the NFL um I I think since uh since they've been created I think they've brought in at least one player to the All Pro list since they've been created so uh another guy that's been kind of lighting it up is the Lions kicker Jake Bates uh he's been doing pretty well so hopefully it's not Jake Bates and hopefully we get more we get more of that magic here in Minnesota but uh we'll see you know it's uh definitely get some options it's definitely going to Pro I definitely see some Growing Pains out of the D tackles but we'll see how it all uh translates when the uh regular season starts oh yeah linebackers we have Ivan Pace obviously making the roster Blake Cashman Brian asena and Kimu gruer Hill I don't think there's any differences between yeah no nothing I thought Brian asima was probably gonna be a release candidate but end up not being one um other than that Dallas scant was a candidate it to make the roster he had a pretty good preseason as well uh other than that I think these guys have showed that they're valuable to the team uh Kimu is a special team guy so is Brian asima Brian asima his rookie year in 2022 has played really well on that defense in the adonel scheme but really hasn't seen much ation action since so other than that Ivan Pace you know probably a pro pro bowl year uh ahead for him Blake Cashman a solid guy coming in from free agency as well so other than that that that's a pretty pretty solid group as well yeah uh and I know when we were at Cleveland I was definitely we were kind of talking about Brian osoa a little bit osoa was a guy who definitely had his roster spot challenged I think Dallas Gant really brought it you know brought that challenge you know brought the pedal to the medal and really challenge Brian osmo for that spot I do think Kamer Hill uh I felt like he was pretty much safe because he is such a special team's Ace there's always a spot for you on the roster if you could play special teams so uh Dallas G up you know definitely brought it uh you know they decided to go with the ladder with Brian OA Dallas Gant still cleared waivers I I'm kind of shocked he did and he'll be on the practice squad so we'll see how it goes with that yeah uh I'm GNA group defensive backs together corners and safeties uh Stefan Gilmore the newcomer awesome made the roster really was gonna sweat that one out uh Shaq Griffin coming off of the injury the hamstring he definitely is making the roster Baron Murphy your new slack Corner a Caleb Evans interesting to make the roster Fabian Maro is making the roster I thought he'd be a release candidate and then Dwight mlo he was a udfa and then for safeties Harrison Smith really sweating that one I C bin him Josh matelis Theo Jackson and Jay Ward Jay Ward I think might play a little bit of both safety and corner but to our predictions nothing has changed look at that true we only have two predictions wrong I I think that's pretty impressive so far yeah I I definitely thought that was really I think we did a really good job on I think uh to be honest I think we kind of a lot of the experts out on this but uh this is something we didn't change you know it's we have our time stamps here so uh what did I send the file like on a Saturday or something like that uh we sat down uh and kind of went through it but this was a roster where we kind of said it earlier we you know I think when we had Tyler on Tyler said there isn't really G to be a ton of surprises and I think what the biggest surprise was Ken nongu just because of the fact that they went with two RBS versus three RBS uh and he was such a premier kick returner uh I think that's probably the biggest surprise but I think with Dwight mlo he's definitely proved to be uh I think he was probably the best uh guy in the preseason uh for the Vikings you know those out of the rookies pretty much uh Dallas turn obviously he's GNA have a lot more talent but he only played pretty much a handful of snaps butan really proved that he belongs in this league and he's going to be getting a 53 man roster spot uh Fabian Maro he was kind of a pleasant surprise too you know he's been a guy who is kind of getting up there you know he's kind of towards the Twilight of his career but he was on you know at the time was the Washington Redskins now Washington commanders uh Fabian Maro uh you know I I thought that was a guy that definitely deserved a roster spot uh you know they they did bring him in especially earlier on in training camp which usually kind of sign you know signs are pointing that they want to keep him on the roster uh Caleb Evans that was probably the most challenging one because there was some steam that he was going to be traded was going to be waved ends up getting the roster spot uh over uh Duke shell which I think a lot of fans were a little disappointed in but I I think a Caleb Evans is probably the better pick I think Duke Shelly you know I I think that that season that he had was a great season but I think he's more of that Case Keenum kind of guy where he had just that one good year and he just really can't put it together anywhere