Vikings Post-Draft Depth Chart

May 9, 2014; Eden Prairie, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings general manager Rick Spielman (left) poses with linebacker Anthony Barr at Winter Park Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports

The Minnesota Vikings have added 10 new players to their roster this weekend through the NFL Draft, meaning their depth chart all of a sudden has a fresh look to it.

With that in mind, it’s time to take an updated look at how the Vikings 90 man depth chart might look if the season started today, with the Vikings new draftees in Bold and their added UDFA’s in italics.

Note that this depth chart is completely unofficial, and it does include the four cuts the Vikings made yesterday to make room for all their added free agents.

Offense

QB: Matt Cassel, Teddy Bridgewater, Christian Ponder, Travis Partridge

RB: Adrian Peterson, Matt Asiata, Jerick McKinnon, Joe Banyard, Dominique Williams

FB: Jerome Felton, Zach Line

WR: Greg Jennings, Cordarrelle Patterson, Jerome Simpson, Jarius Wright, Lestar Jean, Kamar Jorden, Rodney Smith, Adam Thielen, Erik Lora, Kain Colter, Donte Foster

TE: Kyle Rudolph, Rhett Ellison, Chase Ford, Allen Reisner, AC Leonard

LT: Matt Kalil, Tent Murphy, Antonio Richardson, Pierce Burton

LG: Charlie Johnson, Jeff Baca, David Yankey, Conor Boffeli

C: John Sullivan, Joe Berger, Zac Kerin

RG: Brandon Fusco, Vlad Ducasse

RT: Phil Loadholt, Mike Remmers, Matt Hall

A few notes on the offensive depth chart:

• I already have Teddy listed ahead of Christian Ponder. That might not be how the Vikings first depth chart actually reads, but I believe that’s how the coaching staff will see it.
• McKinnon probably won’t receive many carries as a between the tackles runner right away, so Asiata will probably still backup AP. But you don’t draft a guy in the third round to sit him completely, so McKinnon is practically a lock to make the roster.\
• There’s going to be a lot of competition on the offensive line this season, with a total of nine new names added to the depth chart either through free agency or the draft. Who’s going to emerge from that group is anyone’s guess at this point.

Defense

RDE: Everson Griffen, Coorey Wooton, Justin Trattou, Rakim Cox, Tyler Scott

DT: Sharrif Floyd, Tom Johnson, Kheeston Randle, Isame Faciane

NT: Linval Joseph, Fred Evans, Chase Baker, Shamar Stephens

LDE: Brian Robison, Scott Crichton, Spencer Nealy, Jake Synder

WLB: Chad Greenway, Larry Dean, Brandon Watts

MLB: Jasper Brinkley, Michael Mauti

SLB: Audie Cole, Anthony Barr, Gerald Hodges

RCB: Xavier Rhodes, Josh Robinson, Marcus Sherels, Jabari Price

FS: Harrison Smith, Andrew Sendejo, Kurt Coleman, Robert Blanton, Brandon Bishop

SS: Jamarcus Sanford, Antone Exum, Mistral Raymond

LCB: Captain Munnerlyn, Derek Cox, Shaun Prater, Kendall James, Robert Steeples, Kip Edwards

And now a few notes on defense:

• Mike Zimmer said Barr wouldn’t start at the top of the depth chart, but there’s no question he will be given every opportunity to start in training camp this summer. That move could lead to Cole sliding back to MLB after lining up outside during minicamp.
• Crichton could potentially back up Griffen on the right side as well, but he projects as a more natural left end. He’s also going to move inside as a nickel rusher at times, like Griffen has for the past few years.
• My placing of Exum over Raymond might be a bit of a stretch before Exum has taken a snap, but if Exum finds a way to get healthy there’s no doubt he has the natural ability to contribute very quickly.
• There are 18 defensive backs listed on this depth chart right now, and the Vikings went with just 10 on their opening day roster last year. The competition at the Vikings weakest position group will be intense in Mankato.
• Because of all the DB competition, Price and James will probably have the toughest road to making the Vikings 2014 roster.

Once the Vikings officially announce that they are done with UDFA signings and potentially cut some players to stay at the roster limit of 90, that’s when competition is really going to heat up.

There’s going to be a lot of camp battles in Mankato this summer, and not just for starting jobs, for just a roster spot. Veterans who seemed secure last summer under Fraizer will now have to show their worth to a new coaching staff if they want to stick around.

It’s a brand new day for the Vikings under Mike Zimmer, and the roster is already starting to reflect that.