Kirk Cousins explained it perfectly in Netflix’s aptly named “Quarterback” series. Seated in his SUV after the Vikings’ playoff loss at the hands of the New York Giants in 2022, the quarterback described the ups and downs of the season — how you arrive at training camp and begin to build, take the wild and tumultuous ride of the season, then have to start all over again the following year.
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Well, here we are.
This week, the Vikings will descend on Eagan, Minn. New faces will begin to assimilate. Position battles will commence.
The following #Vikings have reported to TCO for training camp: pic.twitter.com/TcLVFLQ7sP
— Alec Lewis (@alec_lewis) July 23, 2023
On that note, I thought I’d break down seven key positional competitions in training camp, with early predictions for each of them.
7. No. 4 wide receiver
The competition: Jalen Nailor, Jalen Reagor, Brandon Powell, Blake Proehl, Lucky Jackson, other undrafted free agents
Why it’s interesting: This spot would be more interesting in the event of an injury or a player’s absence. Justin Jefferson, T.J. Hockenson, K.J. Osborn and Jordan Addison should garner the majority of targets and catches. The unexpected can always happen, though, and it feels fair to wonder which of these options has the ability and acumen to fill in.
Nailor played confidently in mandatory minicamp, and he has the speed to earn the nod. The Vikings’ trust in him will hinge on his route-running prowess, which, if minicamp proves to be an accurate indicator, has improved.
That puts Reagor and Powell, specifically, in interesting positions. Reagor’s mental errors in last season’s Colts game are almost seared into memory at this point. Powell, meanwhile, was targeted by the Vikings’ staff because of his familiarity with the system. Will the Vikings have room to keep six receivers? If not, will Reagor and Powell be competing for roster spots? Furthermore, are options like Proehl and even Jackson, whom the Vikings signed after his XFL performance, capable of supplanting the more experienced options?
Early prediction: Nailor wins the job, and Powell and Reagor battle it out for roster spots.
6. Punt returner
The competition: Jalen Reagor, Brandon Powell
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Why it’s interesting: Late last offseason, the Vikings traded a seventh-round pick to the Eagles for Reagor. The team needed a punt returner, and Reagor, who for years had earned the ire of the Philly faithful with his minimal production, slid into the role.
He did not return many punts. Ed Donatell’s porous defense is to thank for that. Still, Reagor averaged only 6.42 yards per punt return, according to TruMedia, which ranked 20th among 21 NFL returners who returned a minimum of 20 punts. The Vikings ranked 32nd in the league in Football Outsiders’ punt return metric.
Yes, this is a minor facet of the game, but it matters, especially as the Vikings look to take advantage of opportunities on the margins.
So, is Powell a better option? He did average more yards per return last season (7.38), and the Rams ranked 18th in Football Outsiders’ punt return metric.
The decision might depend on the Vikings’ long-term view of Reagor. He is only 24, and he did flash a couple of times in 2022, including when he juked then-Bears linebacker Roquan Smith for a touchdown in the red zone.
.@KirkCousins8 and the #Vikings offense 🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/lhODrCzagc
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) October 9, 2022
Early prediction: Powell wins the job, and Reagor fights for one of the final roster spots.
5. Backup running back
The competition: Ty Chandler, Kene Nwangwu, DeWayne McBride
Why it’s interesting: Moving on from Dalvin Cook was sensible from a cost and production standpoint. But that doesn’t mean his absence will not be felt among the Vikings’ running backs. Alexander Mattison has three-down capability. Depth, though, might be an issue.
Chandler, Nwangwu and McBride have intriguing skill sets. Chandler can gain yards between the tackles and maintain balance through contact. Nwangwu is so dynamic in the open field that he is the team’s kick returner. And McBride, a seventh-round pick in April out of UAB, made college tacklers look like little kids. None of the three has much NFL experience. They have 28 career rushing attempts combined.
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McBride is going to be learning the Vikings offense, which is far more complex than UAB’s. This leaves Chandler and Nwangwu as the likeliest options. Even then, it feels fair to wonder whether the Vikings might benefit from better options.
Early prediction: Chandler wins the job, but McBride gets more snaps as the season progresses and gets more comfortable in the offense.
GO DEEPER
Meet new Vikings RB DeWayne McBride, who often achieves 'wolverine-berzerker mode'
4. Starting defensive linemen
The competition: Harrison Phillips, Dean Lowry, Jonathan Bullard, Khyiris Tonga, Esezi Otomewo, Jaquelin Roy, other UDFAs
Why it’s interesting: Dalvin Tomlinson’s departure might be the biggest loss as it relates to its impact on the 2023 team. He totaled 30 pressures last season, which was easily the most among the team’s interior defensive linemen. He also flashed against the run. With him, the interior of the defensive line was noticeably imposing. Without him, wreaking havoc will be a taller task.
