Minnesota Vikings: Early two deep 2016 depth chart

Who could be the starters and backups for the Minnesota Vikings during the 2016 NFL season? Here is a two-deep depth chart for each starting position.

Training camp is rapidly approaching for the Minnesota Vikings. The massive roster full of players will eventually be cut down to a 52-man football team which will compete for the honor of playing in the Super Bowl.

After that, those remaining players will compete for starting jobs and backup spots with playing time on the line. Sometimes, the players expected to win the job get the nod, while other times players come out of nowhere to surprise fans.

Here is an early look at a depth chart for the 2016 NFL season including the player who has the best chance of being named the starter and one backup at each position. For this two-deep depth chart, let’s start by taking a look at the players who line up behind the offensive line.

Next: Offensive Backfield

Offensive Backfield

Last season, the offensive backfield of the Minnesota Vikings was tasked with running an offense based around handing the ball off to the running back and then supplementing that with a quick, accurate passing game. For the most part, many of the individuals in this category stayed the same, but there are a few new faces.

Quarterback

1. Teddy Bridgewater
2. Shaun Hill

Bridgewater will be the starting quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings in 2016. He hasn’t done enough to lose the job, but also hasn’t yet won over the entire fan base. For his second season as a full-time starter, Teddy will need to play more loose and trust his teammates more.

Other option: Taylor Heinicke

Running Back

1. Adrian Peterson
2. Jerick McKinnon

Last year’s rushing leader returns to Minnesota, as Adrian Peterson will once again be the focal point of the offense. Behind him, dynamic young back McKinnon looks to prove he can be a reliable player in the future when Adrian isn’t available,

Other option: Matt Asiata.

Fullback

1. Zach Line
2. Rhett Ellison

Line was better known for sneaking out of the backfield and making some plays the passing game than his blocking ability last year. This year, he should get another opportunity at the job as long as Ellison doesn’t prove to be healthy enough to unseat him.

Other option: David Morgan

Next: Wide Receivers & Tight Ends

Pass Catchers

Last year, the Minnesota Vikings offense struggled to make big plays and finish drives. This year, there are several young players who will be fighting to earn playing time at either the tight end or wide receiver positions.

Left Outside Wide Receiver

1. Stefon Diggs
2. Charles Johnson

Diggs exploded onto the scene last year for the Minnesota Vikings and led all wide receivers in yardage and touchdowns. He should continue to improve and develop in the offense as he builds a relationship with Bridgewater. Meanwhile, Johnson will have to prove he can stay healthy and contribute.

Right Outside Wide Receiver

1. Laquon Treadwell
2. Jarius Wright

Yes, Treadwell is a rookie and will need to earn a starting job. But that shouldn’t be too much of an issue after the departure of Mike Wallace. Meanwhile, Wright will remain as a reliable backup and rotational player.

Other option: Moritz Böhringer

Slot Receiver

1. Jarius Wright
2. Adam Thielen

The fact Wright is on this list twice says a lot for the faith the Vikings have in him. He’s got athleticism and can make sporadic plays when called upon. Thielen will continue to light up special teams while sprinkling in some fun reverses and routes.

Other option: Cordarrelle Patterson

Tight End

1. Kyle Rudolph
2. MyCole Pruitt

Rudolph still needs to live up to the big contract he signed, but should help to be a red zone target. That could especially be the case if Treadwell can draw some attention from defenses. Pruitt proved to be a Swiss army knife for the offense, displaying an ability to just about anything asked of him.

Other Option: Rhett Ellison

Next: Offensive Line

Offensive Line

Decimated by injuries, the offensive line found themselves with a three positions having new starters. The big injuries could still be a factor, but the Minnesota Vikings went into free agency and got some insurance policies.

Left Tackle

1. Matt Kalil
2. T.J. Clemmings

Playing on a massive fifth-year contract option, Kalil has one more chance he can be the players the team wants him to be. As a backup, Clemmings moves from starting right tackle to backup left tackle in hopes that he can continue to develop under Kalil.

Right Tackle

1. Phil Loadholt
2. Andre Smith

Loadholt’s Achilles tendon injury is hard to gauge at this point. Because of that, Minnesota went out and got former Bengals blocker Andre Smith. Right now, it’s hard to tell who will win the starting gig until it is seen how big Phil recovered, but for now he should be penciled in as the starter.

Left Guard

1. Alex Boone
2. Willie Beavers

Minnesota should find Boone to be a significant improvement over Brandon Fusco after a failed position change saw the left guard to be a liability. Odds are that Berger will be plugged in at guard before Beavers, but last year’s starting center could find himself in the same role again.

Right Guard

1. Brandon Fusco
2. Mike Harris

Moving back to right guard should do wonders for Fusco. Plus, having last year’s starting right guard as a backup to Fusco isn’t too shabby either. Harris was very impressive at times last year and should solidify this position during the 2016 season.

Centers

1. John Sullivan
2. Joe Berger

If Sullivan’s back is healed, he should be the starter. However, there are plenty of reasons to be skeptical about that since he had other issues and required a second procedure. But if he cant go this year, Berger proved to be an excellent starter last year, earning praise from analytics groups like Pro Football Focus.

Next: Defensive Line

Defensive Line

Perhaps the biggest strength of the Minnesota Vikings is their defensive line. Boasting a great combination of youth and experience, this group is able to pressure quarterbacks and disrupt the run game on a regular basis.

Left Defensive End

1. Brian Robison
2. Danielle Hunter

This could be an interesting position to watch. Hunter came into the league in a frenzy last year, impressing fans the team greatly. Meanwhile, Robison continues to get older, but is a reliable player who can still bring it. Starting left end could be a closer battle than some may expect.

