The Athletic has live coverage of Vikings vs. Eagles on Thursday Night Football.
The Minnesota Vikings released a new depth chart Monday. Head coach Kevin O’Connell mentioned it, then convincingly advised us not to overreact.
What he said made lots of sense. Camp is just beginning. O’Connell places a lot of stock in players’ performances in joint practices, and those do not begin for more than a week.
That said, the Vikings will play a preseason game Thursday against the Seahawks. So we thought it would be valuable to take stock of the roster with our projection for the final 53. If anything, this will serve as a time capsule for the duration of camp. Here are the selections:
LIVE: Head Coach Kevin O'Connell speaks to media. https://t.co/cg0XP25nbC
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) August 7, 2023
Quarterback
In: Kirk Cousins, Nick Mullens, Jaren Hall
The biggest question with the quarterbacks is how facing Brian Flores’ defense on a daily basis will prepare them for the season. Flores stresses blocking protection schemes more than any defense the Vikings will face all season. Furthermore, his shape-shifting fronts complicate the picture as the quarterback is assessing whether to remain in the original play or switch to a different call.
Advertisement
This has been a challenge. Cousins called the competition against Flores’ squad “the curveball of camp.” Will the complexity of Flores’ defense make things easier when the regular season arrives? Will it help players like Mullens and Hall acclimate to their roles?
Running back
In: Alexander Mattison, C.J. Ham, Ty Chandler, Kene Nwangwu, DeWayne McBride
Out: Abram Smith
Minnesota is committed to Mattison being the every-down back. He is a decisive runner who can also catch the ball out of the backfield.
Behind him is where the conversation gets interesting. The Vikings believe in Chandler’s talent. The fifth-round pick in 2022 impressed in training camp last year and might be the leader in the clubhouse for the backup job — though the Vikings could always add an experienced veteran.
Nwangwu, meanwhile, has missed several practices due to injury. And while his speed and pass-catching prowess are useful, his lack of down-to-down experience remains a big question.
McBride is an intriguing option who will likely get the bulk of the workload in this week’s preseason game. That said, he is still learning a professional offense that is far more complex than his college offense at UAB.
Then there is Ham, who is likely to be featured much more this season. The Vikings love his skill set and want to use it as they try to marry their run-pass concepts.
Wide receiver
In: Justin Jefferson, K.J. Osborn, Jordan Addison, Brandon Powell, Jalen Nailor, Trishton Jackson (injured reserve)
Out: Jalen Reagor, Blake Proehl, Garett Maag, Lucky Jackson, Malik Knowles, Thayer Thomas, N’Keal Harry, Jacob Copeland
Jefferson, Osborn and Addison are shoo-ins. And while O’Connell said Monday that Addison will likely play some snaps Thursday night, I would not expect him to carry a heavy load. He matters too much to this offense to put him in harm’s way. And yes, he has lived up to his first-round billing.
Advertisement
Powell has not been here long, but he is reliable. He hasn’t dropped many passes. He glides around and he can return punts.
Nailor suffered a leg injury in the first couple of practice days and has not been on the field since. He is, though, walking around without a limp, which could mean a return later in training camp.
If the Vikings keep another receiver, Jackson, Reagor and Thomas could all be options. Jackson was having arguably the best camp at the position behind Jefferson, Osborn, Addison and Powell. Reagor has almost a year of experience in the system. And Thomas, also a punt returner, has shown some flashes in camp.
GO DEEPER
Vikings mailbag: What we've learned about WR roles, the backup RB competition and more
Tight end
In: T.J. Hockenson, Josh Oliver, Johnny Mundt
Out: Nick Muse, Ben Sims, Colin Thompson
As we talk about the Vikings offense this season, I expect we will be discussing this position group often. Hockenson has the potential to be the most-targeted player behind Jefferson. Oliver will clear out defenders in the run game and barrel his way down the field when he’s activated as a receiver.
And then there is Mundt, who has quietly put together a solid camp. Mundt is an undrafted player who is neither the receiver Hockenson is nor the imposing figure that Oliver is. He is, however, a player O’Connell can rely on, whether it’s for depth or in heavier personnel packages.
Offensive line
In: Christian Darrisaw, Ezra Cleveland, Garrett Bradbury, Ed Ingram, Brian O’Neill, Blake Brandel, Austin Schlottmann, Oli Udoh, Chris Reed (non-football injury)
Out: Vederian Lowe, Alan Ali, Jacky Chen, Josh Sokol, Christian DiLauro, Jack Snyder, Jarrid Williams
Last year, Brandel filled in when needed at tackle. This year, he has played mostly guard. He looks stout, too. While he is not likely to start games from the outset, his position change and performance stand out.