Phillips, who navigated a foot injury throughout much of last season and did not participate fully this spring, might be the leader in the clubhouse, especially at nose tackle in a 3-4 base look. Behind him, the best options are anyone’s guess. Lowry has loads of experience. Tonga impressed in a short stint toward the end of the season. Otomewo’s body type provides intrigue. And Bullard got consistent snaps with the No. 1 defense during minicamp.
Then there is Roy, a fifth-round pick this year. He, too, is an interesting option who could offer a different look up front. Like Otomewo last year, however, the Vikings are likely to ease the rookie into the mix.
Early prediction: Phillips, Lowry, Bullard and Tonga serve as an interchangeable group at the beginning of the season, and Otomewo and Roy progressively earn more snaps as the Vikings seek more explosiveness.
3. Starting safety opposite Harrison Smith
The competition: Cam Bynum, Lewis Cine, Josh Metellus
Why it’s interesting: There is not a position group on the defense that has more talent and upside than safety. Smith accepted a pay cut to remain in Minnesota largely because new coordinator Brian Flores’ defense provided intrigue. Who, though, is going to earn the most snaps opposite the potential Hall of Famer?
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Bynum played more defensive snaps than any Vikings player last season. And while he might not have as much burst as Cine or Metellus, he was reliable. Coverage busts against the Eagles and Lions in 2022 were mostly a byproduct of misplays by former Vikings cornerback Cam Dantzler. Bynum, on the other hand, mostly kept passes in front of him, which was the task.
Cine and Metellus are the more rangy options in this group, and both have skill sets Flores will utilize. Although Cine was seemingly 100 percent this spring, the Vikings will likely monitor his workload. Metellus, meanwhile, who became a team captain at the end of the 2022 season, is destined to play a defensive role no matter how creative Flores has to get to make that happen.
Early prediction: Bynum wins the job, with Metellus playing as the dime safety who will be used in all sorts of ways. Cine plays more snaps as the season goes on.
2. No. 2 edge rusher (in the event Hunter doesn’t sign an extension and is traded)
The competition: Patrick Jones II, D.J. Wonnum, Luiji Vilain
Why it’s interesting: Because the Vikings are trying to revamp their defense, which will be difficult in the best-case scenario. But it will be even harder if the team sees Za’Darius Smith and Danielle Hunter depart. Smith is gone, and neither Hunter’s camp nor the Vikings front office has spoken publicly about working on a mutually beneficial deal. So if Hunter holds out or (more likely) is traded, that would leave Marcus Davenport as the No. 1 edge rusher and would leave a wide-open spot for the second starter at the position.
Last year, the Vikings struggled to apply consistent pressure, ranking 19th in pressure rate and 21st in sacks. Smith and Hunter accounted for 47.2 percent of the team’s pressures and 52.2 percent of its sacks. Remove them from the equation and the onus falls on Flores to generate pressure with his system. He is capable of doing so — the 2021 Dolphins tallied a 14.7 percent unblocked pressure rate, which was the most in the NFL by nearly 4 percent.
Still, the Vikings need their second (and third) edge rushers to make a bigger impact. Jones amassed a higher pass-rush win rate than Wonnum in 2022, but Wonnum totaled more pressures. Vilain, who went undrafted in 2022, is a dark horse, which only underscores the lack of proven talent vying for this role.
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Early prediction: Wonnum wins the job — unless the Vikings bring in buy-low edge-rushing talent.
1. No. 2 cornerback
The competition: Akayleb Evans, Andrew Booth Jr., Mekhi Blackmon, Joejuan Williams
Why it’s interesting: If Flores is going to play as much man coverage as he has during his career, the Vikings need cornerbacks who can hold up against a bevy of elite wide receivers. Minnesota will face Mike Evans, A.J. Brown, Mike Williams and Travis Kelce in the first five weeks of the season. Selecting the right secondary options will be critical.
Evans, Booth, Blackmon and Williams are in the same boat. They’re young and inexperienced, but they have qualities that give them a chance. Evans and Williams are the largest in the group, so they make the most sense as outside cornerbacks who will have to use their length. Conversely, Booth and Blackmon have a level of fluidity that is needed against elite pass catchers in the slot, which might be more in vogue than ever before. Evans (concussions) and Booth (meniscus surgery) suffered season-ending injuries last year that limited their playing time.
That brings us to the uncertainty surrounding this competition. Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell said in February that he was looking forward to watching it unfold. So, let the games begin.
Early prediction: Evans takes the outside cornerback spot, and Blackmon plays more snaps than Booth as a Swiss Army knife at nickel.
(Top photo of Akayleb Evans: Ryan Kang / Associated Press)
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