General News
| On 6 years ago

Vikings Release First Depth Chart of 2018: 6 Takeaways

By Sean Borman

On Tuesday, in advance of the Saturday showdown against the Denver Broncos, the Minnesota Vikings released the first preseason depth chart of 2018. Although roles may change leading up to the regular season, here’s a look at how the 90-man roster is currently comprised in eyes of the coaching staff.


Offense

QB – 8 Kirk Cousins; 3 Trevor Siemian; 1 Kyle Sloter; 6 Peter Pujals

RB – 33 Dalvin Cook; 25 Latavius Murray; 31 Mack Brown; 32 Roc Thomas; 44 Mike Boone

FB – 30 C.J. Ham; 48 Johnny Stanton

WR – 19 Adam Thielen; 11 Laquon Treadwell; 13 Stacy Coley; 12 Tavarres King/ 18 Korey Robertson/ 9 Jake Wieneke

WR – 14 Stefon Diggs; 17 Kendall Wright; 15 Brandon Zylstra; 16 Cayleb Jones; 84 Chad Beebe/ 85 Jeff Badet

TE – 82 Kyle Rudolph; 89 David Morgan; 81 Blake Bell/ 83 Tyler Conklin; 87 Josiah Price/ 86 Tyler Hoppes

LT – 71 Riley Reiff; 76 Aviante Collins; 78 Dieugot Joseph

LG – 62 Nick Easton; 79 Tom Compton; 64 Josh Andrews; 68 Cedrick Lang

C – 65 Pat Elflein; 67 Cornelius Edison; 59 J.P. Quinn

RG – 74 Mike Remmers; 63 Danny Isidora; 73 Colby Gossett

RT – 69 Rashod Hill; 75 Brian O’Neill; 72 Storm Norton


Defense

LE – 99 Danielle Hunter; 96 Brian Robison; 61 Ade Aruna; 78 Jonathan Wynn

DT – 93 Sheldon Richardson; 95 Ifeadi Odenigbo; 92 Jalyn Holmes

NT – 98 Linval Joseph; 94 Jaleel Johnson; 60 David Parry; 66 Curtis Cothran

RE – 97 Everson Griffen; 91 Stephen Weatherly/ 90 Tashawn Bower

SLB – 55 Anthony Barr; 56 Antwione Wiliams; 58 Garret Dooley

MLB – 54 Eric Kendricks; 40 Kentrell Brothers; 57 Devante Downs; 45 Brett Taylor

WLB – 42 Ben Gedeon; 50 Eric Wilson; 43 Reshard Cliett; 49 Mike Needham

LCB –26 Trae Waynes; 23 Terence Newman; 21 Mike Hughes; 24 Horace Richardson; 46 Trevon Mathis

RCB – 29 Xavier Rhodes; 20 Mackensie Alexander; 35 Marcus Sherels; 37 Holton Hill; 36 Craig James

FS – 22 Harrison Smith; 41 Anthony Harris; 39 Jack Tocho

SS – 34 Andrew Sendejo; 27 Jayron Kearse; 38 Tray Matthews


Special teams

K – 2 Kai Forbath/ 7 Daniel Carlson

P – 4 Ryan Quigley

LS – 47 Kevin McDermott

KR – 35 Marcus Sherels; 21 Mike Hughes; 13 Stacy Coley

PR – 35 Marcus Sherels; 21 Mike Hughes; 13 Stacy Coley


INJURED RESERVE – 51 Hercules Mata’afa (DE)

PUP LIST – 65 Pat Elflein (C)


Borman breakdown

The main takeaways from depth chart #1:

