The Minnesota Vikings enter mandatory minicamp with a lot of question marks on the depth chart.

Dec 14, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell during the second half against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium.
Dec 14, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell during the second half against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium.
Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images

We are finally here, as the Minnesota Vikings begin reporting for training camp on Sunday.

It’s been a very long offseason filled with endless quarterback debates about whether Kyler Murray or J.J. McCarthy would end up winning the starting job. Now that training camp is finally here, the quarterback competition can get in full swing.

As we enter the true beginning of the 2026 season, let’s do a quick reset and show where things stand on the depth chart.

Offense

PositionFirst StringSecond StringThird StringFourth StringLWRJustin JeffersonJeshaun JonesTerrill DavisMarcus Sanders Jr.RWRJauan JenningsDillon BellDontae FlemingMichael BriscoeSWRJordan AddisonTai FeltonMyles PriceLuke Wysong/Trayvon RudolphLTChristian DarrisawRyan Van DemarkCaleb TiernanTristan LeighLGDonovan JacksonHenry ByrdDelby LemieuxCBlake BrandelMichael JurgensVershon LeeGavin GerhardtRGWill FriesJoe HuberTomas RimacRTBrian O’NeillWalter RouseCaleb EtienneTET.J. HockensonJosh OliverBen Yurosek/Gavin BartholomewBryson Nesbit/Marshall LangQBKyler MurrayCarson WentzJ.J. McCarthyMax BrosmerRBAaron JonesJordan MasonZavier ScottDemond Claiborne/Kejon OwensFBMax Bredeson

You’ll notice that I have Murray as QB1, but McCarthy as QB3. I think Murray has the lead in the competition right now, and the loser will be QB3 come gameday. My theory is that it’ll give the winner of the starting job the ability to play without having to look over their shoulder.

Now, that doesn’t mean Wentz will be the starter if the winner of the job gets hurt. Whoever is QB3 will elevate to being the starting quarterback the following week in this scenario.

At running back, I’m far from convinced that the hype surrounding Claiborne is going to translate into a roster spot. I have concerns he will be able to handle the special teams responsibilities the RB3 has been responsible for. Scott is capable of doing just that, but he’s not the explosive player Claiborne is. Once the pads come on, we will learn a lot about the position.

Wide receiver carry some interesting depth battles, and the offensive line feels more certain now than it has in some time.

Defense

PositionFirst StringSecond StringThird StringFourth StringDEJalen RedmondIsaiahh LoudermilkEric JohnsonSmith VilbertNTLevi Drake RodriguezDomonique OrangeTaki TaimaniDECaleb BanksElijah WilliamsJahvaree RitzieOLBDallas TurnerTyrion Ingram-DawkinsTyler BattyCam’Ron StewartWLBEric WilsonIvan Pace Jr.Bangally KamaraKeli LawsonMLBBlake CashmanJake GoldayJacob RobertsJosh RossOLBAndrew Van GinkelBo RichterChaz ChamblissArden WalkerLCBByron Murphy Jr.Dwight McGlogthernMarcus AllenSSJosh MetellusTavierre ThomasJakobe ThomasFSJay WardTheo JacksonJacob ThomasRCBIsaiah RodgersZemaiah VaughnCharles DemmingsDa’Veawn ArmsteadNBJames PierreKahlef HaillassieTyreek Chappell

There aren’t a lot of major question marks with the defense. Brian Flores’ unit isn’t the strongest in terms of depth at every position, but it does have a lot of intriguing depth pieces.

The two positions where things could be interesting are defensive line and safety. Additions on the defensive line are intriguing, with Johnson and Loudermilk essentially moving Ingram-Dawkins to the edge position. We will be seeing Banks for the first time since being drafted due to a foot injury, and it will be one of the biggest talking points of training camp.

Safety is intriguing, especially after the selection of Jakobe Thomas in the third round. With Harrison Smith’s future still up in the air, how the group shapes up, especially after Jackson was benched, will be interesting.

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