These 5 Starting Jobs Are Wide Open at Vikings Training Camp
The Minnesota Vikings’ roster will undergo significant maintenance over the next five weeks, as the club trims the depth chart from 90 players to 53.
A handful of starting jobs are still up for grabs as Vikings training camp heats up. Here are five key positions up for grabs, and who’s fighting for the throne(s).
Training camp and the preseason are the perfect forum for that, and thankfully for everyone’s sake, camp has arrived as of this week.
Meanwhile, a handful of starter jobs are up for grabs. These are those positions, listed ascendingly (No. 1 = most important starting job available).
Starter Jobs Up for Grabs at Vikings Training Camp
Here’s what to know about the most prominent roster battles.
5. WR3
Some Vikings fans insist that rookie Tai Felton of Maryland can win this job over Jalen Nailor, but that’s probably poppycock. Why? Well, Minnesota loves Nailor, and it’s not itching to bench him. Plus, Nailor scored 6 touchdowns last season. That ain’t nothin’.
However, due to Nailor’s injury history, this spot is on this list. A Nailor injury would almost certainly promote Felton or thrust Rondale Moore into action.
This spot is particularly crucial because WR2 Jordan Addison could miss the season’s first three games due to a suspension.
Our own Ted Schwerzler wrote about Felton this week: “Whether Jordan Addison gets a suspension for his ‘wet reckless’ charge or not, Minnesota will need more than three capable wide receivers. Both Rondale Moore and Silas Bolden seem better ticketed for special teams duties. Felton has the talent to not only take over the third role, but make Addison expendable once his rookie deal expires.”
“It can be a slow burn for wide receivers as they acclimate to the speed of the next level. We’ll see how long it takes Felton, but him standing out during training camp and the preseason shouldn’t be a shock.”
4. CB3
Most believe that Byron Murphy Jr. and Isaiah Rodgers have the CB1 and CB2 jobs accounted for, which is fair because that’s how Vikings coaches have talked all offseason.
Yet, after Murphy Jr. and Rodgers, Jeff Okudah, Mekhi Blackmon, and Dwight McGlothern will battle for the CB3 post — essentially a starting job in the big leagues as the NFL has turned pass-happy in the last 15 years.
This one could go down to the wire. Okudah could be interpreted as the current favorite.
3. LT1 (if no Christian Darrisaw)
Since early June, the tide has turned on Christian Darrisaw’s ACL recovery. There is now a reasonable chance that Darrisaw is ready for Week 1, as the Vikings did not toss him on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list this week. It would’ve been the perfect time for it.
Still, if Darrisaw if not ready for September 8 at the Chicago Bears, veteran Justin Skule would battle Walter Rouse and Logan Brown for a temporary LT1 job.
2. LG1
Lindsey Young of Vikings.com all but announced this week that 1st-Round rookie Donovan Jackson will battle last year’s starting LG, Blake Brandel, for the starting gig.
The paragraph in her article felt like a DJ’s record scratch because most fans have already penciled in Jackson as the starter.
But Young wouldn’t publish that information accidentally, so Jackson is indeed tasked with earning the LG1 post over Brandel.
1. CB2
Almost everyone agrees that Byron Murphy Jr. is the Vikings’ top cornerback. Borderline undebatable.
After him, though, mystery ensues.
Two men from this lengthy list will win the starting outside and slot job, or perhaps both outside corner gigs if Murphy Jr. plays in the slot most of the time:
— Isaiah Rodgers
— Mekhi Blackmon
— Jeff Okudah
— Dwight McGlothern
— Ambry Thomas
— Tavierre Thomas
— Reddy Steward
— Kahlef Hailassie
— Keenan Garber
— Zemaiah Vaughn
At training camp so far, Murphy Jr., Rodgers, and Okudah have taken most of the 1st-team team snaps. But it’s still early. Very early.
Mark Craig from the Star Tribune wrote this week: “The top three cornerbacks look good. On paper, at least. When the Vikings used their nickel package Wednesday, rising star Byron Murphy Jr. was in the slot, while Rodgers and former No. 3 overall draft pick Jeff Okudah lined up outside. Mekhi Blackmon, who missed all last season with a torn ACL, worked with the second team.”
All eyeballs on cornerbacks at Vikings training camp. Isaiah Rodgers is likely to win CB2, generally speaking. Why else would the Vikings make him their first free-agent signing in March?
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