Minnesota Vikings Roster 2018 Vikings Roster

Roster Moves to Make the Super Bowl

The Minnesota Vikings were on the cusp of another Super Bowl appearance this past postseason, only to find themselves routed by the eventual champions, the Philadelphia Eagles. However, the Vikings ranked among the best defenses in the league, and during the offseason, they made a number of big moves. That included an expensive move where they added a new veteran quarterback to the roster to call plays on the field. They also added a new offensive coordinator, upgraded at least one defensive position and secured several others. They'll still have some questions, though.

Head coach Mike Zimmer has a lot to work with this season. The biggest free agency move came as the team signed former Washington Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins in the offseason. Cousins brings in veteran experience but some fans and analysts wonder if the Vikings needed to make the change so quickly. He will also be on a team with an issue-plagued offensive line. The O-Line has seen Mike Remmers and Pat Elflein go down with injuries, while Nick Easton was away from training camp for an undisclosed reason. That has meant Cousins has had to adjust to the changing personnel early on, but it's nothing he hasn't experienced with the Redskins last season. The Vikings also brought in a new offensive coordinator, former Eagles QB coach John DeFilippo. If Cousins and others can pick things up quickly with the new system, he should be a good fit in Minnesota, but time will tell.

In addition to Cousins throwing for the team, they'll have another key member of their offense back with Dalvin Cook. He went down last season with a torn ACL but is looking to get reps in the preseason and show more of what he's capable of this coming season. Cook had only 74 attempts last season and rushed for 354 yards with two touchdowns. In terms of the receiving corps, Cousins will have Pro Bowler Adam Thielen, Stefon Diggs, and tight end Kyle Rudolph as primary targets. Diggs was the hero in Minnesota's final play win against the New Orleans Saints in last year's playoffs. They'll be hoping for more of the same from him and the rest of the receivers in 2018-19. Laquon Treadwell has also been getting receptions during training camp.

One of the new things that DeFilippo may install for the Vikings' offense is using a lot of pre-snap motions and shifts. During training camp walk-through practices, there had been a lot of broken huddles and hustling to the line of scrimmage. This new style could help Cousins and company to challenge defenses often this coming season. The Minnesota defense is still among the most intimidating in the league and a strong pick for fantasy football owners. In 2017, they were at the top of the NFL in terms of points allowed and total yards allowed on defense. They also upgraded at the defensive tackle position by acquiring former Pro Bowl representative Sheldon Richardson for a one-year deal. He'll be ahead of rookie Jalyn Holmes on the depth chart, for now, with Holmes considered an understudy.

The team has three other Pro Bowl defenders as well. Defensive end Everyone Griffen and linebacker Anthony Barr, along with cornerback Xavier Rhodes will all be back for one of the NFL's elite defenses. The team also rewarded middle linebacker Eric Kendricks this offseason as well, so he should be a solid fixture for the defense. Rookies Garret Dooley and Devante Downs could also make the roster, due to Kentrell Brothers' four-week suspension. At the strongside linebacker position, Anthony Barr will be trying to show Minnesota he deserves a long-term contract this coming season. There have been some trade rumors involving Barr already, so it will be something to watch unfold. Fellow linebacker Eric Wilson could be called upon to fill in at different spots on the roster.

One thing the defensive line may establish is a solid rotation to provide players with rest during games. This could keep that defensive engine running strong for Minnesota throughout the 2018-19 NFL season. In terms of special teams, the kicker position was up for grabs during the summer's practices. Battling it out for the spot was veteran Kai Forbath and Daniel Carlson. The team may also be looking to Mike Hughes to act as both a punt and kick returner this season, depending on his performances this summer. Veteran Marcus Sherels will also be looking to prove he is deserving.

With that said, Minnesota had an amazing season last year despite numerous injuries and expectations are high once again this season. The offensive line injuries may continue to hurt them. However, the addition of Kirk Cousins and second-year back Cook returning could provide serious offensive firepower. There's no question this is one of the best defensive teams in the league. The Vikings and their fans will be hoping for fewer injuries and strong performances on the other side of the ball.