If only every player made the roster cutdown process as easy as Vikings rookie defensive tackle Christian Ballard, who has two sacks in three preseason games and explodes off the line in practice.

“He’s a tremendous athlete, and we think he’s going to be able to help us here in his rookie year,” said coach Leslie Frazier of the fourth-round draft pick.

In the next six days, however, Frazier and the Vikings staff face difficult decisions about several positions as they enter Tuesday’s cut to 80 players and then Saturday’s final cut to 53. Wide receiver, cornerback and offensive line are just a few positions where players can make or miss the roster this week.

Experience, salary, upside and special-teams contributions will be considerations. That the salary-cap-strapped Vikings spent conservatively on the free-agent market places the onus on coaches to develop draft picks. The Vikings drafted 10 players in April, and they won’t want to release those players unless they underperform.

“That final cut, that’s the one that sometimes is not as clear cut because the competition is so close,” Frazier said. “This is a tough time for a lot of guys.”

Here is a look at the roster battles at each position:

QUARTERBACK

Locks: Donovan McNabb, Joe Webb, Christian Ponder

On the bubble: None

Buzz: Webb could have the inside track on the No. 2 job, but Ponder will have his chance in Thursday’s final exhibition game, against Houston – possibly as a starter since he didn’t get many reps against Dallas.

OFFENSIVE LINE

Locks: LT Charlie Johnson, LG Steve Hutchinson, C John Sullivan, RG Anthony Herrera, RT Phil Loadholt, G/T Ryan Cook, C Jon Cooper

On the bubble: G/T Chris DeGeare, OL DeMarcus Love, OT Patrick Brown, OG Seth Olsen

Buzz: The Vikings like the potential of sixth-round rookie Love, who is at worst a practice squad player. DeGeare showed up to camp slightly out of shape and seems to have regressed, but it’s unlikely the team will give up on him. Brown or Olsen could sneak onto the 53-man roster if the Vikings carry 10 linemen.

WIDE RECEIVER

Locks: Percy Harvin, Bernard Berrian, Michael Jenkins

On the bubble: Greg Camarillo, Devin Aromashodu, Jaymar Johnson, Juaquin Iglesias, Emmanuel Arceneaux

Buzz: The Vikings like their receiver depth enough to consider carrying six on the roster. Camarillo, who is due $1.55 million, is a candidate to be released, but he is experienced and reliable. Iglesias and Arceneaux could be the odd men out because Johnson is eyeing the starting punt return job and coaches are high on Aromashodu.

TIGHT END

Locks: Visanthe Shiancoe, Kyle Rudolph, Jim Kleinsasser

On the bubble: Jeff Dugan, Allen Reisner

Buzz: Reisner, an undrafted free agent who has impressed in camp, could make Dugan expendable. If the Vikings want to keep Dugan, they can slide Reisner to the practice squad. The Vikings’ depth at tight end is the reason a fullback might not make the roster.

RUNNING BACK

Locks: Adrian Peterson, Toby Gerhart

On the bubble: Lorenzo Booker, Caleb King

Buzz: Booker is a change-of-pace back to the bruising Gerhart and should be safe. King was signed early last week and did not have a carry against Dallas on Saturday.

FULLBACK

Locks: None

On the bubble: Ryan D’Imperio, Matt Asiata

Buzz: Considering how much the Vikings flash tight ends out of the backfield, a fullback needs a stellar week to make this roster. D’Imperio has pass-catching ability but has shown inconsistency as a blocker. Asiata is a long shot.

DEFENSIVE LINE

Locks: DE Jared Allen, DT Kevin Williams, DT Remi Ayodele, DE Brian Robison, DE Everson Griffen, DT Christian Ballard, DT Letroy Guion

On the bubble: DT Fred Evans, DE Adrian Awasom, DT Tremaine Johnson, DE D’Aundre Reed

Buzz: Reed, a seventh-round rookie, has shown flashes, but he seems headed to the practice squad. Awasom is poised to take the final end spot. There’s nobody really pushing Evans for that last inside spot. Maybe former practice squad tackle Johnson can make a play on the job in the final week. Ballard, Guion and Griffen give the Vikings quality depth.

LINEBACKER

Locks: E.J. Henderson, Chad Greenway, Erin Henderson, Jasper Brinkley

On the bubble: Kenny Onatolu, Heath Farwell, Ross Homan, Larry Dean

Buzz: Do the Vikings bank on experience with special-teamers Farwell and Onatolu? Or do they add youth with sixth-rounder Homan? And don’t forget about Dean, the former Division II defensive player of the year out of Valdosta State who has had a nice camp. Not sure the Vikings will carry more than six players here. Farwell, who is due $1.75 million this season, missed the Dallas game with a hamstring injury. He could use a productive week to remind coaches of what he can do.

CORNERBACK

Locks: Antoine Winfield, Cedric Griffin, Chris Cook

On the bubble: Asher Allen, Marcus Sherels, Brandon Burton

Buzz: Cornerback depth in today’s NFL is invaluable, especially on a team with two of its top three at the position returning from knee injuries. Carrying six corners would allow the Vikings to keep Burton, a fifth-round pick, while Sherels and Allen battle for the fourth spot. Allen, who started 11 games last year, is not in the clear if the Vikings decide to carry five.

SAFETY

Locks: Husain Abdullah, Tyrell Johnson, Jamarca Sanford

On the bubble: Eric Frampton, Mistral Raymond

Buzz: Would be a difficult decision to part with Frampton, who provides plenty of special-teams juice. But the Vikings like the potential of Raymond, a sixth-round pick out of South Florida.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Locks: K Ryan Longwell, P Chris Kluwe, LS Cullen Loeffler

On the bubble: None

Buzz: Nothing to see here. These guys aren’t going anywhere.

Follow Jeremy Fowler at twitter.com/vikingsnow.