The Minnesota Vikings rookies reported to TCO Performance Center on Sunday. The rest of the team reports today. The entire team will be on the field tomorrow. Here are some of the intriguing training camp competitions.
1. Quarterback
If there’s a question at quarterback, the position will always be under a microscope. Even if a team has no quarterback questions, the position is always under the microscope. Until he’s not, Sam Darnold is the Vikings quarterback. As the 10th pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, J.J. McCarthy is working his way to be the Vikings quarterback. There is no pressure for that to happen this year. If it does, great. If it doesn’t, great. Everyone wants the team’s quarterback of the future to be the quarterback of the present as soon as possible. In reality, there’s no rush. When McCarthy is ready, he’ll be the quarterback. Right now, the competition to be the third quarterback on the roster might be the more intriguing competition. Nick Mullens or Jaren Hall. After the quarterback merry-go-round that hit the Vikings last season, the safe route might be to have Mullens start the season as the backup. The more daring route would be to have Hall as #3 and trade Mullens to some QB-needy team.
2. Third Receiver
Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison will be one of the best receiving duos in the league. It gets a bit murky after that. Who’s the WR3?
The Contenders:
Brandon Powell
Jalen Nailor
Trent Sherfield
At the moment, Brandon Powell is probably penciled in for the role. When given the opportunity, he made plays last season. If he can stay on the field, I think Jalen Nailor grabs the role. He was challenging K.J. Osborn for the role last season. Then, he suffered a hamstring injury early in training camp. That derailed all the progress that he’d made. Nailor must stay on the field. Trent Sherfield was an interesting offseason addition. His career has become that of a journeyman. The Vikings are his fifth team in the last five seasons. Despite the travels, he’s produced when given an opportunity. By far, his best season was his 2022 season in Miami. Beyond his ability as a pass-catcher, he’s a strong blocker and special teams player. Even he’s not the third receiver on the field, Sherfield will have a role.
3. Left and Right Guard
It’s a certainty that two of Ed Ingram, Blake Brandel, and Dalton Risner will be the starting guards. Ingram has been the team’s right guard since his 2022 rookie season. Despite some very rocky moments, his two years as a starter has been on an upwards trajectory. Throughout offseason workouts, Blake Brandel has been the left guard. It felt like Ingram and Brandel would the team’s guards. Then Risner was re-signed. After Ezra Cleveland was dealt at the trade deadline last season, Risner stepped into the lineup and was a solid presence the rest of the season. Fans and media were calling for his re-signing all offseason. He was finally re-signed on May 31. It was assumed that Brandel and Risner would compete for the left guard job. Apparently all three guards will be competing for the two guard jobs.
4. Defensive Line
Defensive line will be one of the most curious competitions of training camp. It’s wide open. Harrison Phillips is the only established player of a mostly anonymous group.
Harrison Phillips
Jaquelin Roy
Jonathan Bullard
Jerry Tillery
Jonah Williams
James Lynch
Levi Drake Rodriguez
Taki Taimani
Tyler Manoa
Jalen Redmond
Jaquelin Roy had some flashes as a fifth-round rookie last season. I really believe that he’s one the team’s top breakout candidates this year. Jonathan Bullard was a solid presence in the run game last season. I believe that he’ll have a role as long as Brian Flores is coordinating the Vikings defense. As a former first-round pick, Jerry Tillery is probably the wildcard of the group. He has the size and natural talent to be elite. That size and natural talent is what got him selected in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft. Unfortunately, he hasn’t put it all together on an NFL field. Perhaps he will with the Vikings. Perhaps I’m being overly hopeful but I believe that seventh-round rookie Levi Drake Rodriguez is a player to watch. Even if he has only a designated pass rusher role as a rookie, I believe that he’ll make an impact.
5, Outside Linebacker
No position has seen more change this offseason than the outside linebackers. The top three last year were Danielle Hunter, oft-injured Marcus Davenport, and D.J. Wonnum. All gone. Jonathan Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel were added in free agency. Dallas Turner was selected in the first round.
The overhauled outside linebacker group:
Jonathan Greenard
Andrew Van Ginkel
Dallas Turner
Patrick Jones II
Andre Carter II
Jihad Ward
Gabriel Murphy
Bo Richter
Owen Porter
Only Patrick Jones II and Andre Carter II were on the roster last season. Greenard, Van Ginkel, and Turner will better fit Flores’ position-less defense. This trio and the outside linebackers are the position group I’m most looking forward to seeing in action. After Greenard, Van Ginkel, and Turner, there will be a wide open competition for the remaining spots. I like the chances of undrafted free agent Gabriel Murphy.
6. Cornerback
Sadly, this group was dealt a heart-breaking blow with the tragic car crash that took the life of fourth-round rookie Khyree Jackson.
Byron Murphy Jr., Shaquill Griffin, and Mekhi Blackmon project as the top three corners. Murphy is the team’s most versatile corner. He’s competent on the outside but is at his best when he slides inside. Griffin was signed in the offseason for his ability to handle outside receivers by himself. Blackmon played well as a rookie last season. His future is bright. If not for late-season struggles in each of his two seasons, Akayleb Evans would probably be an assured starter and Griffin not signed. He’s shown the ability. He just has to sustain it through an entire season. 2022 second-round pick, Andrew Booth Jr. might be competing for a roster spot. He has the talent. He may even be the most physically gifted corner on the roster. Injuries have been a factor but he hasn’t turned that talent into consistent play on the field. Undrafted free agent Dwight McGlothern is a wildcard among the corners.
RIP 31.
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