Minnesota Vikings First Unofficial Depth Chart
Offense (44)
Quarterbacks
Starter: Sam Darnold
Backups: J.J. McCarthy OR Nick Mullens; Jaren Hall
Running Backs
Starter: Aaron Jones
Backups: Ty Chandler; Kene Nwangwu: Myles Gaskin; DeWayne McBride
Fullback
Starter: C.J. Ham
Wide Receivers
Starters: Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison
Backups: Jalen Nailor and Brandon Powell; Trishton Jackson, Jeshaun Jones and Trent Sherfield; Lucky Jackson, Ty James, Thayer Thomas, and Malik Knowles
Tight Ends
Starter: T.J. Hockenson
Backups: Josh Oliver; Johnny Mundt; Nick Muse; Robert Tonyan; N’Keal Harry; Trey Knox; Sammis Reyes
Tackles
Starters: Christian Darrisaw (LT) and Brian O’Neill (RT)
Backups: Walter Rouse (LT) and David Quessenberry (RT); Jeremy Flax (LT) and Doug Nester (RT)
Interior Offensive Linemen
Starters: Blake Brandel (LG), Garrett Bradbury (C), and Ed Ingram (RG)
Backups: Michael Jurgens (LG), Dan Feeney (C), and Dalton Risner (RG): Tyrese Robinson (LG), Henry Byrd (C), and Spencer Rolland (RG)
Defense (43)
Outside Linebackers
Starters: Jonathan Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel
Backups: Patrick Jones II and Dallas Turner; Gabriel Murphy and Jihad Ward; Owen Porter, Andre Carter II, and Bo Richter
Defensive Line
Starters: Jerry Tillery, Harrison Phillips, Jonathan Bullard
Backups: James Lynch, Jaquelin Roy, and Jonah Williams; Levi Drake Rodriguez, Taki Taimani, and Jalen Redmond; Tyler Manoa
Inside Linebackers
Starters: Blake Cashman and Ivan Pace Jr.
Backups: Kamu Grugier-Hill and Brian Asamoah II; Dallas Gant and Jabril Cox
Cornerbacks
Starters: Shaquill Griffin and Byron Murphy Jr.
Backups: Akayleb Evans and Fabian Moreau; Andrew Booth Jr., A.J. Green III and Jacobi Francis; Jaylin Williams, Duke Shelley. Dwight McGlothern, and Najee Thompson
Safeties
Starters: Harrison Smith and Camryn Bynum
Backups: Josh Metellus and Theo Jackson; Jay Ward and Lewis Cine; Bobby McCain
Special Teams (4)
Kicker:
Starter: Will Reichard
Punter/Holder
Starter: Ryan Wright
Backup: Seth Vernon
Long Snapper
Starter: Andrew DePaola
Kickoff Returners
Starter: Kene Nwangwu
Backups: Ty Chandler; Brandon Powell
Punt Returners
Starter: Brandon Powell
Backup: Jalen Nailor
***
Some Thoughts
While this pretty much reflects what I’ve seen and heard from training camp practices, I was a little surprised by a few things.
1. Josh Oliver over Johnny Mundt at tight end. Oliver has been the backup to T.J. Hockenson since he was signed during the 2023 offseason. It sounds like Mundt has gotten a load of targets this training camp. I was starting to think that perhaps Mundt had passed Oliver with Hockenson rehabbing.
2. Thayer Thomas is a bit further down the depth chart than I expected.
3. I don’t see the Vikings releasing sixth-round rookie tackle Walter Rouse. David Quessenberry is a comfort as a backup tackle. Will the Vikings keep two tackles?
4. The competition on the defensive line will be interesting. The current “unofficial” starters feel set. Jonah Williams, Jaquelin Roy, James Lynch, and Levi Drake Rodriguez are competing for limited backup spots.
5. Even if he’s listed as a backup on the season’s official depth chart, Dallas Turner will be getting starter-level snaps.
6. After a single week with the Vikings, Fabian Moreau is listed as one of the top four corners.
7. I’m certain that undrafted rookie Dwight McGlothern is higher than the 10th corner.
8. Time is running out on 2022 top draft picks Lewis Cine and Andrew Booth Jr.
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