Minnesota Vikings 2026 Starters?

Nearly all of the offseason attention surrounding the Minnesota Vikings revolved around the quarterback position. Incumbent J.J. McCarthy and newcomer Kyler Murray competed for the job through offseason workouts and the start of training camp. While most national and local talking heads and many fans had Murray as the quarterback from the moment he signed in March, it wasn’t official-official until head coach Kevin O’Connell announced last week that Murray as the Vikings starter moving forward. While quarterback was the Vikings biggest starter question, there were, and are, a few others. Here are some thoughts on my projected Vikings starters. 

Minnesota Vikings 2026 Starters?

Offense

WR	Justin Jefferson
TE	T.J. Hockenson
LT	Christian Darrisaw
LG	Donovan Jackson
C	Blake Brandel
RG	Will Fries
RT	Brian O’Neill
WR	Jordan Addison
QB	Kyler Murray
RB	Aaron Jones
FB	Max Bredeson
WR3	Jauan Jennings

Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison are one of the best receiver duos in the league. The offseason addition of Jauan Jennings gives the Vikings the best receiver trio in the league. Perhaps one of the surprises of training camp has been the emergence of receivers Tai Felton and Myles Price. Trimming the receiver group is going to be challenging. The play of Jeshaun Jones, Dontae Fleming, and Dillon Bell might even make it painful. Since Justin Jefferson’s arrival in 2020, the Vikings have had a top-heavy receiver group. Now, it looks like they have a deep group. Jefferson, Addison, and Jennings are the clear starters but Felton, Price, and perhaps one more could see considerable playing time. 

After the big quarterback decision, center Blake Brandel is the biggest question of the Vikings offense. Injuries forced him to fill in at center last season. He held up and prompted the possibility of him being more than a fill-in at the position. It was considered such a possibility that the Vikings didn’t address the position in free agency or early in the draft. Center was Brandel’s position. Some snapping misfires in training camp has brought some concern, Being an optimistic sort, I believe that the snapping issues will be settled, hopefully erased entirely. 

Defense

DE	Jalen Redmond
NT	Domonique Orange
DE	Caleb Banks
OLB	Dallas Turner
LB	Blake Cashman
LB	Eric Wilson
OLB	Andrew Van Ginkel
CB	Byron Murphy Jr.
CB	Isaiah Rodgers
S	Joshua Metellus
S	Jay Ward

Receiver will always be my favorite position group. Since the 1970s, the Vikings defensive line has often been my next favorite. That is definitely the case now. The Vikings current defensive line group is going to be fun. It was an interesting group even before the Vikings selected Caleb Banks in the first round and Domonique Orange in the third round. Before those Day 1 and Day 2 picks, the group was entirely made up by late-round picks and undrafted free agents. Jalen Redmond is one of those undrafted players and emerged last season as a an impact player. He’s only getting better. Redmond, 2024 seventh-rounder Levi Drake Rodriguez, and 2025 fifth-rounder Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins currently project as the starters over Banks and Orange. It’s only a matter of time for the rookies. Most importantly, the Vikings have the makings of a fine defensive line rotation. 

Jalen Redmond

Domonique Orange

Caleb Banks

Levi Drake Rodriguez

Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins

Elijah Williams

That’s a deep defensive line group with a variety of skills.

The other group with intrigue as a result surprising depth is safety. Joshua Metellus and Jay Ward currently project as the starters. Theo Jackson, and rookies Jakobe Thomas and Jacob Thomas will make it interesting. The depth will provide defensive coordinator Brian Flores and secondary coach Gerald Alexander options at the back of the Vikings defense. 

Despite adding a new starting quarterback, this didn’t feel like an active offseason for the Vikings. It’s still early but many of the roster decisions that were made appear to be wise decisions. The overall depth of the team is improved. That’s resulted in an improved group of projected starters. As long as Blake Brandel settles those snapping issues.