A Snapshot of Minnesota Vikings' Position Competition

The Minnesota Vikings revealed a snapshot of their current depth chart yesterday. The media was finally allowed to see team practices. 11-on-11 drills are only a step up from walk-throughs but it revealed where things currently stand at some of the most contested position groups. Next week, pads will be introduced. That will reveal much more. For now, this is what we have at the three of the most intriguing position competitions on the team.

Offensive line
This has been an area of concern since the days of Bryant McKinnie, Steve Hutchinson, Matt Birk/John Sullivan, Anthony Herrera, and Phil Loadholt. The Vikings had a Hall of Famer on that line! A lot has changed. It's been about a decade since there was stability, consistency, proficiency on the offensive line. Finally, there appears to be some direction. Maybe.

First Team

LT Riley Reiff
LG Dakota Dozier*
C Garrett Bradbury
RG Pat Elflein
RT Brian O'Neill

Second Team 

LT Rashod Hill
LG Ezra Cleveland
C Brett Jones
RG Dru Samia
RT Oli Udoh

Third Team

LT Blake Brandel

LG Aviante Collins*

C Jake Lacina

RG Kyle Hinton

RT Brady Aiello

*Aviante Collins rotated with Dakota Dozier at first team left guard

The hearts of many Vikings fans sank a bit when they saw that Pat Elfein still ran with the first team. It's very important to remember that this was the dress rehearsal before the first real football practice on Monday. It's too early for tears and throwing things. Personally, I see the second team guards soon elevating to first team guards. But what do I know? However the offensive line shakes out, we can expect decisions soon.

“Probably after three days in pads or something like that.”-Mike Zimmer

I really like the potential future of the Vikings' offensive line. I expect Ezra Cleveland, Garrett Bradbury, and Brian O'Neill to be cornerstone players at left tackle, center, and right tackle. I like the eventual outcome of future guard competitions between Dru Samia, Kyle Hinton, potentially Oli Udoh, and maybe even Elflein. Is there a future Hall of Famer among them? Who knows? I just know that there's potential on the Vikings' offensive for the first time in a long time.

Defensive tackle
While there will be significant competition for defensive tackle playing time, this position is far less complicated, or debated, than offensive line. Shamar Stephen was absent from yesterday's practice. From past and much more recent loving words from Mike Zimmer and Andre Patterson, Stephen will continue to play a prominent role in the interior of the Vikings' defensive line. He was the starting three-technique last year. It sounds like nose tackle is more his spot moving forward. Even more so after Michael Pierce's opt-out and the rescinded trade for P.J. Hall. With Stephen absent from yesterday's practice, it was Armon Watts at nose and Jaleel Johnson at three-technique. Personally, I like the two flipped but those are the two I like best to start in the middle. As the coaches have stated often lately, they like their defensive tackles to have position versatility. So, it may not matter much which player plays in which spot. And that's all we got from the defensive tackle competition. Shamar Stephen, Armon Watts, and Jaleel Johnson top the depth chart.

Cornerback
This position will be fun. It's all youth and talent. Few things in football are more fun than youth and talent. As expected, Mike Hughes started outside in base and moved inside in nickel. First round pick Jeff Gladney sat out practice with a sleeve on his leg. Hopefully, that was only precautionary and isn't the slightest bit serious. I can not wait to see this rookie play some football. Holton Hill was the starter opposite Hughes. It remains to be seen if that was due to Gladney's absence. In nickel, Hughes moved inside and third-round rookie Cameron Dantzler and Hill were outside. Kris Boyd rotated with Dantzler. On the eve of padded practices, it appears that the corner depth chart looks something like this.

Mike Hughes
Jeff Gladney
Holton Hill
Cameron Dantzler
Kris Boyd

I'm excited to see a Vikings corner trio of Hughes, Gladney, and Hill. Sprinkle in a little Dantzler and Boyd to give offenses some different looks. I'm far more excited to see these young corners than if the Vikings had brought back any one or more of the veterans that left this offseason. With each day my confidence in these young corners grows. This is going to be fun.

***

So, that's a snapshot of some of the Vikings' most intriguing position competitions. It's so important to remember that it's only a snapshot of the first full squad practice on 8/14. It's not 9/13. There were no pads. There's no reason to freak out about Pat Elflein. Yet.