Minnesota Vikings Depth Chart

The 2023 NFL Draft is a week from today. Even a quick glance at the Minnesota Vikings roster reveals the needs scattered across it. Here’s that roster. 

Minnesota Vikings Depth Chart

Offense

Quarterback

Kirk Cousins

Nick Mullens

Running Back

Dalvin Cook

Alexander Mattison 

Kene Nwangwu

Ty Chandler

Fullback 

C.J. Ham

Wide Receiver

Justin Jefferson

K.J. Osborn

Jalen Reager

Jalen Nailor

Brandon Powell

Trishton Jackson

Blake Proehl

Tight End

T. J Hockenson

Josh Oliver

Johnny Mundt

Ben Ellefson

Nick Muse

Left Tackle

Christian Darrisaw

Blake Brandel

Vederian Lowe

Left Guard

Ezra Cleveland

Center

Garrett Bradbury

Austin Schlottman

Josh Sokol

Right Guard

Ed Ingram

Chris Reed

Right Tackle

Brian O’Neill

Oli Udoh

Defense

Defensive End

Dean Lowry

James Lynch

Jonathan Bullard

Ross Blacklock

Esezi Otomewo

Kenny Willekes

Sheldon Day

Nose Tackle

Harrison Phillips

Khyiris Tonga

T.J. Smith

Outside Linebacker

Danielle Hunter

Marcus Davenport

Za’Darius Smith

D.J.Wonnum

Patrick Jones

Luiji Vilain

Benton Whitley

Curtis Weaver

Inside Linebacker

Brian Asamoah

Jordan Hicks

Troy Dye

Troy Reeder

William Kwenkeu

Cornerback

Byron Murphy Jr.

Akayleb Evans

Andrew Booth Jr.

Joejuan Williams

Tay Gowan

Kalon Barnes

Safety

Harrison Smith

Lewis Cine

Camryn Bynum

Josh Metellus

Theo Jackson

Special Teams

Kicker

Greg Joseph

Punter

Ryan Wright

Long Snapper

Andrew DePaola

Kick Returner

Kene Nwangwu

K.J. Osborn

Punt Returner

Jalen Reagor

K.J. Osborn

Receiver, defensive line, linebacker, and cornerback are the top needs. If the roster/contract situations of Dalvin Cook and Za’Darius Smith turn a particular way in the next week, running back and outside linebacker join that list of positional needs. 

Cornerback and receiver typically top most lists of Vikings needs. There’s no doubt that those positions need some solid additions but defensive line might be the team’s greatest need. In Justin Jefferson, the Vikings have arguably the best receiver in the league. When given opportunities, K.J. Osborn has been very good and very productive. The release of Adam Thielen should increase those opportunities. Second-year Jalen Nailor has intriguing potential. As for cornerback, Byron Murphy Jr. was an excellent free agent addition. Due to injuries, Andrew Booth Jr. and Akayleb Evans had “incomplete” rookie seasons. Evans played well when on the field. He just wasn’t on the field for long. What they are as player is still a complete unknown but they were drafted in the second- and fourth-rounds to be impact players. Both have the talent. They just have to stay on the field. The Vikings have some players at receiver and cornerback. One of those players is a superstar. They just don’t have enough players at those positions. They definitely don’t have enough proven players. The Vikings really have no players on the defensive line that might truly worry an offense. Harrison Phillips and free agent addition Dean Lowry are solid players. They can make plays, have nice snaps, and strong games. The Vikings don’t have a player on the defensive line that can take over a game. It’d be nice to have that sort of player. I really like what I saw from Esezi Otomewo late in his rookie season. Maybe he develops into a high level player. Right now, he isn’t. No one is on the defensive line. A defense can still be very good with a bunch of “lunch-pail-type” players at the front of it. Especially if there are difference-making edge rushers like Danielle Hunter, Za’Darius Smith, and Marcus Davenport terrorizing offenses. It’d be nice to have a menace on the interior of the defensive line. Is that the team’s biggest need? It might be. 

The Vikings have several needs and currently hold only five draft picks to fill them. Unless general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah takes a huge swing to get a quarterback, I think that it’s likely the Vikings end up selecting more than five players in the draft.