Advertisement
For now, the starting five remains set: Darrisaw, Cleveland, Bradbury, Ingram and O’Neill. Ingram matched up with Marcus Davenport and Dean Lowry on Monday and held his own. He appears more agile than last season.
The rest of the group includes many of the backups from last season. Keeping another tackle might make sense, whether that is Lowe or a recent signee like Williams or DiLauro.
Defensive line/edge
In: Danielle Hunter, Marcus Davenport, D.J. Wonnum, Patrick Jones II, Harrison Phillips, Dean Lowry, Khyiris Tonga, Esezi Otomewo, Jaquelin Roy, Andre Carter II, Jonathan Bullard, James Lynch (injured reserve)
Out: Luiji Vilain, Ross Blacklock, Benton Whitley, Curtis Weaver, Sheldon Day, Calvin Avery, Junior Aho, T.J. Smith
Before we get to the individuals, I’d like to point out that the Vikings are going to get creative with this group. Davenport will move around. Hunter might line up next to Davenport at times. On third downs, you might even see a speed package featuring Davenport, Hunter and Wonnum. So, expect the names and the roles to be fluid.
The interior will prevalently feature Phillips, Lowry and Tonga. Otomewo, Roy and Bullard will also have roles in the absence of Lynch, who tore his ACL this weekend. Carter has not had much time to make a major impression, but his body fluidity for his size is rare, and the Vikings committed a hefty sum for him as an undrafted player.
Linebackers
In: Jordan Hicks, Brian Asamoah, Troy Reeder, Troy Dye, Ivan Pace Jr.
Out: William Kwenkeu, Abraham Beauplan, Wilson Huber
Six linebackers is a lot, but I’m thinking of this as a special teams-adjacent conversation. Hicks, Asamoah and Pace are taking the majority of the first-team snaps right now. Reeder is totally different from those three, size-wise, but if the defense needs a bigger-bodied ‘backer to stifle the run, he could fit the bill.
Dye played on special teams last season and is the type of athlete that aligns with what special teams coordinator Matt Daniels is attempting to accomplish. I have a hard time imagining the unit without him.
GO DEEPER
Why LB Brian Asamoah embodies the Vikings' defensive transformation under Brian Flores
Cornerbacks
In: Byron Murphy Jr., Akayleb Evans, Mekhi Blackmon, Andrew Booth Jr., Joejuan Williams
Out: C.J. Coldon Jr., Jaylin Williams, Kalon Barnes, NaJee Thompson, Tay Gowan
Murphy and Evans are in line to start.
Behind those two, Blackmon and Williams have earned first-team reps. Williams is the more press-savvy option. It’s almost laughable to see how well his 6-foot-3, 212-pound frame operates as a corner. He also has displayed some ball skills. On Monday, for example, he snagged two interceptions. Blackmon is more than 30 pounds lighter than Williams but his ball skills, competitiveness and processing speed have thrust him into the competition for snaps. I would expect both to play this season at different times against different offenses.
Advertisement
Booth is likely to be more in line for a special teams role — at least early on. And it would not be surprising to see someone like Gowan or Barnes participating in that unit as well.
Safeties
In: Harrison Smith, Cam Bynum, Josh Metellus, Lewis Cine, Jay Ward
Out: Theo Jackson
The Vikings are going to play with big nickel packages featuring three safeties. They are also going to show dime personnel with six defensive backs. So, expect a lot of Smith, Bynum and Metellus on the field at the same time.
Cine may enter that mix as the season progresses. He continues to make plays in camp, hauling in another interception Monday on a tipped pass. Then there is Ward, whose size may hinder his playing time on defense. He, too, could serve a role on special teams.
Specialists
In: Greg Joseph, Ryan Wright, Andrew DePaola
Out: Jack Podlesny
Podlesny remains in camp, and the Vikings have said they are viewing the kicker spot as a competition. I’m going to stick with Joseph, though, mostly due to the team’s familiarity with him, and his own familiarity with the special teams unit. Joseph, Wright and DePaola spend a lot of time together. I don’t expect the team to break up the band quite yet.
(Photo: Bailey Hillesheim / Icon Sportswire via Associated Press)
The Football 100, the definitive ranking of the NFL’s best 100 players of all time, goes on sale this fall. Pre-order it here.
