Yes, yes, there are training camp battles every year across the NFL. But for the Vikings, this year is different.
This is a new-look Vikings team after a mass exodus in free agency, and a big haul of rookie talent.
Younger players from previous seasons will have to step up, and first-year players could become starters in what’s gearing up to be an incredibly unconventional NFL season.
The Vikings will have at least two new starters on offense after the team traded Stefon Diggs and terminated the contract of Josh Kline.
On defense, Minnesota will have at least four new starters after Everson Griffen, Trae Waynes, Xavier Rhodes and Linval Joseph all left the team. It should be said that Griffen has yet to sign with a different NFL team.
As training camp starts up for the whole roster on July 28, there are plenty of positions up for grabs.
Here are the most enticing battles for spots next season:
Right Guard
For the Vikings, right guard is one of the two positions that is guaranteed to have a new player, barring Kline re-signing on a cheaper deal.
The other offensive opening that is guaranteed to look different, wide receiver, is a little more obvious, due to the Vikings drafting Justin Jefferson in the first round.
Guard will be a competition between Dru Samia, Dakota Dozier, Kyle Hinton and Tyler Higby. Also, I’m sure reserve center Brett Jones could fill in at that spot if need be.
The favorite to win the spot would be Samia, with Dozier being more of a dark horse candidate. The rest are long shots.
Offensive line is probably the weak link among Vikings position groups. We’ll see whether the right guard position will get better or worse than it was with Kline in 2019.
Wide Receiver Three
Now this one will be interesting.
Wide receiver Adam Thielen is the definitive No. 1 now that Diggs is gone. Jefferson is the No. 2 wideout.
But after that, Minnesota probably has five receivers who could end up as the wide receiver three next season.
Bisi Johnson and Chad Beebe are the returning wide receivers who will look to keep their reps. The Vikings signed Tajae Sharpe in free agency. There’s also Quartney Davis and K.J. Osborn.
Osborn might make the team due to his punt returning prowess, but the rest of those players could be in trouble if they miss out on the wide receiver three spot. I think Minnesota could keep a lot of wide receivers around, due to the team losing Diggs this offseason, but when cuts come around, it might become tricky to do so.
Three-Technique Defensive Tackle
This position has a returning starter at it: Shamar Stephen.
Stephen has only been average in his role with the Vikings, and Minnesota may have drafted his replacement.
James Lynch, a defensive lineman out of Baylor, will compete for that spot as well. And you can’t forget about Hercules Mata’afa, Armon Watts and Jalyn Holmes.
Jaleel Johnson is also at defensive tackle, but might be a big-bodied, run-stopping option who can compete with Michael Pierce for the other defensive tackle spot. Pierce is the probable candidate to take that position, though.
Mata’afa tweeted a photo of himself weighing 289 pounds this offseason, but he has been listed at 254 pounds. That extra weight might help him win the three-technique spot.
Watts has looked good in limited reps. Holmes would really have to surprise people to win the position, but you never know.
I think it’s still Stephen’s position to lose, but Lynch’s position to win.
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