else but uh which is a shame but uh you know the scheme has changed we're no longer in that Ed Donell defense we're in the Brian Flores defense now so uh it's just a different scheme and was just a nice familiar face get fans excited for during the offseason but Caleb Evans I do think was the better of the two uh but I I won't say that his spot is still safe by any means they could easily bring in a guy draft the guy next year and I do think that this will probably be his last year on the roster most likely uh Byron Murphy he'll probably play the most in the slot to kind of mask that maai Blackman injury and can kind of play outside if they're going going with more of that 12 personnel and then Shaquille Griffin will play more in that nickel role he'll play on the opposite of uh uh Stefan Gilmore uh and then obviously Stefan Gilmore is going to be on there you know you paid him all that money so but yeah I think to honestly it really kind of B through the biggest Wren to this I would say Dustin if you want to say something on this was the ls scene uh release is probably the biggest news out of the defensive back room so uh what are your kind of thoughts on Lewis scene kind of moving on and getting waved by the Vikings today and now even uh clearing waivers and not even bringing him back on a practice squad to say the least so uh I think we he was signed by the Jets uh later on after the waiver period so what are your thoughts on Louis C no longer being a Minnesota Viking yeah I think I think the writing was pretty much on the wall you know since Brian flor's got here where he really wasn't getting much playing time whether that was because of the injured leg from the year prior or whatever it was the the reading was just on the wall and as you guys can see on our predictions we don't even have louen making the roster and and you'll probably see too if we get down to here um you know going to the practice squad too you know like like Drew said he didn't even make the practice squad for the Vikings the the Jets outright signed them from waivers or after waivers so it's just I guess unfortunate that qu's first round draft pick his first first pick ever didn't really pan out you know because of whatever happened whe whether that was the injury learning A playbook whatever it was obviously we don't know you know I I wish nothing but but the best for Ling you know great guy hopefully he can ball out with the Jets just not against us in London know that that's really a I know a real Twist on things because he's going back to London and he's he'll be facing the Vikings it's going to be a huge story not a huge story but it's going to be something to look into so other than that I I think I think it wasn't really a surprise at all that he wasn't gonna make the roster so that that's just kind of my two cents on that yeah uh you like you said Louis will be coming in in London at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium which is the same stadium he did have that horrific leg injury his rookie season so I I think that's definitely going to be his mind I don't think he'll really be playing that much to be honest with you uh but you know we'll see what happens with him in New York with him nothing but the best I did think that he was going I thought there was going to be a trade U I thought it was going to be similar to that Joshua dobs kind of deal where it was like a a later round pick and then plus Leen and then it was like essentially like a pick swap essentially but just throwing Leen in there I thought that's what we're going to end up getting because he is a former first round pick uh you really didn't have to pay him that much uh I think he was only on the hook for like a couple Mill like a million and a half uh so I was kind of shocked that no one really even kicked the tires on that uh but yeah like I said uh louen definitely was probably the biggest challenge of Surfing our way through uh predicting what the defensive back room was going to look like because you know that Cleveland game really showed us something that maybe there is something there but it ends up you know like I said you know he gets cut he gets waved and you know he's moving on to New York but but what really just shocks me more is how the LSU offense from college how most of those guys are their their their core guys have all found success like in the NFL with their you know obviously their their identity being their offense with with Georgia there's been nobody really there I mean there's not been one star from that Georgia defense that everyone was just raving about uh I mean maybe Jordan Davis but Jordan Davis is okay he's not like great he's not lighting it up he's not all pro uh he's not what everybody's expecting him to be I guess exact yeah yeah exactly he's he's a tall guy he'll um you know he'll obviously eat up guys at the D line but he's not an every down guy uh but Len was the guy that Led Led that defense in tackles too so the fact that he hasn't worked out really puts into question what these other guys are going to do and the Kobe Dean