Minnesota Vikings: Preliminary 53-man roster analysis
By Luke Sims
Aug 22, 2015; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater (5) drops back to pass in the first quarter against the Oakland Raiders at TCF Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports
Quarterback: Teddy Bridgewater, Shaun Hill, Taylor Heinicke
The biggest of these three to watch is Teddy Bridgewater. Obviously, he holds the keys to the entire team and as he goes, so will the Minnesota Vikings.
More from Minnesota Vikings
- Minnesota Vikings look impressive despite loss in preseason opener
- Minnesota Vikings improve even after cutting important players
- Ranking the 5 best NFL uniform changes for the 2023 season
- 5 NFL teams that will definitely disappoint fans in 2023
- Could QB Kirk Cousins end up in the Hall of Fame one day?
What’s most impressive about him is that he has seemingly taken a significant step forward in the 2015 preseason, proving that he can be even more accurate than he was before. Going 29 of 35 (a ridiculous 82.9% completion percentage) with 295 yards and a touchdown, it’s clear that the quarterback position is in good hands with Bridgewater.
It’s amazing to see his already decent completion percentage in 2014 (64.4%) take such a big tick upward. While it is doubtful it will stay that high in the regular season, it’s clear that Bridgewater is taking a step forward to build on an already impressive rookie campaign.
Behind Bridgewater are two quarterbacks I really like. Shaun Hill returns to the Minnesota Vikings after spending eight years traveling the league. He’s a more than capable backup quarterback who can be relied upon to win games if needed. He was less impressive than I anticipated during the preseason, but he is a known quantity and comfortable for the Vikings going into 2015.
Taylor Heinicke needed to impress to get on the roster, and impress he did! Heinicke was Pro Football Focus’s 18th highest graded quarterback through the preseason. He managed to complete 69.9% of his 83 attempts, put two in the end zone, and racked up 516 yards. With just one interception, Heinicke’s big play is tough to ignore and the Vikings made the right move carrying him as a third quarterback into the 2015 season.
The future for this group – especially Bridgewater and Heinicke – is bright. It’s a complete QB unit that is strong from a second-year starter to a reliable veteran to a rookie with tons of upside.
Next: Running back gets pared down