Minnesota Vikings Projected Starters

NFL.com’s Gregg Rosenthal is going through his annual exercise of projecting the starters of each of the league’s teams. The Minnesota Vikings and the NFC North are up soon. Here’s a look at the Vikings starters in advance of Rosenthal’s thoughts. 

Minnesota Vikings Projected Starters

Offense

WR	Justin Jefferson
TE	T.J.Hockenson
LT	Christian Darrisaw
LG	Blake Brandel
C	Garrett Bradbury
RG	Ed Ingram
RT	Brian O’Neill
WR	Jordan Addison
QB	Sam Darnold
RB	Aaron Jones
FB	C.J. Ham

Other than quarterback, and perhaps left guard, the Vikings offense is pretty straightforward. Until first-round pick J.J. McCarthy steps into the role, it’s probably best to assume that Sam Darnold is QB1. Blake Brandel will have the first shot to make the left guard position his. 

T.J. Hockenson is recovering from the torn ACL that ended his 2023 season in Week 16. Returning to the field in time for the start of the season is extremely optimistic. Until his return, Josh Oliver and Johnny Mundt will be filling that large void. 

Defense

DE	Jonathan Greenard
NT	Harrison Phillips
DE	Jaquelin Roy
OLB	Dallas Turner
LB	Ivan Pace Jr.
LB	Blake Cashman
OLB	Andrew Van Ginkel
CB	Byron Murphy Jr.
CB	Mekhi Blackman
S	Harrison Smith
S	Cam Bynum
NB	Josh Metellus

I can not wait to see what coordinator Brian Flores has planned for the Vikings defense. He worked wonders with a marginally talented group last year. With better talent better suited for his somewhat position-less defense, expectations are high, real high. I really don’t know where to start in projecting the Vikings defensive starters. The weakest group, on paper, is the defensive line. Does that put more edge rushers on the field? Who knows. Last year, Flores often flooded the field with extra safeties. That was due to the presence of a bunch of talented safeties as well as some suspect corners. The cornerback group is a bit more robust this year. Does that take some of those safeties off the field and put extra corners on it? Who knows? All I know is that this offseason’s infusion of defensive talent will give Flores options. There will be a handful of players that will start and play the majority of snaps. When I think of the Vikings defensive starters I think of an effort to get the best 11 players on the field for the particular situation. I think that the “position” next to the player’s name is less important than what they can do. 

Some things that I expect to see this season from the defense:

1. Edges Jonathan Greenard, Andrew Van Ginkel, and Dallas Turner on the field together often.

2. The Vikings often played with only one inside linebacker last season. Does Flores keep emerging Ivan Pace Jr. and key free agent addition Blake Cashman on the field together for more than clear run situations. 

3. I like fourth-round corner Khyree Jackson to emerge early as a “starter.”

4. Do the coaches monitor (reduce) Harrison Smith’s snaps? 

5. Does seventh-round, small-school defensive tackle Levi Drake Rodriguez work his way into a rotational role on the defensive front? 

I can not wait to see the Vikings defense on the field.