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Defensive surprise highlights Vikings first depth chart for the 2023 season

Jonathan Bullard appears to be a Week 1 starter for the Minnesota Vikings this season

By Adam Patrick

Minnesota Vikings defensive end Jonathan Bullard
Minnesota Vikings defensive end Jonathan Bullard / Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
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With less than a week to go until they take the field for their Week 1 matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Minnesota Vikings have released their first unofficial depth chart for the 2023 regular season.

Let's take a look at how the Vikings offensive depth chart looks first (starters are listed in bold).

Quarterbacks

  1. Kirk Cousins
  2. Nick Mullens
  3. Jaren Hall

Running Backs

  1. Alexander Mattison
  2. Ty Chandler
  3. Myles Gaskin

Fullback

  1. C.J. Ham

Wide Receivers

  1. Justin Jefferson
  2. K.J. Osborn
  3. Jordan Addison
  4. Jalen Nailor
  5. Brandon Powell

Tight Ends

  1. T.J. Hockenson
  2. Josh Oliver
  3. Johnny Mundt
  4. Nick Muse

Offensive Tackles

  1. Christian Darrisaw (RT)
  2. Brian O'Neill (LT)
  3. David Quessenberry (LT)
  4. Oli Udoh (RT)

Interior Offensive Linemen

  1. Garrett Bradbury (C)
  2. Ezra Cleveland (LG)
  3. Ed Ingram (RG)
  4. Austin Schlottmann (C)
  5. Blake Brandel (RG)

Pretty much no surprises on the offensive side of the ball for Minnesota's first depth chart of the 2023 season. Some might have thought that rookie Jordan Addison would open up the year as the No. 2 receiver for the Vikings, but K.J. Osborn did nothing this summer to lose that role.

Onto the defensive side of the ball, which arguably has multiple surprises.

Defensive Ends

  1. Jonathan Bullard
  2. Dean Lowry
  3. Jaquelin Roy

Nose Tackles

  1. Harrison Phillips
  2. Khyiris Tonga

Outside Linebackers

  1. Danielle Hunter
  2. Marcus Davenport
  3. D.J. Wonnum
  4. Patrick Jones II
  5. Andre Carter II

Inside Linebackers

  1. Jordan Hicks
  2. Brian Asamoah
  3. Ivan Pace Jr.
  4. Troy Dye

Cornerbacks

  1. Byron Murphy
  2. Akayleb Evans
  3. Mekhi Blackmon
  4. Andrew Booth Jr.
  5. NaJee Thompson

Safeties

  1. Harrison Smith
  2. Cam Bynum
  3. Josh Metellus
  4. Lewis Cine
  5. Jay Ward
  6. Theo Jackson

Heading into the season, most assumed that Khyiris Tonga was going to be one of Minnesota's starting defensive linemen. However, this depth chart has Jonathan Bullard as a starter and not Tonga.

Following his performance during the summer, most probably thought that rookie linebacker Ivan Pace Jr. had a good chance to open Week 1 as a starter as well. But the Vikings' current depth chart has Brian Asamoah as one of the starting inside linebackers over Pace.

Now, remember, this is an unofficial depth chart, so there's still a chance that Minnesota could begin their game against the Bucs on Sunday with Tonga and Pace in the starting lineup.

Lastly, let's see how the special teams looks.

Kicker

  1. Greg Joseph

Punter/Holder

  1. Ryan Wright

Long Snapper

  1. Andrew DePaola

Kick Returner

  1. Ty Chandler
  2. Brandon Powell

Punt Returner

  1. Brandon Powell

Virtually no surprises on the special teams. With Kene Nwangwu currently on injured reserve, Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell announced last week that running back Ty Chandler would be assuming the team's kick returning duties to begin the regular season.

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