Vikings Depth Chart Drops a Few Unexpected Bombs
An annual early August tradition unfolded Wednesday, as the Minnesota Vikings released their first depth chart of the 2025 campaign, some three days before a preseason showdown against the Houston Texans.
The Vikings’ first depth chart didn’t lack surprises. A few unexpected names made serious noise — and their position might say a lot about what’s coming in the preseason.
The first depth chart release is always intriguing because obsessive Vikings fans have spent five months studying the roster.
And per usual, the document put forth a few surprises. Have a look at the gridiron bombs for the Vikings’ depth chart reveal.
Unexpected Items from Vikings’ Depth Chart Release
The pecking order turned some heads in spots.
Gabriel Murphy Is the Fourth EDGE
The undrafted UCLA alumnus who joined the Vikings’ roster in 2024 played 35 defensive snaps last season. He didn’t get started as a rookie until late in the year because injuries got in the way.
Now, Murphy is three preseason games away from the OLB4 job in 2025. His main competition for the gig, Bo Richter, appeared in 14 games last year, mostly on special teams. Because of Richter’s game experience, albeit on special teams, most expected Richter, not Murphy, to lead the pack after Jonathan Greenard, Andrew Van Ginkel, and Dallas Turner on the depth chart.
But Murphy had other plans. He’s the Vikings’ fourth pass rusher, with the regular season about one month away.
SKOR North‘s Phil Mackey said about Murphy in the spring, “I stan for Gabe Murphy. He is going to be a guy that I am excited to watch, starting Wednesday at practice. And I think there’s a legitimate chance, not only does he get on the 53, but that he could be in the rotation among your top four EDGE rushers.”
“The top three are settled. It’s the battle for that sort of second unit next to Dallas Turner. I think he could legitimately … tally sacks with the Vikings this year, in a crowded defensive grouping where there’s a lot of good veteran players.”
Your Zemaiah Vaughn Hype Train Was Overblown. For Now.
Unfortunately, at least for now, the training camp hype for UDFA Zemaiah Vaughn has been overstated. General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah onboarded Vaughn and about 20 others after the draft, and in the UDFA world, Vaughn had big-name appeal.
It’s worth noting that rookie UDFAs often take time to climb the depth chart. Vaughn has time to simmer. However, he’s listed as the very last corner on Minnesota’s new depth chart. He has a long road ahead this month to make the 53-man cut-off. In his case, as of August 7th, a notable training camp did not transfer to roster ascension.
SI.com’s Will Ragatz wrote about Vaughn shortly before training camp: “Vaughn isn’t necessarily the most agile or fluid athlete, which hinders him in man coverage. But there’s a lot to like about his fit in a Brian Flores defense, especially in terms of how he could be used as a zone corner.”
“That’s probably the best way for his straight-line speed, length, and playmaking ability to be utilized. Vaughn was constantly around the football in spring practices open to the media, which is an encouraging sign. He’s someone to watch in training camp as he potentially pushes for a roster spot in a wide-open cornerback room.”
Lucky Jackson Well on His Way to the Regular Season
Minnesota found Lucky Jackson after his 2023 breakout in the XFL, now called the UFL. He’s had staying power with the purple team, though it’s never amounted to more than a practice squad living.
Somehow, Jackson has reinvented himself this summer, so much so that the team listed him as the WR4 entering the preseason. Meanwhile, Jordan Addison will miss the first three games of 2025, nominating Jackson for de facto WR3 — if that can be believed.
And Jackson’s not some young whippersnapper. He applied for the NFL draft that same year that Justin Jefferson turned pro. At age 28, Jackson is sniffing his first tangible chance to put his thumbprint on the NFL.
He’s fast too, running a 4.36 forty-yard dash five years ago before the 2020 NFL Draft.
Purple Insider‘s Matthew Coller noted on Jackson this week, “Over the last two years, Jackson has put together strong training camps and stayed on the practice squad following a long journey to the NFL that included a spring league and the XFL. During Justin Jefferson’s absence due to a hamstring injury, Jackson has received more first-team reps than any other receiver by a country mile.”
“He has made a number of catches and looked the part, but it’s possible that he’s getting those reps because he’s the most experienced receiver in the offense and Kevin O’Connell prefers his knowledge of the offense for JJ McCarthy as he’s trying to learn the system.”
It almost felt like a typo, although it was not. Jackson, at the moment, is Kevin O’Connell’s WR4 — ahead of Tai Felton and Rondale Moore on the summer roster.
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