Despite winning 14 games in 2024 and significantly improving the talent level of their offensive line and defensive line this offseason, the Minnesota Vikings have still been on the receiving end of plenty of skepticism this year.
Sure, the Vikings have decided to give the starting quarterback job to second-year signal-caller J.J. McCarthy. But McCarthy was a top-10 draft pick in 2024 for a reason, and he's already made it very clear that he's more than ready to help Minnesota continue to have the success that it was able to achieve last season when Sam Darnold was under center.
At this point in the offseason, draft picks have been made, undrafted players have been signed, and the Vikings' roster is very near to its final stage before the team begins OTA practices this spring. With things slowing down a bit after this year's NFL Draft, it seems like the perfect time to do a way-too-early 53-man roster prediction for Minnesota's 2025 squad.
Minnesota Vikings 53-man roster prediction after the 2025 NFL Draft
: J.J. McCarthy, Sam Howell, Brett Rypien
The Vikings have spent the majority of the last few months doing everything they can to make McCarthy's first year as the team's No. 1 quarterback as easy as possible. It's reached a point now where it will likely be more surprising if he isn't able to succeed next season, given how many tools he will have to utilize.
Sam Howell is the perfect No. 2 signal-caller for Minnesota to have behind McCarthy in 2025. Howell is young enough to learn new tricks from Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell and the rest of his staff, but he's also experienced enough to help McCarthy with his transition into the starting lineup.
: Aaron Jones, Jordan Mason, Tre Stewart, C.J. Ham (FB)
Aaron Jones took the majority of the snaps in Minnesota's running back room last year, and while he will still get a bunch of touches next season, the addition of Jordan Mason in March should definitely help him take less of a punishment from opposing defenses in 2025.
Few members of the Vikings' roster were probably more excited about the team placing more of an emphasis on improving its running game this year than C.J. Ham. Minnesota's longtime fullback and locker-room leader should have a bigger role in 2025 if the team actually does go along with its plan to run the ball more.
: Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, Jalen Nailor, Tai Felton, Tim Jones, Silas Bolden
Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison will obviously lead the top of the Vikings' receiver depth chart for the 2025 season. However, Addison is expected to miss some time early in the 2025 campaign due to a suspension, so in his absence, Minnesota will need guys like Jalen Nailor and Tai Felton to step up their performance.
Silas Bolden is someone to keep an eye on this summer, as the undrafted rookie showcased excellent abilities as a kick returner and punt returner during his college career at Texas and Oregon State.
: T.J. Hockenson, Josh Oliver, Gavin Bartholomew
After returning from a serious knee injury in the middle of the 2024 season, T.J. Hockenson never really seemed to be able to perform at the level that earned him a Pro Bowl selection with the Vikings in 2022. But with that behind him, expect Hockenson to look closer to his old form when he returns to the field next season.
: Christian Darrisaw (LT), Donovan Jackson (LG), Ryan Kelly (C), Will Fries (RG), Brian O'Neill (RT), Justin Skule (OT), Blake Brandel (G/T), Michael Jurgens (C), Walter Rouse (OL), Logan Brown (OL)
On paper, this has the chance to be Minnesota's best offensive line since the group that helped the franchise reach the 2009 NFC Championship. Of course, the success of the Vikings' offensive line this year will depend on how healthy all of them are able to be throughout the season.
Minnesota's recent addition of Donovan Jackson in this year's NFL Draft could become even more interesting if left tackle Christian Darrisaw hasn't fully recovered from his torn ACL by the start of the 2025 campaign. Jackson shifted out from left guard to left tackle in his final season at Ohio State, and he might have to do the same for a few games for the Vikings in 2025 until Darrisaw is ready to return.
: Jonathan Allen, Harrison Phillips, Javon Hargrave, Jalen Redmond, Taki Taimani, Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins
Minnesota's defensive line was excellent at stopping the run in 2024, but the group struggled to generate much of a pass rush, which is why the team went out and signed Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave in free agency this offseason. This Vikings position group has a great chance to be one of the best on the entire roster in 2025.
: Jonathan Greenard, Andrew Van Ginkel, Dallas Turner, Bo Richter, Gabriel Murphy
Arguably the strongest position group on Minnesota's current roster, Minnesota's edge rushers embodied the aggressive nature of the team's defense last season. Jonathan Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel both put together career performances during their first years with the Vikings, and they will continue to be a vital part of the team in 2025.
O'Connell and Minnesota general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah have spent the last few weeks reminding the public about Dallas Turner, which makes it seem like he could be heading into a breakout season in his second year with the team.
: Blake Cashman, Ivan Pace Jr., Eric Wilson, Brian Asamoah II
Blake Cashman established himself as one of the top inside linebackers in the league last season, and the re-addition of Eric Wilson will give this group some much-needed depth that they were lacking in 2024.
: Byron Murphy Jr., Mehki Blackmon, Isaiah Rodgers, Jeff Okudah, Tavierre Thomas
Aside from Byron Murphy Jr., this group is going to look a lot different on the field next season than it did in 2024. The new additions of Isaiah Rodgers and Jeff Okudah are intriguing, but their arrivals are also full of question marks.
With there still being plenty of uncertainty surrounding this position group, don't be surprised if the Vikings add a veteran cornerback who has a good track record as a starter before the beginning of the 2025 campaign. Both Shaq Griffin and Stephon Gilmore are still unsigned, so either one of them returning for another season in Minnesota isn't something that should be ruled out just yet.
: Harrison Smith, Josh Metellus, Theo Jackson, Jay Ward
Even at the age of 35, Harrison Smith was still able to perform at a high level last season, and he'll be attempting to do something similar as a 36-year-old next season. Smith returning for the 2025 campaign should also be extra helpful for Theo Jackson, who Minnesota is counting on to replace Cam Bynum.
Josh Metellus will continue to be the Swiss-Army knife who lines up all over the field next season, and it will be interesting to see if Jay Ward makes any leaps forward in his development this summer.
: Will Reichard (K), Oscar Chapman (P), Andrew DePaola (LS)
We have a punter change! Undrafted rookie Oscar Chapman, who spent his college career at Auburn, has the talent to challenge Vikings punter Ryan Wright this summer. Wright got off to a promising start to his tenure with Minnesota in 2022, but his performance has been a bit underwhelming in each of the last two seasons.
