Key Position Battles as Vikings Training Camp Opens

Coaches usually enter training camp with almost all the starters set and only a few starting spots up for grabs. My favorite part of training camp was the battle for open starting roles.

Key Position Battles as Vikings Training Camp Opens

Here are the six most noteworthy position battles I’ll be observing at Vikings camp over the next six weeks:

1. Starting QB: This is obviously the biggest storyline in camp and the most critical decision for Coach Kevin O’Connell since it’s the most crucial position. And there’s a competition for the first time since Kirk Cousins arrived in 2018.

O’Connell said this week that while vet Sam Darnold will take most of the camp reps with the starters, first-round pick J.J. McCarthy will also get reps with the 1s. He emphasized that it is a true competition. O’Connell also repeated what he’s said since the draft: McCarthy won’t be rushed, and he’ll start when the coaches believe he’s ready.

I’m on record predicting McCarthy will take over in Week 9 at home against the Colts. The rough early schedule and Darnold’s expected competent but not great level of play will make him the starter out of the gate. But I don’t see him holding the job past the Week 8 Thursday night game at the Rams.

And I see Jaren Hall staying as the No. 3 to save close to $1 million on the salary cap compared to keeping Nick Mullens.

2. Starting guards: It will be a battle between incumbents Ed Ingram and Dalton Risner (last year’s starters at right and left guard, respectively) and Blake Brandel who the coaches have talked up this offseason (and his new contract is over $3 million per year).

I like that Ingram will be pushed since he’s been inconsistent — especially in pass protection — over his first two seasons. Risner played reasonably well last season after signing late. This is a tough one to call at this juncture but we’ll get a good read as camp progresses.

3. WR3: This is an important spot, as O’Connell often utilizes three wide receivers. If Jordan Addison gets suspended for a game or two after his latest driving fiasco, then the third wide receiver moves up to No. 2 in those games.

I think the coaches are hoping Jalen Nailor can stay healthy and win this spot over Brandon Powell (who is a good player, too, but Nailor is more explosive). Free agent signee Trent Sherfield is also in the mix.

4. EDGE Rushers: Shifting to the D, the competition and ultimate rotation at edge rusher/OLB will be very important to DC Brian Flores’ success in making up for the departure of Danielle Hunter and D. J. Wonnum.

Free agent signees Jonathan Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel are expected to start, but I think the key here is how quickly first-rounder Dallas Turner develops into a force from the edge. All three players could play together in obvious passing situations, with one of them moving inside.

With the Vikings’ cornerbacks still questionable, putting heat on the opposing quarterback will be essential, and I think the Vikings have the talent to do so with these three edge rushers and Flores sending his inside linebackers and safeties (led by Josh Metellus) in pressure packages.

5. Cornerbacks: The passing of fourth-round corner Khyree Jackson in the horrible car crash in Maryland takes a potentially talented player out of this competition. Byron Murphy should be fine at outside corner or in the slot when Flores plays three CBs.

We’ll see how free agent signee Shaquill Griffin plays and if he indeed wins the second outside corner spot over Mekhi Blackmon or Akayleb Evans (who have both had their ups and downs but I like Blackmon’s potential over Evans).

Either Blackmon or Evans will likely win a starting role at outside corner in the three-corner alignment when Murphy moves inside. Perhaps 2022 second-round pick Andrew Booth Jr. will finally stay healthy, play better, and get in this mix, but I wouldn’t count on it. This is probably his last shot (and the same goes for 2022 first-round safety Lewis Cine).

6. Kicker: With Greg Joseph gone to Packerland, sixth-round rookie Will Reichard is competing with John Parker Romo. I think Reichard will win the job, but if neither proves worthy, the Vikings will sign a veteran kicker who is on the open market or is cut elsewhere. Who knows—maybe Joseph will wind up getting cut by the Packers and return to the Purple, but I like Reichard’s potential.

Stay tuned in camp and preseason games for these position battles along with the jockeying for the final roster spots. It will be fun to watch, especially at quarterback.

Around the NFL — Other Top Position Battles:

1. Other QB battles in Denver (No. 1 pick Bo Nix should prevail over vets Jarrett Stidham and Zach Wilson, the Jets’ bust); Las Vegas (Aidan O’Connell vs  Gardner Minshew is a close call); New England (like in Minnesota, the vet Jacoby Brissett will eventually be overtaken by first-rounder Drake Maye) and Pittsburgh (Russell Wilson gets first shot but he’d better play well with Justin Fields ready to replace him).

2. WR competitions: In Buffalo (starters Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis have departed so Khalil Shakir, Curtis Samuel, and second-rounder Keon Coleman are the likely top three with Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Chase Claypool competing); in Green Bay where there’s no established order among the top four WRs —Christian Watson, Romeo Dobbs, Jayden Reed and Dontayvion Wicks, and the L.A. Chargers where last year’s starters — Keenan Allen and Mike Williams — are gone and those competing for starting spots include 2023 first-rounder, Quentin Johnston, this year’s second-round pick Ladd McConkey (a likely slot receiver) and vets Josh Palmer and D.J. Chark.

3. Eagles corners: Will James Bradberry, whose play declined last season, lose his starting job to first-round pick Quinyon Mitchell (probably), and will second-rounder Cooper DeJean win a starting spot? Second-year man Kelee Ringo also is in the mix.

4. Lions Pass Rushers:  Detroit addressed their corner issues in the draft (Terrion Arnold and Ennis Rakestraw in the first two rounds) and by trading for Carlton Davis. Now the pass rushers will compete to see who complements Pro Bowler Aidan Hutchinson.

At DE, John Cominsky and Josh Paschal will push the injury-prone ex-Viking Marcus Davenport. James Houston had eight sacks in seven games as a rookie in 2022 before playing in only three games last season due to a leg injury. He’s a key and should push Derrick Barnes for playtime.

Jeff Diamond is a former Vikings GM, former Tennessee Titans President and was selected NFL Executive of the Year after the Vikings’ 15-1 season in 1998. He now works for the NFL agent group IFA based in Minneapolis and does other sports consulting and media work along with college/corporate speaking. Follow him and direct message him on Twitter– @jeffdiamondnfl