7 Surprises from Vikings’ Depth Chart Release
It’s time.
7 Surprises from Vikings’ Depth Chart Release
With the preseason just four days away, the Minnesota Vikings released their first depth chart on Tuesday, illuminating the club’s current pecking order after seven months of the offseason.
As always with a depth chart release, several items stood off the page, and 2024 is no different. So, these are the Vikings’ depth chart surprises, ranked in ascending order (No. 1 = most surprising).
7. Andrew Booth & Lewis Cine Buried
Booth is listed right around CB5 — also known as the rather emphatic roster bubble zone. His defensive back pal and 2022 draft mate, Lewis Cine, is tucked around the sixth safety spot.
At the start of the summer, many whispered that both men could be cut before the regular season. Cine, as an odd man out, feels like a no-brainer, while Booth straddles the roster bubble … because of the next guy on this list.
6. They Like New CB Fabian Moreau
Ahead of Booth? Newcomer veteran corner Fabian Moreau.
Minnesota added Moreau about one week ago — and boom — he’s already penciled in as CB4. If the regular season began tomorrow, he’d evidently make the roster and experience some playing time.
Moreau wasn’t a shutdown corner or anything of the sort last year in Denver, but defensive coordinator Brian Flores apparently has big plans for him if he’s already lapped Booth on the depth chart.
5. Duke Shelley Magic May All Be for Nil
The Vikings surprised fans — in a good way — by adding Shelley, a 2022 god, a couple of weeks ago. But per the first depth chart, well, he’s in the fast lane to becoming a free agent once again.
Shelley lived around CB7 on the roster release, which is unsafe for job security.
4. UDFA WR Jeshaun Jones … Is a Climber
Some Vikings fans and analysts have pounded the table on Jones’ upside since he joined the franchise in April — and they were right. The man is already noted as WR6 in the wide receiver room, an unusually high placement for a “no-name” pass-catcher.
Jones could surprise everyone and earn a roster spot.
3. UDFA Gabriel Murphy Hype Is Real
Minnesota will likely retain about five outside linebackers on the 53-man roster, and Murphy found his way to OLB5 on the depth chart release. He’s in the same territory as veteran EDGE Jihad Ward, a notable achievement for an undrafted free agent.
Many wondered why in the hell Murphy wasn’t drafted in April, and he may end up making Minnesota’s September roster. The steam is real.
2. Robert Tonyan … as TE5
General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah signed Robert Tonyan in May, a former Green Bay Packer, and he seemed like a wonderful replacement plan for T.J. Hockenson, who could start the season on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list. Tonyan, too, looked marvelous at June’s minicamp.
Now, though, the roster situates Tonyan at TE5, which would spell an end-of-summer release if the pecking order stays the same.
1. J.J. McCarthy Allegedly Battling for QB2 Job, Not QB1
Kevin O’Connell’s first semblance of a depth chart pulls no punches, nominating Sam Darnold as the one and only starting quarterback. In fact, J.J. McCarthy and Nick Mullens were listed as co-backups.
Last week, head coach Kevin O’Connell told reporters about the quarterback depth chart, “As far as that depth chart in that room, I think it’s clear and obvious — like you guys do; you make the commitment to come out every day — you see it’s pretty darn even between Sam and J.J. And in many cases, J.J. getting a couple more [reps] with our ability to add some developmental stuff for the guys down the line.”
While Darnold and McCarthy may be “even” at training camp, Darnold is very much the QB1 heading into the preseason. McCarthy might even be the QB3 by the time Week 1 rolls around.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The show features guests, analysis, and opinion on all things related to the purple team, with 4-7 episodes per week. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band). He follows the NBA as closely as the NFL.
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
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