Vikings

2016 Minnesota Vikings Training Camp: First Unofficial Depth Chart

Training camp walkthroughs provide very little insight into player performance, but they do give us a few quick clues as the how the depth chart is developing. While there’s a lot of change ahead of us, right now we can figure out who the leaders in the clubhouse are at certain positions.

Expect these to change. Mike Zimmer today mentioned that the starting offensive line will change throughout camp, and we should see something similar for safeties and receivers. But for now, this is where we are.

OFFENSE
QB: Teddy Bridgewater, Shaun Hill, Joel Stave
WR1: Charles Johnson, Laquon Treadwell, Cordarrelle Patterson, Moritz Boehringer, Marken Michel, Terell Sinkfield
WR2: Stefon Diggs, Jarius Wright, Adam Thielen, Isaac Fruechte, Troy Stoudermire
RB: Adrian Peterson, Jerick McKinnon, Matt Asiata, C.J. Ham, Jhurell Pressley
FB: Zach Line, Blake Renaud
TE: Kyle Rudolph, MyCole Pruitt, David Morgan, Kyle Carter, Brian Leonhardt
LT: Matt Kalil, Jeremiah Sirles, Carter Bykowski
LG: Alex Boone, Willie Beavers, Sean Hickey
C: John Sullivan, Joe Berger, Nick Easton
RG: Brandon Fusco, Zac Kerin, Isame Faciane
RT: Andre Smith, T.J. Clemmings, Austin Shepherd

DEFENSE
RDE: Everson Griffen, Justin Trattou, Scott Crichton, Zach Moore
UT: Sharrif Floyd, Tom Johnson, Travis Raciti
NT: Linval Joseph, Shamar Stephen,  Toby Johnson
LDE: Brian Robison, Danielle Hunter, Stephen Weatherly, Denzell Perine, Theiren Cockran
SLB: Anthony Barr, Edmond Robinson, Jake Ganus
MLB: Eric Kendricks, Audie Cole, Kentrell Brothers
WLB: Chad Greenway, Emmanuel Lamur, Brandon Watts, Jason Whittingham
LCB: Terence Newman, Trae Waynes, Tre Roberson
RCB: Xavier Rhodes, Jabari Price, Melvin White, Keith Baxter
NCB: Captain Munnerlyn, Mackensie Alexander, Marcus Sherels
CS: Harrison Smith, Michael Griffin, Anthony Harris
OS: Andrew Sendejo, Antone Exum, Jayron Kearse

PUP: Rhett Ellison, Kenrick Ellis
NFI: Taylor Heinicke, Mike Harris

I’ve temporarily changed safety designations because of this (excellent) video from Brett Kollman.

I don’t think I missed anyone, but if I did—my mistake. Almost all of the third team depth chart stuff is pretty conditional and I wouldn’t be surprised if I saw a third team rotation that was the second or third of its kind—so take anything after the second team with a grain of salt.

If I had to say which receivers got the most early rotations, it would be the following four: Stefon Diggs, Charles Johnson, Adam Thielen and Laquon Treadwell. I don’t think this means anything for Cordarrelle Patterson or Jarius Wright in terms of their chances of making the team, but it is probably good for Thielen.

The only snaps I saw Scott Crichton take were at defensive tackle, but it was a nickel look with Travis Raciti playing three-technique alongside him. He will probably be a defensive end throughout camp. The fact that Trattou is taking defensive end snaps ahead of him bodes poorly for Crichton.

I didn’t see any reps for Toby Johnson, who I assume will stay at nose tackle.

IMG_1067

Takeaways: Scott Crichton is in trouble, Adam Thielen is working his way up the depth chart, Chad Greenway has a great shot of making the roster, and Fusco is getting a real shot with Harris out.

Zac Kerin’s listing in the media guide is as a guard instead of a center, which is probably somewhat meaningful—Brandon Fusco was listed as a center for a year or two before being listed as a guard and has not been in the discussion as a center despite playing that position for four years in college and as a backup for at least one year with Minnesota.

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