{"id":176565,"date":"2024-06-07T16:00:09","date_gmt":"2024-06-07T20:00:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/?p=176565"},"modified":"2024-06-07T12:03:18","modified_gmt":"2024-06-07T16:03:18","slug":"player-watch-every-position-group-vikings-during-training-camp","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2024\/06\/07\/player-watch-every-position-group-vikings-during-training-camp\/","title":{"rendered":"A Player to Watch in Every Position Group for the Vikings During Training Camp"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Minnesota Vikings are heading into their third year under the regime of general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and head coach Kevin O\u2019Connell. They\u2019ve had a major impact on the culture and feel of this team, but this is the first year where the roster looks like it\u2019s theirs. Drafting J.J. McCarthy<\/a> 10th overall a few months ago and spending the newfound money they had by letting Kirk Cousins<\/a> leave, this roster is taking shape how the duo had in mind when they took over, and now with a new (hopefully) franchise quarterback, their window to build a competitive roster around him has begun.<\/p>\n

Minnesota has competition battles for so many different starting and backup positions, training camp and preseason games are as important as they\u2019ve ever been. The Vikings made multiple depth signings this offseason and added one of the better undrafted free agent classes in the league, hoping to find a gem or two out of the rough. Preseason games can be a stark reality once you realize how drastic the talent gap is between the preseason players and Sunday starters, but those preseason games are the Super Bowl for so many of those guys and I\u2019ll list some players to keep an eye out for, in hopes to make preseason a bit more watchable.<\/p>\n

A Player to Watch in Every Position Group for the Vikings During Training Camp<\/h2>\n

Quarterback- Jaren Hall<\/h3>\n

Obviously, this isn\u2019t the most interesting quarterback to watch. But these are some deep cuts, guys to watch in the fourth quarter of the last preseason game. McCarthy will be what everyone talks about, and rightfully so, but Jaren Hall\u2019s<\/a> development as the potential third quarterback on the roster is intriguing. Hall started two games last year and ended up playing about two quarters worth of football in those games, due to a concussion and a benching. The fifth-rounder out of BYU is now entering his second year and in a camp battle with the veteran Nick Mullens<\/a>.<\/p>\n

With the signing of Sam Darnold<\/a>, Mullens becomes expendable and could be traded on cut-down day, but only if Hall can prove he\u2019s capable of holding down the third-string spot. While Hall mostly struggled when he played last year, he was put in some unfortunate circumstances and ended up being completely overshadowed by Josh Dobbs<\/a>, then with the season on the line he gets thrown into the fire on primetime against the Viking’s biggest rivals. With another offseason under his belt and more development, Hall will be an exciting player to watch.<\/p>\n

Running Back- Kene Nwangwu<\/h3>\n

The new kickoff rules the NFL will introduce this season are something special-teams coaches and head coaches have been asked about incessantly, with intrigue from everyone on how teams will attack the new style of kickoff. It\u2019s unclear how the Vikings will \u2014 or any team for that matter \u2014 but Kene Nwangwu<\/a> has held the kick-return job ever since he was drafted back in 2022.<\/p>\n

Running backs will seemingly hold an advantage with these new rules and teams will bring run-game concepts over to the special-teams side of things. Nwangwu has been a dynamic returner throughout his career up to this point and he\u2019s someone who could benefit from this rule change. He hasn\u2019t been able to see the field much as a running back due to some issues with his vision and reading out plays, but this is something that\u2019s now needed to return kicks. This is a big training camp for Nwangwu and his efforts in the return game could be the reason he makes the team or gets cut.<\/p>\n

\n

Here\u2019s what the new NFL kickoff will look like this season: pic.twitter.com\/vtR5bqGZLK<\/a><\/p>\n

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 26, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n