Vikings post-minicamp depth chart: Quarterback thoughts, 2022 draftees and more (2024)

Somehow, we’re less than two months away from Minnesota Vikings training camp.

The offseason has brought plenty of big news. Kirk Cousins left in free agency. The franchise signed several new defenders in free agency, drafted quarterback J.J. McCarthy in the first round and extended Justin Jefferson. OTAs and minicamp have been fairly quiet.

In the aftermath of three practices available to the media last week, this is a perfect time to reset the depth chart. Here is a rundown of the competition at every position group. (Rookies’ names are in italics.)

Quarterback

Starter: Sam Darnold

Backups: J.J. McCarthy, Nick Mullens, Jaren Hall

If you’ve been paying attention, this should not be a surprise. The Vikings signed Darnold to a one-year, $10 million deal for a reason. They felt like his potential had not been maximized as an NFL quarterback. They also thought his presence would help McCarthy, their recently drafted quarterback. Darnold can share his own experiences and play, allowing McCarthy to sit, learn and observe.

Will he start for half the season? It’s possible. Will he start for the full season? Also possible. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves.

McCarthy’s velocity is unmistakable. Accuracy, trajectory and consistent mechanics are what he’s focusing on. Mullens is a known entity, and Hall looks improved. The best-case scenario is Darnold playing and staying healthy, the Vikings surprising folks offensively and head coach Kevin O’Connell turning the reins over to McCarthy when he feels the time is right.

Running back

Starter: Aaron Jones

Backups: Ty Chandler, DeWayne McBride, Myles Gaskin

Running back drills are fairly mundane. Players skip across bungee cords, looking like they’re playing hopscotch. Sometimes, they simulate handoffs and cuts and gallop up the field. Jones looks different doing these drills than Alexander Mattison did. He explodes. He bursts differently. His pass-catching ability is also evident.

Jones will likely receive most of the carries, but I expect Chandler’s usage to increase. He played 27 percent of the Vikings’ offensive snaps last season. I predict that number will climb. As defensive tackle Harrison Phillips said last week, this is a one-two punch. The more the Vikings can rely on Chandler, the more likely Jones is to stay healthy. This is Minnesota’s best running back group since O’Connell became the head coach.

Fullback

Starter: C.J. Ham

Last year, O’Connell used Ham in an interesting way. The veteran fullback essentially became a third-down blocker. According to Pro Football Focus, he excelled in the role, grading out as an above-average pass protector.

I expect the Vikings to use this strategy again in 2024. I also think they would like to line up more in heavy personnel on early downs to create more of an advantage on the ground.

Receiver

Starters: Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, Brandon Powell

Backups: Jalen Nailor, Trishton Jackson, Trent Sherfield Sr., Lucky Jackson, Thayer Thomas, Malik Knowles, Jeshaun Jones, Devron Harper, Ty James

Addison was one of the standouts at OTAs. He has a talent — like Jefferson — in that he is deceptively fast, peeling out of routes without false steps or a loss of speed. Enhanced knowledge of O’Connell’s system should allow him to confound defenses further. He and Jefferson will be on the minds of every opposing defensive coordinator.

I am curious, however, to see what the Vikings do with their No. 3 receiver. Even if they want to use heavier personnel, third-and-long situations often require three receivers. Powell is a reliable pass-catching option, and Sherfield is a viable blocker. But I also wonder if the Vikings could explore a free-agent possibility like Hunter Renfrow, who caught 103 passes for the Las Vegas Raiders in 2021.

Year 2 ⏳@Espn_Jordan pic.twitter.com/vYUQnKGL16

— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) June 7, 2024

Tight end

Starter: T.J. Hockenson

Backups: Josh Oliver, Johnny Mundt, Robert Tonyan, Nick Muse, N’Keal Harry, Trey Knox

Health might hold Hockenson back to begin the season. Last week, he jogged and sprinted on a side field with the Vikings’ medical staff. O’Connell said he’s progressing ahead of schedule, but Minnesota’s staffers have been clear: They won’t rush Hockenson. Oliver and Mundt are trusty backups, and the Vikings have always liked Muse.

But the player I’m keeping my eye on is Tonyan. He has caught 50 passes in two separate seasons. He tore his ACL in 2022 and barely played last year for the Chicago Bears, but he kept popping last week. I would project Oliver, Mundt and Tonyan to all play meaningful snaps in Week 1 if Hockenson is not healthy.

Offensive line

Starters: LT Christian Darrisaw, LG Blake Brandel, C Garrett Bradbury, RG Ed Ingram, RT Brian O’Neill

Backups: Dalton Risner, Dan Feeney, David Quessenberry, Walter Rouse, Michael Jurgens, Jeremy Flax, Henry Byrd, Doug Nester, Tyrese Robinson, Spencer Rolland

O’Connell means it when he says he’s going to play the best five. Still, the questions are on the interior. Will Brandel hold off Risner for the left guard spot? And will Minnesota move away from Ingram or Bradbury? Risner arrived during the 2023 season, preventing the Vikings from getting a true look at him at right guard. Training camp could provide that opportunity. Brandel could also make sense for that spot.

