The Vikings’ Most Important Roster Battles at Training Camp
Minnesota Vikings fans won’t follow a quarterback competition this summer; J.J. McCarthy has that job title in the bag.
From starting jobs to backup spots, these are the most important Vikings roster battles unfolding at training camp, and how they could affect the active roster selection.
But the club will have oodles of other battles to showcase, and those have begun at ground zero of Vikings training camp in Eagan.
Fans joined players in Eagan on Saturday, so the big summer party is here.
Along the way, these are the Vikings roster battles to follow. They’re numbered in order of importance (No. 1 = most important roster battle)
Vikings 2025 Roster Battles
It’s a full list, even if some of the spots aren’t totally consequential.
7. WR5
Contenders: Rondale Moore | Tim Jones | Jeshaun Jones | Thayer Thomas | Silas Bolden
Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, Jalen Nailor, and Tai Felton probably have the first four WR jobs nailed down. But about the fifth guy — the Brandon Powell of 2025?
Moore is likely the frontrunner here, but don’t rule out Tim Jones with his special teams prowess. Many Vikings fans and analysts, too, remain high on Jeshaun Jones, a dark horse summer roster combatant who’s shone in the preseason before.
Our Janik Eckardt wrote about Jeshaun Jones earlier this offseason: “The expectations were high for him entering his sophomore season, but a torn ACL forced him to sit out the entire 2019 campaign. In the shortened COVID-19 season, he played in only four games, and a second torn ACL followed in 2021. Jones stayed healthy in his last two college seasons, scoring four touchdowns each year and tabulating 557 and 790 receiving yards, respectively.”
“He undoubtedly has some talent, and he was a frequent target (five catches for 90 yards and a touchdown) in the preseason, showcasing his ability to get open. The problem? He also repeatedly dropped passes, three to be exact.”
Meanwhile, Silas Bolden is an electric gadgety speedster who could have the mojo for a WR roster spot.
6. TE3
Contenders: Gavin Bartholomew | Ben Yurosek | Bryson Nesbit
The Vikings could sign Noah Fant or Gerald Everett, just two examples, for this spot, and end the TE3 battle immediately. Until then, three rookies will duke it out for Johnny Mundt’s job after Mundt left in free agency for the Jacksonville Jaguars.
It’s worth noting that Bartholomew is currently on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list, perhaps giving the upper hand to another rookie, Yurosek.
5. QB3
Contenders: Brett Rypien | Max Brosmer
This might be one of the tightest battles on the roster.
Rypien has been attached to the Vikings’ roster for longer than Brosmer, but Minnesota has spoken positively about Brosmer since late April, a rookie Minnesota Golden Gopher. And if the team were to toss Brosmer on the practice squad, another team could easily steal him.
This one checks in ahead of WR5 and TE3 because the Vikings have learned the value of a QB3 in recent seasons. See: Joshua Dobbs and Jaren Hall in 2023.
4. OLB4
Contenders: Bo Richter | Gabriel Murphy | Tyler Batty
A battle of UDFAs.
On the EDGE billboard, Minnesota will flaunt Jonathan Greenard, Andrew Van Ginkel, and Dallas Turner. After those three personalities, it’s a guessing game between three talented but unsung undrafted free agents from 2023 and 2024.
Richter probably has the advantage for OLB4 because of his small-sample playing time last year.
Ted Schwerzler noted on Richter earlier this week, “Richter was a camp and preseason darling last season. He and fellow undrafted talent Gabriel Murphy both oozed with tools that look like they can be developed. It will be interesting to see how the pairing comes out in year two, and how much of a step forward they have taken.”
3. RB3
Contenders: Ty Chandler | Zavier Scott | Tre Stewart
Ty Chandler may or may not be on the chopping block, and Scott + Stewart are unproven practice squad types.
Minnesota could sign a free agent like Gus Edwards or wait until the post-cut market in late August to possibly onboard a player like Jaleel McLaughlin from the Denver Broncos.
Otherwise, Chandler will fight to keep his RB3 post, with Stewart, a UDFA from Jacksonville State, his stiffest competition.
2. LG1
Contenders: Donvoan Jackson | Blake Brandel
The battle for the starting left guard is a little goofy, as Vikings coaches have stated since the draft that Jackson is the real deal and an asset who can play Week 1.
However, Vikings.com wrote this week that Jackson and Brandel are locked in a tried-and-true battle for LG. That site wouldn’t publish that on a whim.
Therefore and evidently, LG is up for grabs. Jackson will be handed nothing.
VikingsWire‘s Andrew Harbaugh opined on Brandel last month: “The Vikings saw last year just how important depth at the offensive line is for their group. They were banged up down the stretch, and it affected their entire offense and contributed to their early playoff exit. The team signed swing tackle Justin Skule, but they could also keep versatile guard Blake Brandel.”
“He is here for one more year on a cheap deal and has proven he is more than serviceable over his tenure with the team. Despite him being a popular cut or trade candidate, I wouldn’t be surprised to see him stick around.”
1. The CB Pecking Order
Contenders: Isaiah Rodgers | Mekhi Blackmon | Jeff Okudah | Dwight McGlothern | Ambry Thomas | Zemaiah Vaughn
After Byron Murphy Jr., the number-one-with-a-bullet CB1, the cornerback depth chart is rather mysterious.
Training camp and preseason will establish a pecking order, most likely with Murphy Jr. and Rodgers leading the way. But the order and defensive snaps afforded to Blackmon, Okudah, and McGlothern are great unknowns.
That’s what the next five weeks are for, and CB is the most intriguing spot on Minnesota’s roster at the moment.
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