Minnesota Vikings “Unofficial” Depth Chart

The Minnesota Vikings officially released their “unofficial” depth chart yesterday. This is an annual charade that’s done in advance of a team’s first preseason game. The Vikings play the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday so an eager fan base got their first depth chart. It means something because the team released it but it’s called unofficial for a reason. Preseason depth charts really don’t mean much. There’s still a month of practices and three preseason games before a Vikings depth chart actually means something. 

So, here’s what we have.

Minnesota Vikings Unofficial Depth Chart

Offense (43 players)

Quarterbacks

Starter: Kirk Cousins

Backups: Kellen Mond OR Sean Mannion

Running Backs

Starter: Dalvin Cook

Backups: Alexander Mattison; Kene Nwangwu; Ty Chandler; Bryant Koback

Fullbacks

Starter: C.J. Ham

Backup: Jake Bargas

Wide Receivers

Starters: Adam Thielen and Justin Jefferson

Backups: K.J. Osborn and Ihmir Smith-Marsette; Olabisi Johnson and Myron Mitchell; Trishton Jackson OR Jalen Nailor and Dan Chisena; Albert Wilson; Thomas Hennigan and Blake Proehl

Tight Ends

Starter: Irv Smith Jr.

Backups: Johnny Mundt; Ben Ellefson; Zach Davidson; Nick Muse; Sean Beyer

Offensive Tackles

Starters: Christian Darrisaw (LT) and Brian O’Neill (RT)

Backups: Blake Brandel (LT) and Oli Udoh (RT); Vederian Lowe (LT) and Timon Parris (RT)

Interior Offensive Linemen

Starters: Ezra Cleveland (LG), Garrett Bradbury (C), and Jesse Davis (RG)

Backups: Chris Reed (LG), Austin Schlottman (C), and Ed Ingram (RG); Kyle Hinton (LG), Josh Sokol (C), and Wyatt Davis (RG)

Defense (43 players)

Defensive Ends

Starters: Dalvin Tomlinson and Armon Watts

Backups: Jonathan Bullard and James Lynch; Jaylen Twyman and Esezi Otomewo; Jullian Taylor

Nose Tackle

Starter: Harrison Phillips

Backup: T.J. Smith, T.Y. McGill, and Tyarise Stevenson

Outside Linebackers

Starters: Danielle Hunter and Za’Darius Smith

Backups: Patrick Jones II and D.J. Wonnum; Luiji Vilain and Janarius Robinson; Adrian Mintze and Zach McCloud

Inside Linebackers

Starters: Eric Kendricks (MLB) and Jordan Hicks (WLB)

Backups: Troy Dye (MLB and Brian Asamoah (WLB); Chazz Surratt (MLB) and Blake Lynch (WLB); Ryan Connelly (MLB) and William Kwenkeu (WLB)

Cornerbacks

Starters: Patrick Peterson and Cameron Dantzler, Sr.

Backups: Chandon Sullivan and Andrew Booth Jr.; Kris Boyd and Akayleb Evans; Parry Nickerson and Harrison Hand; Nate Hairston and Tye Smith

Safeties

Starters: Harrison Smith and Camryn Bynum

Backups: Lewis Cine and Josh Metellus; Myles Dorn and Mike Brown

Special Teams

Kicker

Starter: Greg Joseph

Punter/Holder

Starter: Jordan Berry

Backup: Ryan Wright

Long Snapper

Starter: Andrew DePaola

Kickoff Returner

Starter: Kene Nwangwu

Backup: K.J. Osborn; Ty Chandler

Punt Returner

Starter: Ihmir Smith-Marsette 

Backup: Jalen Nailor

***

I don’t really see any surprises. For those following training camp, this “unofficial” depth chart reflects what’s been seen in practices. If this “unofficial” depth chart goes unchanged over the next month, I’ll be very surprised. 

Over the next month, I expect:

-Kellen Mond to separate from Sean Mannion

-Ed Ingram to emerge as the starter at right guard

-Lewis Cine to emerge as the starter at safety

-Jalen Nailor returning punts

-A very interesting receiver competition for the final roster spots

I’ve seen several folks express surprise at seeing Harrison Phillips as the nose tackle. I don’t understand the surprise. He said that he was the nose tackle during his introductory press conference. 

Ingram getting his first serious run with the first team on the day this “unofficial” depth is released reveals plenty about these preseason depth charts. 

Whenever I see Danielle Hunter and Za’Darius Smith together, in print and on the field, I get excited. The season can’t get here soon enough.