This is the offensive position group I’m most worried about. The Vikings believe in Brandel’s promise, and they’ve stayed the course with Ingram’s development. Still, their optimal offensive vision is about holding up for Darnold and running the football efficiently. In other words, it’s dependent upon the line.

Interior defensive line

Starters: Harrison Phillips, Jonathan Bullard

Backups: Jerry Tillery, James Lynch, Jonah Williams, Jaquelin Roy, Levi Drake Rodriguez, Taki Taimani, Tyler Manoa

All of the Vikings’ defensive starters are subject to change depending on the opposing matchup. That’s how coordinator Brian Flores rolls. On early downs, against run-heavy teams, Phillips and Bullard are reliable gap pluggers. On late downs, against pass-happy teams, Phillips and Bullard might leave the field for more edge rushers.

Tillery’s pass-rush ability might make sense in some matchups. It feels like Roy is still developing. Interestingly, the Vikings also showed a five-man front this spring with Patrick Jones II included. Flores will be creative with this group. He always is.

Edge rusher

Starters: Jonathan Greenard, Andrew Van Ginkel

Backups: Dallas Turner, Patrick Jones II, Jihad Ward, Owen Porter, Gabriel Murphy, Andre Carter II, Bo Richter

Like Hockenson, Van Ginkel rehabbed last week during minicamp. If he’s not ready to roll in Week 1, Turner might be the next man up. Opposing teams might test his sturdiness in setting the edge. Against the pass, he appears close to ready.

The depth of this group remains a question mark. Jones and Ward have some experience, and Porter, Murphy and Carter are unproven. Physically, Carter looks about the same as he did last year and might not be long for the roster.

Linebacker

Starters: Ivan Pace Jr., Blake Cashman

Backups: Kamu Grugier-Hill, Brian Asamoah II, Abraham Beauplan, K.J. Cloyd, Dallas Gant

This is another spot where Flores could assess the opposition, decide what fits best for that particular week and structure the personnel to counteract the opposing team’s strengths. If the Vikings utilize five-down fronts, they could feature one off-ball linebacker and five safeties (with quasi-linebacker Josh Metellus). Pace and Cashman are the green-dot candidates. The former is stronger as a pass rusher, and Cashman is more suited for coverage.

Grugier-Hill is better depth than Troy Dye, and the Vikings like Beauplan. But where does Asamoah fit into the mix? His athleticism still stands out in practice. Health will be critical to any depth chart ascent.

Safety

Starters: Harrison Smith, Cam Bynum, Josh Metellus

Backups: Theo Jackson, Jay Ward, Lewis Cine

The Vikings kept six safeties last year, but the roster was not as deep as it is now. They might move forward with five this fall. If they do, Cine could be the odd man out. From a cap perspective, cutting him would mean money spent for no return. But the alternative is keeping him, cutting another potential contributor and losing that potential upside.

Jackson is a roster certainty, and Ward stands out physically compared to a year ago.

Cornerback

Starters: Shaq Griffin, Byron Murphy Jr.

Backups: Mekhi Blackmon, Akayleb Evans, Khyree Jackson, Dwight McGlothern, Jaylin Williams, A.J. Green III, Andrew Booth Jr., NaJee Thompson

Griffin on the outside; Murphy on the inside. If the Vikings have their way, that’s the plan. That is, if another cornerback can hold up on the outside. Evans is more apt to match up physically with imposing receivers, and Blackmon might have better anticipatory skills. Both took first-team snaps this spring.

It’s always possible Jackson and McGlothern will usurp Evans and Blackmon on the outside, especially considering their size. I also would not sleep on Williams, who always seems to hold his own in practice, and Booth is in a similar situation to Cine with his cap hit.

Specialists

Starters: K Will Reichard, P Ryan Wright, LS Andrew DePaola

Backups: K John Parker Romo, P Seth Vernon

Reichard might not have Romo’s leg strength, but the Vikings would not have spent a sixth-round pick on him if they didn’t think he was suited for the job. The special teams intrigue might be at punter, where Wright, who had a phenomenal rookie season and a bad second year, will duke it out with Vernon.

Returner

Starter: Kene Nwangwu

Backups: Chandler, Powell, Harper

The new kickoff rule brings this spot back into focus. Nwangwu returned two kicks for touchdowns in 2021 and one in 2022. He’ll have to stay healthy to earn the job, but he is fit for it if he does. Chandler’s expected offensive usage limits his availability for the role.

(Top photo of Sam Darnold and Ty Chandler: Adam Bettcher / Getty Images)