The Minnesota Vikings have radically changed their roster. Their starting receivers, cornerbacks, safeties, running backs, and defensive line look different than they did last year. And this is a team that made the playoffs after winning their division.
Because of that turnover and uncertainty from their returning players, there are a number of key NFL training camp battles that the Vikings will have to resolve.
Minnesota Vikings Training Camp Battles
Backup RB | Kene Nwangwu vs. Ty Chandler vs. DeWayne McBride
The Vikings released Dalvin Cook after attempting to find a trade partner for him and left the RB spot open for competition. The favorite right now is Alexander Mattison, who has taken the primary backup role when Cook has been injured. The Vikings re-signed Mattison to a two-year deal worth $7 million, and he figures to take the bulk of the backfield touches for Minnesota.
But there are several carries and targets up for grabs. If Mattison impresses enough, he could take most of the remaining touches, too, and become a true primary back. But the Vikings are more likely to split those reps among the remaining backs: Kene Nwangwu, Ty Chandler, and DeWayne McBride.
At the moment, Nwangwu has more experience than the other three. But the experience is scant, and he’s more likely to be a long-term kick returner unless he develops significantly as a running back — something he couldn’t do at Iowa State, though he was behind David Montgomery and Breece Hall. Nwangwu’s speed might make him the fastest player on the roster, but that’s not enough to be considered a high-level running back.
The Vikings drafted Ty Chandler last year and DeWayne McBride this year. Both were late-round picks but show great potential to be heavy-usage backs. McBride was one of the most productive running backs in the FBS last season, and Chandler has all the qualities of a high-usage RB given his size and athletic profile.
The fact that Chandler’s a productive pass catcher might mean there’s good reason for him to take the lion’s share of the snaps there.
Safety | Camryn Bynum vs. Lewis Cine
While All-Pro Harrison Smith is going to start, we don’t know who will play opposite him. During minicamp, Camryn Bynum took those snaps. That’s unsurprising, given that he won the camp competition last year to become the starter. But the Vikings didn’t draft Lewis Cine in the first round just to ignore him.
Injuries may have prevented Cine from taking the job later in the season, but he certainly has the opportunity now to take on that role. Right now, he’s behind on the depth chart, but that could change during training camp.
It’s also important not to forget rookie Jay Ward, a safety who can play multiple roles on the defense, or Josh Metellus, who has played more first-team snaps in minicamp than Cine in his flexible role as a potential slot or dime DB.
Cornerback | Akayleb Evans vs. Andrew Booth Jr. vs. Mekhi Blackmon vs. Joejuan Williams
The Vikings signed Byron Murphy to start for them, though he might be the kind of player who kicks inside when the Vikings are in nickel defense. Minnesota has second-round pick from the 2022 draft in Andrew Booth Jr., a fourth-round pick from the same class in Akayleb Evans, and a third-rounder from this year’s draft in Mekhi Blackmon. It’s also possible that veteran Joejuan Williams plays a big role.
It’s conceivable that any combination of those four could fill the starting spots. At the moment, Evans is ahead of Booth on the depth chart, but that could change at any time.
Blackmon has many positive qualities but fell to Round 3 in part because of size concerns. Williams, meanwhile, has the most experience in the NFL and, in particular, has experience working in Flores’ defense.
While it would be disappointing if Booth didn’t win the job outright, his health will always be an issue and could have stunted his development as an NFL-ready corner.
Backup QB | Jaren Hall vs. Nick Mullens
The Vikings drafted Jaren Hall in the fifth round, with praise for his football intelligence and overall capabilities as a field general. Though Hall is primarily seen as a raw athlete by outside observers, it could be the case that he overtakes Nick Mullens as the primary backup.
Mullens has impressed in his time as a backup over the years and knows the Shanahan/McVay offensive system. However, his ceiling is capped. Though Hall was not drafted with the intention of becoming a starter long-term, the Vikings do believe in his capabilities as a backup — and he’s a lot cheaper than any veteran.
This might all be moot. Aside from an absence due to COVID, Kirk Cousins hasn’t missed an NFL game due to injury. But if Hall takes the job from Mullens, that might mean there’s more than meets the eye.