With an emphasis on cutting costs and clearing the salary cap sheet, the Minnesota Vikings have been forced to make tough decisions this offseason. After selecting nine players in the 2026 NFL Draft and signing another 19 undrafted free agents, the Vikings' front office will have their work cut out for them by reducing the roster from 91 players (one addition due to punter Brett Thorson being an International Pathway Player) to 53 this fall.
With so many joining the roster, many Vikings will find themselves fighting for a chance to join the team. Below are four players who will undoubtedly enter training camp on the roster bubble, but a strong performance could solidify their position with the team.
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Walter Rouse, offensive tackle
He's not a big-name player, but when the Vikings took a chance on Oklahoma's Walter Rouse in the sixth round of the 2024 NFL Draft, there was a faint belief that the 6-foot-5 lineman could develop into an offensive tackle in the future. Of course, the Vikings have filled those positions with Christian Darrisaw and Brian O'Neal, but the latter of them is entering the final year of his contract.
The Vikings apparently didn't feel like they had enough talent, so they selected Caleb Tiernan in the third round and signed Ryan Van DeMark in free agency. Now, Rouse is no better than fifth on the offensive tackle depth chart. After playing eight games over the past two seasons, he will likely be looking for another team soon.
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Taki Diamond, defensive tackle
A year ago, the Vikings were in desperate need of capable bodies along the defensive line, so they responded in free agency by signing Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave. Both have since been released in cap-cutting moves, but they have both been replaced by first-round pick Caleb Banks and third-round pick Domonique Orange. While Allen and Hargrave were viewed as short-term stopgaps, Banks and Orange are the future, meaning a former undrafted player like Taki Taimani could be viewed as expendable after appearing in seven games as a rookie, but only two in his sophomore season.
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Dwight McGlothern, cornerback
Last year, after the Vikings made final roster cuts, Brian Flores had only four cornerbacks on the roster. Dwight McGlothern, an undrafted signee from the 2024 NFL Draft class, was one of them. After making five appearances as a rookie, McGlothern saw playing time in 10 games in 2025, but he still only saw 31 snaps on defense and 20 snaps on special teams. Now that the Vikings have found a more reliable nickel corner in James Pierre while retaining Byron Murphy and Isaiah Rodgers, McGlothern has returned as the CB4. Still, he faces stiffer competition this time around after the Vikings selected Charles Demings in the fifth round while retaining 6-foot-3 running back Zemaiah Vaughn. Additionally, the Vikings added three undrafted rookie cornerbacks, providing even more competition for McGlothern's roster spot.
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Johnny Hekker, bookmaker
The Vikings saw their punter of the past four seasons, Ryan Wright, surprisingly sign a four-year, $14 million contract with the New Orleans Saints in free agency. Moving beyond that was not an easy task for a team looking to cut costs. They responded by signing Johnny Hekker, one of the greatest punters of this generation, who had won a Super Bowl with Kevin O'Connell in LA.
However, there's a reason the 36-year-old hasn't been named a Pro Bowl selection or All-Pro since 2017. His skills continued to fade, and the Vikings prioritized the signing of undrafted rookie punter Brett Thorson after he won the Ray Guy Award in college. Don't be surprised if Thorson looks to be a better long-term fit, but he'll have to prove to be an effective holder on field goals and extra points first.
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