  1. Pat Elflein is currently on the physically unable to perform list. As soon as he’s cleared by the medical staff he’ll be placed on the active roster as the starting center.
  2. Mack Brown is currently listed as the number three running back. He’ll need to maintain his strong performance throughout the rest of training camp and the preseason to fend off Mike Boone, who has shown off his athleticism and speed in Eagan, as well as Roc Thomas. Thomas has been banged up lately but is expected to receive opportunities in the preseason. In a bit of a surprise Thomas is currently listed ahead of Boone on the depth chart.
  3. The starting kicker spot currently belongs to Kai Forbath AND Daniel Carlson. There’s not much of a surprise here considering neither has pulled ahead of the either in training camp, although you have to give the edge to Carlson considering his draft position.
  4. Backing up starters Linval Joseph and Sheldon Richardson at defensive tackle are Jaleel Johnson and Ifeadi Odenigbo. After losing Shamar Stephen earlier in the offseason, two 24-year olds will get their opportunity to spell the veteran trench-men.
  5. Behind starting linebackers Anthony BarrEric Kendricks and Ben Gedeon are Kentrell BrothersAntwione Williams and Eric Wilson. All three received praise from defensive coordinator George Edwards for their training camp performances thus far. Since Brothers received a four-game suspension earlier in the offseason it’s possible the Vikings will keep an extra linebacker on the roster while Brothers is out. That could create an opportunity for one of the young linebackers to make the team, but Edwards specifically mentioned that Williams has been performing well at multiple positions. That versatility could help earn Williams a job.
  6. The starting right tackle is Rashod Hill. While that’s not much of a shocker, rookie Brian O’Neill took first-team reps at RT when Hill missed time in camp due to illness. Hill recently returned to practice and re-took his role atop depth chart. The offensive line has suffered multiple injuries in training camp. While the return of Elflein and Mike Remmers are expected in the coming weeks, the future of starting left guard Nick Easton is unknown. Easton is currently receiving a second opinion from a doctor on neck and back issues. If he is to miss a significant amount of time the team may look to address the o-line issues via free agency or trade.

Sean Borman

Sean Borman is a writer with Minnesota roots that's a Vikings optimist. He was an intern with the Vikings during college and is an IT nerd by day. You can find him on the golf course during summer and on Twitter @SeanBormanNFL.

Tags: adam thielen Ade Aruna andrew sendejo Anthony Barr Anthony Harris Antwione Williams Aviante Collins Ben Gedeon Blake Bell Brandon Zylstra Brett Taylor Brian O'Neill brian robison C.J. Ham Cayleb Jones Cedrick Lang Chad Beebe Colby Gossett Cornelius Edison Craig James Curtis Cothran Dalvin Cook daniel carlson danielle hunter Danny Isidora david morgan David Parry Devante Downs Dieugot Joseph Eric Kendricks Eric Wilson everson griffen Garret Dooley harrison smith Hercules Mata'afa Holton Hill Horace Richardson Ifeadi Odenigbo J.P. Quinn jack tocho Jake Wieneke Jaleel Johnson Jalyn Holmes jayron kearse Jeff Badet Johnny Stanton Jonathan Wynn Josh Andrews Josiah Price Kai Forba kendall wright kentrell brothers kevin mcdermott kirk cousins Korey Robertson kyle rudolph Kyle Sloter Laquon Treadwell Latavius Murray linval joseph Mack Brown Mackensie Alexander marcus sherels Mike Boone Mike Hughes Mike Needham Mike Remmers Nick Easton Pat Elflein Peter Pujals Rashod Hill Reshard Cliett riley reiff Roc Thomas Ryan Quigley sheldon richardson Stacy Coley Stefon Diggs stephen weatherly Storm Norton Tashawn Bower Tavarres King Terence Newman tom compton Trae Waynes Tray Matthews Trevon Mathis Trevor Siemian tyler conklin Tyler Hoppes xavier rhodes

View Comments

  • Either Odenigbo gained a lot of weight or they are just messing with us. He's a 258 lb defensive end, I could see them rotating him inside on passing downs but his inclusion as a DT must be a mistake. I also thought they were working Johnson more at 3-tech vs nose, so that's the one position where it looks like they may have just picked names out of a hat after the starters. Can't wait for the games to begin so their play can sort them out.

    • Lol, I noticed the same thing Dan. It appears Jaleel Johnson will be the top backup for both DT spots, just like Shamar Stephen was.

      As far as Big O, I think you nailed it. I could see him being used in a Brian Robison-like role as part of a rotation and pass rushing from the interior. That's likely why he's listed as a DT.