Right Defensive End

1. Everson Griffen
2. Scott Crichton

Griffen has developed his athleticism into the defensive end position in a big way. His larger-than-life personality and ability to motivate the team is unmatched. Crichton will be on the sideline more often than not unless there are injuries, illness or fatigue issues.

Defensive Tackle

1. Sharrif Floyd
2. Tom Johnson

Floyd has established himself as a big part of the defensive line’s interior and will hopefully be there for many years going forward. Tom Johnson can be plugged in when needed and plays at a high level whenever Floyd isn’t available.

Nose Tackle

1. Linval Joseph
2. Kenrick Ellis

An argument could be made that Linval Joseph is the most important player on the Minnesota Vikings defense. His ability to eat up space yet still get pressure on quarterbacks has made him very valuable. Also, Ellis was a great free agent pickup last year and is solid insurance for the big fellow.

Next: Linebackers

Linebackers

The Minnesota Vikings have invested heavily into their linebackers over the last 5 years. High draft picks and athletic players have made their way to the team, giving hope that this group will be a major strength in the future.

Strong Side Linebacker

1. Anthony Barr
2. Edmond Robinson

What is left to be said about Barr that hasn’t been said already. He’s an athletic freak who can rush passers, play the run, or go back into coverage. He is that Von Miller-type player on the Vikings roster. Robinson played well in limited time last year and has earned a longer look this season.

Middle Linebackers

1. Eric Kendricks
2. Audie Cole

When Kendricks fell into the lap of the Minnesota Vikings during the second round of the 2015 NFL Draft, it was only a matter of time before he worked his way into the starting lineup. He took control of that spot in his rookie year and will hold on to it while fan favorite Audie Cole acts as his backup.

Weak Side Linebacker

1. Chad Greenway
2. Emmanuel Lamur

This will be the farewell voyage for Chad Greenway, who has announced that he will retire following the 2016 NFL season. He will be motivated and play his best to hopefully go out on top. On the other hand, this will be Lamur’s first year with the team after coming over from the Bengals.

Next: Secondary

Defensive Secondary

Youth and experience seem to be a big combination for the position groups of the Minnesota Vikings. There are many young players developing their craft in hopes of future success, but the veterans are there to help guide them and hold down fort until the young guys are ready.

First Safety

1. Harrison Smith
2. Antone Exum

Locked up to a long-term deal, the Minnesota Vikings love Smith. His hard-hitting style coupled with the ability to rush the passer or play run support make him a fearsome part of the team’s defense. Exum has flashed brilliance since coming to the team, but will need to be more consistent.

Second Safety

1. Michael Griffin
2. Andrew Sendejo

This spot has been a struggle for the Vikings, as Sendejo showed last year that he shouldn’t be trusted with the starting gig. When Minnesota went into free agency and picked up Michael Griffin, the writing was on the wall for the end of the Sendejo period for the Vikings.

Left Cornerback

1. Terence Newman
2. Trae Waynes

Whether Newman or Waynes is named the starter, this spot is in good hands. Newman offers smart, veteran play while Waynes is still learning the intricacies of the position. The competition will boil down to just how ready Waynes is at becoming a starter.

Right Cornerback

1. Xavier Rhodes
2. Captain Munnerlyn

When healthy, Rhodes is a fringe shutdown corner. He hasn’t quite reached that level yet, but appears to have all the pieces to get there. Captain Munnerlyn will find a lot of playing time in 2016, as he will be filling in all over in the secondary.

Nickel Cornerback

1. Captain Munnerlyn
2. Mackensie Alexander

It’s hard not to love Alexander’s ability and inspirational story, but he won’t be called upon for the starting nickel corner gig unless he can beat out Captain Munnerlyn. Munnerlyn excelled last season after admitting to not following coaches instructions in 2014, so it is logical to expect more of the good version of the Captain this year.

Next: Special Teams

Special Teams

Strangely enough, the special teams of the Minnesota Vikings might be the most controversial of all the positional groups. Each player in the group seemed to have issues and struggles at times, but hopefully these individuals can bounce back in 2016.

Kicker

1. Blair Walsh

Missing the big kick in the playoffs will be all the fans remember, but he struggled through a lot of last year, missing kicks and extra points. He’s been working hard to become the reliable kicker who broke franchise kicking records in Minnesota during his rookie year.

Punter/Holder

1. Jeff Locke

Fans clamored for Minnesota to bring in competition for Locke, who appeared to struggle with both holds and punts during the 2015 season. Locke will enter the year with a lot to prove to the team after only ranking 30th in net yards per punt last year.

Long Snapper

1. Kevin McDermott

While he was only off the mark on a handful of snaps during the season, there is still room for improvement at long snapper. Despite that, there isn’t currently any real competition for him in training camp, so he will likely be the starter.

Kick Returner

1. Cordarrelle Patterson
2. Marcus Sherels

Patterson tends to shine as a kick returner, but he had some fumbling issues last year that need correction. He should return to the team and be just as explosive as before with the ball in his hands. Sherels will be ready in case Patterson in unable to take kicks.

Punt Returner

1. Marcus Sherels
2. Stefon Diggs

Sherels may not see a lot of time at cornerback, but he’s become an important part of the Vikings special teams unit. His ability on punt returns is where he gets the most attention, but he is also a solid tackler in other phases of special teams. Diggs is explosive enough to be a backup, but shouldn’t be used in this capacity if he is named a starting wide receiver.

Next: Vikings game-by-game 2016 season preview

Do you have any thoughts or opinions about this two-deep early depth chart for the 2016 Minnesota Vikings? Where there any players missed or positions that you feel someone else will be in the two-deep chart? Leave your thoughts and opinions in the comments below.