The Top 5 Competitions at Vikings Training Camp
Training camp is right around the corner, and it kicks off the NFL season. Vikings rookies arrive at TCO Performance Center in Eagan on Sunday, the 23rd. Veterans follow two days later. The first preseason game is scheduled for August 10th in Seattle, followed by two home games against the Titans and the Cardinals.
The Top 5 Competitions at Vikings Training Camp
Training camp and preseason are the times to prepare for the regular season and claim starting and roster spots. The Vikings have some fascinating competitions.
1. New Cornerback Group
A struggling group last year, most of the players are no longer with the team. Patrick Peterson, Chandon Sullivan, Duke Shelley, and Cameron Dantzler will suit up for different franchises in 2023. Those vacant spots are up for grabs. One of them will be handed to Byron Murphy. The free agency signing is the bright spot in the shaky position group.
The starter next to Murphy is a big mystery. Last year’s rookies, Andrew Booth and Akayleb Evans, are two intriguing candidates just like this year’s third-rounder, Mekhi Blackmon. Veteran Joejuan Williams has some outside chances. Tay Gowan and Kalon Barnes are leftovers from last year’s practice squad. The Vikings also employ three undrafted rookies – C.J. Colden, Jaylin Williams, and Najee Thompson. Rookie Jay Ward and safety Josh Metellus are also options in the slot in certain packages.
Booth and Evans are promising players. The former must live up to his talent after missing most of his rookie campaign injured. Evans showed some flashes. Blackmon’s advantage is that he was picked with defensive coordinator Brian Flores in the building, the other two before his tenure began.
2. Rookie or Veteran
Rookie Jordan Addison hasn’t had the best start to his professional career. He missed all of the OTAs and mandatory minicamp because of a minor undisclosed injury, and lately, the speeding ticket made big waves.
However, he is a fantastic talent with elite college production that was drafted in the first round to help the Vikings win games early in his career and become Justin Jefferson’s running mate for years to come. It is now on K.J. Osborn to prevent that from happening by showing an improved self.
Osborn was stuck as the third wideout behind Jefferson and Adam Thielen in the last couple of years, but a couple of excellent games in each season revealed his talent. More consistency and a better ability to get open are the two things he must show to fight off the talented rookie. The hope, and the expectation, have always been for Addison to be ready for training camp and show his upside.
3. Backup or Emergency QB
Kirk Cousins enters the final season under contract but is the unquestioned starter. Behind him is where the camp battle takes place. Veteran Nick Mullens is an experienced backup in the NFL which is why the Vikings made the move and traded for him last year.
In the second draft of the new regime, they brought in fifth-round selection Jaren Hall. One of his biggest strengths is his maturity, a logical consequence when entering the draft at age 25. He is a rookie and has time to develop with the two veterans in place, but if he can usurp Mullens, the backup quarterback job could still be his. The BYU product could also position himself as the quarterback of the future with a strong showing in training camp.
Because of the rule change, it is unknown how teams treat the position and the new emergency quarterback job. Most teams usually kept two passers on the roster (like the Vikings did last season), and some kept three. The new emergency QB position could change the organization’s approach, so one could end up with that job while the other is the true backup. If Hall wins the competition, Mullens may also want to seek a different opportunity, and the Vikings turn to a different and more unknown QB3.
4. Committee or Bellcow?
Alexander Mattison goes into training camp as the clear starting running back with the other guys competing for the jobs and snaps behind him — at least that is what Kevin O’Connell mentioned during OTAs.
But there is a chance that one of the other guys blows the coaching staff away and becomes the new starting back. The other men are Ty Chandler, last year’s fifth-rounder who flashes in preseason but was hurt for most of his rookie season, kick return specialist Kene Nwangwu who hasn’t been featured much on offense in his two years with the Vikings, and seventh-round rookie DeWayne McBride, a skilled and productive running back in college.
A question as intriguing as who will become the primary backup is whether any of them can reduce Mattison’s snaps.
5. Starter, Underdog or First-Rounder?
The safety spot next to Harrison Smith is always the only remaining open spot in Minnesota’s safety room. For that one position, there are three contenders. Camryn Bynum won the job last season and started every game, but he must defend against a couple of other players.
Josh Metellus is the underdog in the mix, but he has been praised by various folks all offseason, and he played well in three starts in place of Harrison Smith in addition to his special teams heroics.
And then there is the talented 2022 first-rounder and Georgia’s national champion Lewis Cine. He wasn’t ready to start last year and then got hurt in London, missing the majority of his rookie season on injured reserve. He’s now back to full strength and is trying to find his role in Brian Flores’ defense.
Vikings Starter Demands More Respect
Janik Eckardt is a football fan who likes numbers and stats. The Vikings became his favorite team despite their quarterback at the time, Christian Ponder. He is a walking soccer encyclopedia, loves watching sitcoms, and Classic rock is his music genre of choice. Follow him on Twitter if you like the Vikings: @JanikEckardt
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