really hasn't approved much at Philly he kind of had a red shirt year really didn't really light up the world his first year uh you know Quay Walker he's too busy shoving trainers down in Green Bay and crying in the locker room so what's I mean I don't know what's up with him but uh you know and he really is a guy that I would even say hasn't really done much either uh you I don't get why Packer fans are really always on them I think the guy sucks I don't think I think we kind of run all over him he gets thrown on he has let pass rating over a 100 consistently so I just don't see the hype around him I think I think he's a dud um Devonte Wyatt another Packer player have you heard of him DUS I even I've not seen him on the field whatsoever hasn't really done anything he's all right he's all right kind of like a Jordan Davis just he's just there he's all right yeah I guess he'd be what are Jerry Tillery essentially I I think that's kind of what we're more seeing out of him I mean you know you're drafting a guy you know the Packers I mean let's not forget they also drafted Clark pretty late in the first round too ends up being a really good player for him for years to come he just signed his third contract with them like these guys on the George defense I thought was going to be like a replication of you know that translation from that 2019 LSU to the NFL just hasn't worked out which is really shocking me not one guy has been anything relevant in the NFL from that defense and that's probably the most shocking thing uh for me that I've been thinking about since the Louis scene uh with flavor earlier today so yeah it's just like I said it's just unfortunate and you know honestly I just wish nothing for the best for him great kid you know from what I've seen and interviews and everything like that so hopefully he balls out in New York just not against us and like you said he probably won't get much playing time on the Jets but any other playing time he gets hopefully balls out and you know show shows why he does belong in the NFL so other than that we'll move on two special teams no surprises here will rer Ryan Wright Andrew deala you're you're awesome you're all pro Long Snapper is there Ryan Wright your big leg punter and then will rer the cookie not the cookie oh my God the rookie I don't know why I call him a cookie that's weird uh rookie will rker so other than that no surprises there um I think we can move on to practice squad then uh just real quick you know through our predictions Samy Reyes you know he's on the practice squad but he's on a different practice squad than everybody else he gets his own little practice squad because he's an international pathway guy Vikings really like him too uh Desa Jones Bo RoR lucky Jackson Dwayne McBride Tyrese Robinson Jaylen Redmond Nel Harry Duke Shelly Nishan Wright Dallas Gant Owen Porter Jordan Kun check check uh Gabriel Murphy Taki tyman Andre Carter and Miles gasin that was our predictions and then versus what actually happened uh Sammy Rays is still on that practice squad his own practice squad desun Jones B RoR luy Jackson Dwayne McBride Tyrus Robinson Henry bird is on the practice squad theer Thomas is on there Nan rri D scant Bobby McCain is returning Robert tunan uh Jonah Williams Jaylen Williams Andre Carter miles Gasson so I think maybe like three or four guys that we didn't have in our predictions uh made made the practice squad so anything you want to add to that uh yeah you know and like I said this was made before Gabriel Murphy and uh Jonathan kunich were uh transition to the IR spots so uh at the time I still think they would have made the roster and I think that's a big reason why they were put on the IR and short-term IRS is because they did have a spot on this roster uh kunek was a guy I was really impressed with especially in special teams and I think he played uh really good in those late third and fourth quarters uh he was definitely a guy that stood out in in Cleveland in my opinion uh and yeah obviously we you know we missed on Taki taiani uh Owen Porter uh he's just no longer on the Vikings which was a shame because I felt like he did pretty well uh he is definitely a guy that uh showed out uh I think he deserved to have a spot on this roster so you know it's one of those things kind of similar to louisine well wish you the best but we'll see what happens with him um but yeah I I think that's kind of uh kind of it um you know that's pretty much our the roster right now uh I think just the biggest questions we're getting out of this is you know some there's still potential battles going on I still think with Ryner and qu and be uh we'll kind of see what happens with that with with Ryner being on the short ter uh and then Gabriel Murphy uh I think that's I think we forgot to mention this but Gabriel Murphy is a guy who does he challenge Patrick Jones for that fifth spot is Patrick Jones spot still safe for the next couple weeks I I don't think it is um I think like I said I was kind of shocked that you know it was kind of picking between two guys with Andre Carter and uh