Due to the nature of short player primes and being a salary cap league, one of the hardest things for NFL teams to do is to maintain year-over-year continuity. The Vikings offense has, for the most part, been able to do that at several positions in recent years. The same holds true this season as the Vikings start training camp. Assuming T.J. Hockenson can return from knee surgery early in the season, it’s a group that is returning at least eight starters from 2023.
While that continuity sounds great on paper, it ignores the major elephant in the room. The Vikings are going to have a new starter at the most important position in sports. With Kirk Cousins in Atlanta, all eyes will be on journeyman Sam Darnold and rookie J.J. McCarthy during camp. Despite Darnold having just as little NFL success to point to as the rookie, it oddly doesn’t sound like it will be an open competition. All indications right now are that Darnold will be the Vikings’ starting quarterback in New York for Week 1. With free agent acquisition Aaron Jones being handed the running back nod, that leaves little offensive starter level competition.
The lack of starter competition could ultimately help Minnesota’s signal caller play above his perceived weight class this year. Let’s face it, no Defensive Coordinator is going to be initially worried about a Vikings offense led by Sam Darnold. He will, however, have the benefit of taking snaps all off-season with his starting unit. There won’t be guys swapping out a ton with the 1s at camp, which should be a huge benefit. The number of quality reps the starters will get together could be key to the Vikings staying competitive and consequently keeping Darnold in the starting lineup beyond the short term.
Down Ballot Offensive Camp Battles Will Still Have a 2024 Impact
The Three-Way Starting Guard Battle
The only starting jobs that figure to be up for grabs right now are both guard positions. Blake Brandel, Ed Ingram, and the recently resigned Dalton Risner are the only contenders in consideration for the starting spots. Oddly enough, all three played for the Vikings offense last season. Normally, when two spots on the offensive line are up for grabs, it’s because of a new addition or two. That makes it easy to conclude that the coaches, like the fans, weren’t thrilled with last season’s guard play.
As the incumbents from 2023, Ingram and Risner figure to have the inside track to the starting nods. However, the Vikings did resign Brandel to a multi-year deal this offseason, and coaches have been raving about his improvement. That could have just been coach-speak, as the comments came prior to Risner resigning. Afterall, Brandel has been objectively bad as an injury replacement at both tackle and guards during parts of three seasons. The money the Vikings gave him this offseason also doesn’t scream that they truly saw starter-type progress. Still, given the lackluster play from the starters last season, Brandel will be worth monitoring early in camp. Until he puts solid camp and preseason tape out there, though, the smart money will continue to be on the Vikings running it back with Risner and Ingram again in 2024.
Third and Fourth Receivers in a Loaded Vikings Offense
The Vikings offense has had the fortune of featuring elite receiver talent in the starting lineup the past decade. That’s no different this year, with all-world receiver Justin Jefferson back alongside Jordan Addison as his primary running mate. With last year’s third option, K.J. Osborn, off to New England, it frees up open looks for a new group. Brandon Powell took snaps as the third option as an injury replacement last season. He figures to have one of the available roster spots locked down, in part due to his special teams contributions. Though, he should face competition from third-year receiver Jalen Nailor and free agent acquisition Trent Sherfield for snaps.
Nailor is the player that coaches most likely want to see stake his claim on the position. He showcased tantalizing speed and home run-hitting ability in a Week 18 showcase against the Bears as a rookie. The issue for him, though, has been staying on the field. Fair or not, as a former sixth-round pick, his chances are going to be limited in his career. He has to make this the year that he proves he can stay healthy and produce in meaningful games. Sherfield is another athleticism over-production option to this point in his career. His inability to carve out a role in Miami or Buffalo likely makes this his last opportunity for serious work.
With Addison possibly missing time due to off-field issues, the stakes get even higher for the guys battling for the third and fourth spots. It’s the type of training camp battle that could help elevate and extend the careers of whoever wins it. The prediction here is that Nailor earns the majority of the third option looks, with Powell remaining the fourth option.
Early Season Starting Tight End
Normally the battle for the third tight end on the depth chart wouldn’t be one that merits much conjecture. However, with T.J. Hockenson coming off his injury and Josh Oliver better fit to be a pure blocking tight end, it becomes a battle that warrants more intrigue. Johnny Mundt returns as Hockenson’s replacement from last season, having resigned this offseason. The Vikings also brought in former Packer Robert Tonyan to provide competition.
Mundt, a former undrafted free agent, has been a favorite of Kevin O’Connell’s the past two seasons. He’s made some gritty catches in big spots and performed admirably after Hockenson went down. Tonyan, however, brings with him the pedigree of being a multi-year starter for a division rival. He has the size and blocking edge on Mundt, which will certainly earn him some chances. Expect Mundt’s experience in the offense to get him the first crack at the job, but don’t be surprised if Tonyan ends up bullying him down the depth chart during camp.
Main Image: Kirby Lee – USA Today Sports
