The Minnesota Vikings are preparing for their first preseason showdown against the New York Giants.
That means the team has to figure out who will be starting and backing up here in the early preseason. The Vikings have to decide how many players will play and whether the starters will take the field or rest.
Well, Vikings fans will have a better idea now that the team's first unofficial depth chart has been released.
Here's a full breakdown of each position and what to make of it.
Breaking down the first unofficial 2026 Minnesota Vikings depth chart
Quarterback
Kyler Murray | J.J. McCarthy | Carson Wentz | Max Brosmer
While it hasn't been perfect for Murray at training camp, he has clearly outperformed McCarthy, making the choice for the starting quarterback easy and officially making Murray the winner of the job.
McCarthy could be on the move, so Wentz might have a shot at being the backup if McCarthy is traded. Brosmer making the 53-man roster depends on whether McCarthy gets moved off the team.
Running Back
Aaron Jones Sr. OR Jordan Mason | Zavier Scott | Demond Claiborne | Jermar Jefferson
The Vikings are going to have a running back-by-committee situation with Jones and Mason, so it may not matter as much who makes it.
Rookie Claiborne has a lot of buzz around him, but Scott has experience in Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell's offense, which might give him the advantage.
Jefferson just joined the team and may not have enough time to make the kind of impression he needs to.
Fullback
Max Bredeson
It's rare in today's NFL to see a fullback, but the Vikings are not afraid to use one in their offense. Bredeson has some massive shoes to fill with C.J. Ham retired, so the expectations are going to be high for the young fullback.
Wide Receiver
Justin Jefferson | Tai Felton | Dontae Fleming | Marcus Sanders Jr. | Terrill Davis
Jordan Addison | Jeshaun Jones | Dillon Bell | Trayvon Rudolph
Jauan Jennings | Myles Price | Michael Briscoe
The top five spots at wide receiver feel secure with Jefferson, Addison, Jennings, Felton, and Price. O'Connell's real question is whether he wants to carry a sixth receiver on the team.
Fleming has had a great camp and could be the guy who either gets that last spot or is the easiest choice to be on the practice squad.
Tight End
T.J. Hockenson | Josh Oliver | Ben Yurosek | Gavin Bartholomew | Bryson Nesbit | Marshall Lang
Hockenson and Oliver feel like locks at their top two spots on the depth chart. Yurosek and Bartholomew are the matchup to watch at training camp for the third tight-end spot on the roster.
Offensive Line
LT - Christian Darrisaw | Ryan Van Demark | Tristan Leigh
LG - Donovan Jackson | Joe Huber | Vershon Lee
C- Blake Brandel | Michael Jurgens | Gavin Gerhardt | Delby Lemieux
RG - Will Fries | Walter Rouse | Tomas Rimac
RT - Brian O'Neill | Caleb Tiernan | Henry Byrd
For the most part, the starting offensive line could be intact, with maybe Jurgens pushing Brandel for the starting center spot, but the starting five should be secure. There's plenty of intrigue about who will win the final four to five backup spots.
Defensive Line
Jalen Redmond | Caleb Banks | Elijah Williams
Levi Drake Rodriguez | Domonique Orange | Taki Taimani
Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins | Isaiahh Loudermilk | Eric Johnson II | Smith Vilbert | Jahvaree Ritzie
It's a bit of a surprise that Banks, a first-round pick, would be a backup, but the Vikings appear to be easing him into the starting lineup after breaking his foot twice within a year.
Will guys like Loudermilk, Williams, Taimani, and Johnson push the Vikings to carry six or seven defensive tackles on the team in 2026? That's the biggest question with this unit.
Outside Linebackers
Dallas Turner | Tyler Batty | Cam'Ron Stewart
Andrew Van Ginkel | Bo Richter | Chaz Chambliss | Arden Walker
Turner and Van Ginkel make 100 percent sense to be the starters at outside linebacker. Batty and Richter are fighting to be in the rotation, but Stewart and Chambliss are the battle at training camp and preseason to watch as to whether one or both can make the team.
Inside Linebacker
Blake Cashman | Ivan Pace Jr. | Jacob Roberts
Eric Wilson | Jake Golday | Josh Ross | Bangally Kamara
Watch for rookie Golday to push for a starting job, as he has the potential to be great, and it is there. Otherwise, the starters and backups are about where Vikings fans thought they would be at this point in training camp.
Cornerback
Isaiah Rodgers | James Pierre | Zemaiah Vaughn | Marcus Allen | Tyreek Chappell
Byron Murphy Jr. | Dwight McGlothern Jr. | Chuck Demmings | Da'Veawn Armstead | Jarod Washington
Rodgers, Pierre, and Murphy have been the top corners on the team throughout training camp. Demmings has had a nice camp, but he will have an uphill battle to get either the fifth or sixth cornerback spot if they carry that many on the roster.
Safeties
Joshua Metellus | Theo Jackson | Tavierre Thomas | Jacob Thomas
Jay Ward | Jamal Adams | Jakobe Thomas | Kahlef Hailassie
With a little more time in Brian Flores' defense, Adams will be the most fascinating piece, especially given whether he rotates in at safety or even at linebacker. Theo Jackson and Jakobe Thomas could push for starting jobs, but Metellus and Ward feel like the favorites to win those jobs right now.
Special Teams
P - Johnny Hekker | Brett Thorson
K - Will Reichard
LS - Andrew DePaola
PR - Myles Price | Tai Felton
KR - Myles Price | Demond Claiborne | Tai Felton
There aren't any major surprises on special teams. The big thing will be who wins the backup kickoff returner spot between Claiborne and Felton. Despite "competition" at punter, Hekker should be the favorite to win the job.
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