7 Takeaways from the Vikings Depth Chart Release
It’s here. The Minnesota Vikings released their first official-but-unofficial depth chart on Wednesday, with the team’s first preseason game around the bend.
The Vikings released their first unofficial depth chart of 2025 on Wednesday, and it reveals more than you’d think. These are seven key takeaways from the preseason opener lineup.
Minnesota will host the Houston Texans on Saturday, an exhibition bout with DeMeco Ryans’ club.
Thankfully, the first depth chart provided some major clues about roster construction. These are the main takeaways, listed in order of depth chart appearance.
You can view the depth chart here.
What We Learned about the Vikings’ Depth Chart
There are now hints about the Vikings’ 53-man roster plans.
1. Sam Howell Indeed the QB2
Howell, who threw for almost 4,000 passing yards as a starter in Washington two years ago, has played buffoonishly, at times, during training camp. He’s no stranger to interceptions, donated to the backup defense, which has obviously raised some eyebrows, and not in a good way.
But the man will have ample time in the preseason to right the ship — because he’s listed as the QB2. Brett Rypien and Max Brosmer have not overtaken Howell on the depth chart, at least not yet.
2. The Lucky Jackson Climb Is Real
Lucky Jackson, a frontrunner for the mythical “Mr. Mankato” award at training camp, is noted as Jordan Addison’s primary backup. According to the depth chart release, that would mean, at worst, he’s the WR4 at this moment.
He’s notably ahead of rookie Tai Felton and veteran Rondale Moore. If the regular season began tonight, the depth chart suggests that Jackson would be the WR3 because Addison will be suspended for the season’s first three games.
Jackson’s training camp ascent on the roster is real for the time being.
Zone Coverage‘s Tyler Ireland wrote about Jackson this week: “Now halfway through camp, the pecking order at wide receiver is somehow less clear than it was before. Lucky Jackson, a perennial practice squad receiver for the past two years, has been taking a significant amount of reps with the first team offense.”
“The 28-year-old has lived up to expectations. Jackson is the oldest receiver in Minnesota, and his experience in the Vikings offense has paid dividends as he fights for a spot on the roster. The veteran wideout could be a valuable security blanket and an asset for a first-year quarterback in J.J. McCarthy.”
The time could be now, alas, for Jackson, a journeyman UFLer and NFLer.
Ireland added, “Jackson’s emergence complicates Minnesota’s wide receiver decision. Should Jackson make the 53-man roster, Kwesi Adofo-Mensah will likely be in a position where he’ll have to cut a talented player. The question is, are the Vikings willing to waive someone to make room for Lucky? If so, what position can Minnesota afford to lose valuable depth?”
“The most obvious potential move would be to waive another receiver and have it be a one-for-one transaction.”
3. TE Giovanni Ricci from the Top Rope
Rookie tight end Gavin Bartholomew is on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list, meaning a different TE3 candidate must step up behind T.J. Hockenson and Josh Oliver.
Per the depth chart, the TE3 role is shared right between undrafted free agent Ben Yurosek and little-known-but-seasoned veteran Giovanni Ricci.
Ricci has appeared in 36 NFL games over the last five seasons, and he’s evidently a legitimate candidate for the TE3 gig in 2025 if Yurosek can’t win the post.
4. Donovan Jackson, a Rookie, Starting at LG
Vikings.com hinted late last month that 1st-Round rookie guard Donovan Jackson would be plopped into an honest-to-goodness LG battle with the incumbent Blake Brandel.
While that’s fine and dandy, Jackson is already listed as Minnesota’s starting left guard. The summer battle may not be over, but Jackson is in the driver’s seat to become the LG1 as a rookie.
This is noteworthy because, for example, 1st-Round safety Lewis Cine could not climb the depth chart like this in 2022. Jackson is on a more promising path.
5. Gabriel Murphy as the OLB4
These are Minnesota’s primary outside linebackers:
- Jonathan Greenard
- Andrew Van Ginkel
- Dallas Turner
That’s a tremendous trio, but mystery lingered about the fourth and fifth EDGE defenders for 2025. Well, the new depth chart slaps Gabriel Murphy in standalone format behind Turner, indicating he’s the OLB4.
Bo Richter and Tyler Batty, two more semi-popular UDFAs, share the OLB5 title with the preseason just three days away.
6. Kick, Punt Returner Clarity
How about special teams return men? After all, Brandon Powell and Myles Gaskin no longer work for Minnesota. The depth chart has that covered.
Out of the gate, rookie Tai Felton is noted as the primary kick returner, and Rondale Moore has been assigned punt-returning duty. Felton has taken the KR job — for now — from RB3 Ty Chandler, and Moore as the punt returner may hint at roster security.
Until Wednesday, Moore felt like a true “roster bubble” candidate. He might be safe, particularly with Addison’s suspension at large.
7. Two Hot Shot UDFAs Buried
Purple fans have identified two undrafted free agents as ballers: wide receiver Silas Bolden and cornerback Zemaiah Vaughn.
Bolden is the WR13, according to the chart order, and Vaughn is CB9. Yikes.
Those players can still make noise and earn roster spots in three weeks, but they have not scaled the roster like Lucky Jackson, for instance.
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