The Minnesota Vikings are a team in transition but that doesn't mean there are a lot of positions up for grabs during training camp and the preseason. Most of the veterans who were previously on the roster are no longer members of the team and general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has paved the way for new players to take over those roles.
Despite that, there are some spots on the roster where there is enough competition to be called a position battle even though the Vikings seem to have a larger percentage of the roster penciled in on their depth chart for the 2024 NFL season.
It is difficult to know how Minnesota will perform during the upcoming season but the new faces on the roster will have opportunities to work their way up the depth chart and possibly earn a starting role.
Intriguing position battles for the Minnesota Vikings in 2024
The Minnesota Vikings have a wide variety of projections for the upcoming season, but the team seems prepared in terms of depth and talent for what may come their way during their first season without Kirk Cousins since he joined the team in 2018.
Here are four position battles to keep an eye on in 2024.
Andrew Van Ginkel vs. Dallas Turner
The Vikings signed Andrew Van Ginkel as a free agent since they lost Danielle Hunter and D.J. Wonnum this offseason. However, when Alabama edge rusher Dallas Turner slid in the 2024 NFL Draft, Minnesota couldn't resist selecting the high-potential defender. It feels like only a matter of time until Turner starts in Minnesota the only question is if it will be during this season.
Josh Oliver vs. Robert Tonyan
If T.J. Hockenson needs a little more time to recover from his injury and starts the season on the PUP list, Minnesota will need to start someone else at tight end. Josh Oliver is a solid blocker and sneaky receiver but Robert Tonyan could be a solid well-rounded option to hold down fort when situations call for a more versatile tight end.
Sam Darnold vs. J.J. McCarthy
Let's be honest, this is Sam Darnold's job for now. He will be the Vikings' starting quarterback until rookie J.J. Mccarthy is ready to take over the job. It will eventually be McCarthy's job but it's hard to project when that will happen since it all depends on his progress acclimating to the professional level.
Jerry Tillery vs. Jaquelin Roy
Jerry Tillery was a first-round pick of the Chargers in 2019 but has failed to live up to that expectation so far. He started six of his 17 games played for the Raiders last year and registered two sacks, but if he fails to be effective in Minnesota, 23-year-old Jaquelin Roy could be an option to replace him on the defensive line.