uh bo RoR and all these other guys Patrick Jones I think they just went with the guy who they felt like he had a little bit more experience understood the Playbook a little bit more but I I think Gabriel Murphy could definitely challenge Patrick Jones too with these uh you know I think out of the guys that are on the short-term IR so it'll definitely be interesting one week four rolls around uh I think you'll see maybe some potential Cuts still um I like I said this is just the initial roster they just had to get it down by today uh but I still think there's definitely some changes still Brewing uh in the next couple of weeks and the next month too so we'll see how that all breaks out yeah like Drew said this is only just a start off the season a lot can change from even week one to week two you know not much would would change but even week one to the bi-week a lot can change too so other than that you know our our 53 man roster projection outside of the practice squad it's kind of hard to predict practice squad guys but outside of that I think we did pretty good I mean we only missed let's see what was it uh one two two guys out of the whole 53 man roster that that's pretty impressive if you ask me so um like like Drew said earlier we we can Tim stamp it for you guys too we did not just copy Pace actual roster and just say oh this guy this guy because that's not what we did we went on Satur or what was it what day was it I think it was over this past weekend yeah this past weekend Saturday Sunday one of those one of those days we went over this and we really we were actually strategically looking at this because we're like oh what could he do but the Vikings the coaching staff were like you know what let's get rid of Kenny nongu you know screw him we don't need him on kickoffs we don't need a third running back but not really but um other than that you know that that's just kind of what they thought of the roster and we were pretty close maybe they should hire us as you know the the guys to get their roster cuz we're pretty damn close so other than that uh Drew if you have anything else to add I can uh end the episode here then no I think we're all uh we're just ready for a week one uh win against the Giants we'll see how uh Sam darnold looks uh yeah you know I I think it's a good tuneup game potentially for darn if there is anything left in the tank uh and then you know you have week two against the 49ers so we'll kind of see how this all shakes out and this whole Sam darn roller coaster ends so uh like I said it's you know like we said when we first started the podcast I will say this this is a season where there aren't going to be a lot of expectations it's good one where you can you know look back if they suck guess what you get a top pick get McCarthy back next year who I I Kevin okon's a fan of has a great personality is a proven leader and is definitely showing it on the field when he was healthy and he Bas I mean he pass rating and efficiency he had and throwing the ball with one leg is still astounding to me so uh if if JJ McCarthy can turn that around on one leg versus the Raiders who knows what he can do against the starters so I'm definitely definitely excited for what 2025 RS round so but if this whole Sam Darnell thing you Flames out and we get a top pick guess what you get a top pick for JJ McCarthy to play with next year Kevin oconnell so and guess what if they're good you're winning football games and Sam darnold gets a nice comp third round pick going to another team so this this is the best win-win scenario you can get out of this uh for the Vikings and their future so uh I I do think they're very very close to contending for the playoffs year in and year out which is something we really haven't seen out of this Vikings team probably since the coold pepper Moss era from that late 90s where they're just a consistent winner because it just feels like I I think all Vikings fans are sick and tired of they're having the one- Year good and then the dud year the following year we're we're just we want a consistent team that can just win at the very least just win consistently that's all we want we're tired of having this roller coaster ride so uh but we're excited for week one I want to get started I'm excited so uh but yeah um that's kind of all I got to say about that you know we'll see how this thing uh shakes out so we'll see and that that was Drew's uh Ted Talk for you guys now other than that uh yeah we'll have a couple episodes before we get to week one here uh just kind of going over some you know other things about the roster and you know predictions about week one or whatever or whatever whatever else happens you know we could sign freaking Byron uh uh what's his name Byron Young no Howard the corner xav Howard xav why would I think Byron okay whatever xaven Howard we could sign him too so who knows what will happen um stick around for 612 Vikings make sure you guys follow us on Apple podcast in Spotify 612 Vikings and then on Twitter as well at 612 Vikings and we'll see you guys in the next episode skull Vikes