This will be a much different Minnesota team than it was last season.
The Vikings will probably have at least two new starters on offense and will probably have at least four on defense.
This has led plenty of people to try and guess which Minnesota players will break through and crack the starting lineup this season.
Defensive end Ifeadi Odenigbo, cornerback Mike Hughes and wideout Justin Jefferson are some obvious candidates who could win starting spots.
But what about some people who are less obvious? What about those who may be good enough to move up the depth chart, but aren’t garnering the hype that the aforementioned three have been getting this offseason?
Well, here’s a list of just some of those players who might surprise fans and become starters in 2020:
Guard Dakota Dozier
The Vikings terminated Josh Kline’s contract earlier this offseason and a lot of people started talking about Dru Samia as his potential replacement.
There’s another player, however, who actually earned more playing time than Samia in 2019 at guard: Dakota Dozier.
Dozier brings experience to the table in an unconventional offseason where it’s harder to learn in person with players and coaches.
I would guess that Samia takes the spot. The Vikings spent a fourth-round pick on him and his ceiling seems higher than Dozier’s. I wouldn’t be surprised at all, however, if Dozier is able to earn the spot.
CB Kris Boyd
Mike Hughes, Holton Hill or Jeff Gladney seem like the most obvious options for the starting cornerback spots in 2020.
Although, Kris Boyd should not be forgotten about in the cornerback conversation.
Vikings special teams coordinator Marwan Maalouf highlighted Boyd’s leadership when speaking to reporters recently.
He has been solid on special teams and maybe that has earned him a larger role. In Week 17 against the Bears, Boyd had eight solo tackles and a pass deflection at cornerback. He’s capable of surprising some people and winning a starting position in 2020.
WR Bisi Johnson
The Vikings traded wideout Stefon Diggs this offseason, and the team drafted a player who could take his spot.
Justin Jefferson, one of Minnesota’s first-round picks, is the likeliest candidate to take over Diggs’ position on the Vikings.
But the team also has a seventh-round pick from 2019 who was a decent third wide receiver this past season.
Bisi Johnson had 294 yards on 45 targets in 2019. Maybe he becomes a more favorable target for Kirk Cousins, in an offseason that could very well make it hard for rookies to adjust to the NFL.
Do I think Jefferson will probably start alongside Adam Thielen at wide receiver and do pretty well there? Yes. Is it a guarantee? In this offseason, nothing really is.
