Position battles to keep an eye on
Training camp for the Minnesota Vikings begins July 20th for rookies and July 22nd for the rest of the team. And as always, there will be plenty of competition for the 53 coveted roster spots. It’s a sign of the Vikings’ improved roster that there will be some tough competition between quality players to make the back end of the depth chart at every position group.
But within that roster spot competition are a bunch of position group depth chart battles to keep an eye on. Here is a list of the top ten.
#10: QB3
J.J. McCarthy and Sam Howell are set as QB1 and QB2, but who will be QB3? Rookie Max Brosmer who Kevin O’Connell says asks good questions is competing with long-time veteran Brett Rypien who KOC calls a pro’s pro. My bet is with the rookie Brosmer who KOC has been impressed with since attending the Gopher pro day two years ago. He may not contribute as much in the meeting room initially as Rypien, but he may have a more viable skillset on the field with the development potential Rypien is lacking at this stage in his career.
#9: Punter
Incumbent Ryan Wright is competing against rookie UDFA Oscar Chapman, who hails from Adelaide, Australia and punted for Auburn the last five seasons. Wright has the better net average and hangtime on his punts compared to Chapman last season, but accuracy and consistency matter too. Wright is averaging 50% of his punts being returned, which is high relative to league average. Initially my bet was with Wright, but I’m leaning more toward the wily Australian with a wicked banana punt in his arsenal first introduced to the NFL by Johnny Hekker.
#8: TE3/4
Gavin Bartholomew, Giovanni Ricci, Bryson Nesbit, and Ben Yurosek will be competing for one or possibly two spots at the backend of the tight end depth chart. My guess is they’ll only keep three tight ends because they should have no trouble getting others to the practice squad. It’s a fairly even competition that may come down to special teams ability as much as anything else.
#7: WR5/6
My guess is that they’ll only keep five wide receivers but maybe a temporary extrad if Addison is suspended. Jefferson, Addison, Nailor, and Felton seem like locks, so that leaves Rondale Moore, Silas Boldin, Myles Price, Tim Jones, Lucky Jackson, Dontae Fleming, Thayer Thomas, Zavier Scott, Robert Lewis, and Jeshaun Jones competing for one spot and maybe a temporary second. The winner is likely based on who wins the returner competition.
#6: CB3
This seems like a competition between Mekhi Blackmon and Jeff Okudah, with Dwight McGlothern a dark horse candidate. I thought this would be Blackmon, but apparently Okudah is being given an opportunity to win the spot. Both may end up getting reps.
#5: DT5/6
The addition of Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave make this depth chart a difficult one to crack. Phillips and Redmond are also roster locks, so the last two spots on the depth chart will likely be a competition between Taki Taimani, Levi Drake Rodriquez, and Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins. One will be the odd man out. Jonathan Harris, Travis Bell, Alex Williams, and Elijah Williams seem long shots to make the roster at best.
#4: Backup Offensive Line
This is actually a few competitions for backup center, guards, and tackles.
At guard, Blake Brandel, Joe Huber, Henry Byrd, and (maybe?) Dalton Risner could compete for two backup guard spots.
For backup center, Michael Jurgens seems to have the pole position, but can Brandel play center? Zeke Correll seems like a longshot.
Backup tackles may be the toughest competition, with Walter Rouse, Justin Skule, and Logan Brown competing for two spots. Skule is the only experienced vet and did a good job starting last season with Tampa, so he seems to have the inside track for one spot. Rouse is a promising sixth-round draft pick from last season, while Logan Brown was one of the top UDFA signings.
#3: LB2/3/4
The additions of Eric Wilson and Kobe King along with Ivan Pace Jr. and Brian Asamoah- and even UDFA Austin Keys makes this an interesting depth chart and roster spot competition behind Blake Cashman. Likely no more than four roster spots allocated to this group, which means two of the above players will be on the outside looking in on roster cutdown day. Wilson’s $2.6 million contract with $2 million guaranteed would seem, along with his special teams ability, to make him one of the survivors. That would leave only two spots for King, Pace, Asamoah, and Keys to compete for.
Beyond the roster spot competition, who will be LB2- Pace or Wilson? Pace is a great run stopper but had a steep decline in coverage last season. Wilson may be the better all-around linebacker but he doesn’t excel in any particular aspect of the position.
#2: EDGE 4/5
Greenard, Van Ginkel, and Dallas Turner are locks at the first three spots on the depth chart, but Bo Richter, Gabe Murphy, top UDFA Tyler Batty, and Chaz Chambliss are all competing for the last two spots on the depth chart. I’d say Chambliss is more of a long shot but you never know. My guess is Richter and Murphy get the last two spots but the competition could be fierce.
#1: Punt/Kick Returner
Both spots are wide open with no real incumbent- the Vikings moved on from punt returner Brandon Powell and only Ty Chandler remains of the three kick returners last year but isn’t really a candidate this year (more likely the other guy back for kickoffs). There is also a big influx of new talent to compete for the jobs. Silas Bolden. Myles Price. Rondale Moore. Isaiah Rodgers. Tai Felton. Jalen Nailor. Maybe even Jordan Mason. A few others may get a shot at one or both of the jobs as well.