Youthful Vikes

There's a lot of excitement about the immediate future of the Minnesota Vikings. Much of that excitement is due to the young talent on the roster. Here are the ages of a projected starting lineup.

Quarterback
Teddy Bridgewater, 23

Running back
Adrian Peterson, 31

Fullback
Zach Line, 26

Receivers
Stefon Diggs, 22
Laquon Treadwell, 21

Tight end
Kyle Rudolph. 26

Tackles
Matt Kalil, 27
Andre Smith, 29

Guards
Alex Boone, 29
Brandon Fusco, 26

Center
John Sullivan, 30

Defensive end
Everson Griffen, 28
Brian Robison, 33

Defensive tackle
Linval Joseph, 27
Sharrif Floyd, 25

Linebackers
Anthony Barr, 24
Eric Kendricks, 24
Chad Greenway, 33

Cornerbacks
Xavier Rhodes, 26
Trae Waynes, 23

Safeties
Harrison Smith, 27
Anthony Harris, 24

Kicker
Blair Walsh, 26

Punter
Jeff Locke, 26

Long snapper
Kevin McDdermott, 26

Adrian Peterson, John Sullivan, Brian Robison, Chad Greenway are the only projected starters that are 30 or over. Peterson doesn't really count due to his being ageless as a genetic freak. Sullivan will be spending much of training camp fending off youngsters Nick Easton and Zac Kerin. It's quite possible, even likely, that Robison will give way to 21-year old Danielle Hunter. As a rookie last year, Hunter was the youngest player in the league at 20. He's still one of the younger players in the league in his second year. The freakishly talented Hunter has the potential to be a star. He's ready to start now but the Vikings and Hunter might be best served with Robison starting and Hunter coming in as a situational pass rusher. Besides, Robison is a solid starter and defensive leader. No matter how it plays out the Vikings rotate all of their defensive linemen on a regular basis. It's a very deep group and the coaches take advantage of it. Chad Greenway has already announced that 2016 will be his final season. He's been such a great member of the Vikings. On the field and off. He's had a terrific career. His playing time has been reduced in recent years due to the increasing frequency with which the Vikings are in a nickel defense. They were in their base defense, with three linebackers, on only about a third of the defensive snaps last season. That has greatly reduced Greenway's time on the field. That reduced playing time decreases the wear and tear on his body and keeps him fresh for a 16+-game season. 27-year old free agent addition Emmanuel Lamur will challenge Greenway in training camp.

Of the 88 players on the roster, 50 are 25 years of age or younger. The majority of those players are the cornerstones of the Vikings team moving forward. They still have a nice mix of seasoned veteran players. 10 players are 30 or older.

Terence Newman, CB, 37
Shaun Hill, QB, 36
Joe Berger, G/C, 34
Chad Greenway, LB, 33
Brian Robison, DE, 33
Adrian Peterson, RB, 31
Michael Griffin, S, 31
Tom Johnson, DT, 31
John Sullivan, C, 30
Phil Loadholt, T, 30

Terence Newman is an ageless defensive back in the mold of Charles Woodson, Darrell Green, and Deion Sanders. He may not be as high profile as those three but he's been a similar sort of ageless marvel. He was solid as a starter last season but he should give way this year to last year's first round pick Trae Waynes. With his playing experience, and especially his experience in Mike Zimmer's defense, Newman is as much player-coach as player for the Vikings.

Shaun Hill is the veteran backup to Teddy Bridgewater. He has experience in Norv Turner's offense. He's on the roster more as a mentor for the young quarterbacks than as a player. If Bridgewater was out for an extended period of time, I wouldn't be surprised to see 23-year old Taylor Heinicke to get the call.

Joe Berger can play any of the interior line positions. He took over the starting center position last season when John Sullivan was lost to a back injury. He was probably the most consistent Vikings offensive lineman. His ability to cover three positions makes him as valuable as any lineman on the roster.

Michael Griffin was brought in as a free agent this offseaon. He was one of the better safeties in the league a few years ago but those years are likely behind him. Vikings defensive backs coach Jerry Gray was Griffen's defensive coordinator in Tennessee so there's some familiarity. If Griffin doesn't win the safety starting spot opposite Harrison Smith I doubt that he makes the team. They have too many younger safeties if Griffin isn't the starter.

Tom Johnson might be over 30 but he's still fairly new to the NFL. This will only be his sixth season. His road to the league was a circuitous one. He's a terrific situational pass rusher. His limited number of snaps helps preserve his 31-year old body.

Like Sullivan, Phil Loadholt missed the entire 2015 season. He's a very large man coming back from a torn achilles tendon. When healthy Loadholt has been a solid starter but he hasn't been able to avoid injuries the past two seasons. That uncertainty forced the Vikings to add Andre Smith in free agency. The Loadholt-Smith right tackle battle should be one of the more interesting battles of training camp.

Update: It's being reported that Loadholt plans to retire. It's sad that the injuries of the last two seasons took such a toll on his body. He'll be missed. On the field and off. 

The Vikings are a very young football team. They mix two handfuls of players over 30 years of age into that youth. Other than the ageless Adrian Peterson those players are more complimentary but their leadership is invaluable. It's the young football talent that make the Vikings an intriguing team now and in the coming years.