Vikings Release First Depth Chart of 2023 Season: Takeaways

The Vikings have released an unofficial depth chart ahead of Thursday's preseason opener.

Will Ragatz | Aug 7, 2023

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Minnesota Vikings

Ahead of their preseason opener on Thursday night in Seattle (9 p.m. CT, FOX 9/NFL Network), the Vikings have released their first unofficial depth chart of the 2023 season.

Here it is, as listed on the team's official site. Offense is in 21 personnel (2 backs, 1 TE, 2 WR) and defense is in a 3-4. Backups are listed in order.

Offense

Quarterbacks

Starter: Kirk Cousins
Backups: Nick Mullens; Jaren Hall

Running backs

Starter: Alexander Mattison
Backups: Kene Nwangwu; Ty Chandler; DeWayne McBride; Abram Smith

Fullbacks

Starter: C.J. Ham

Wide receivers

Starters: Justin Jefferson and K.J. Osborn
Backups: Jalen Nailor and Jordan Addison; Jalen Reagor and Brandon Powell; Blake Proehl and Trishton Jackson; Lucky Jackson and Thayer Thomas; N'Keal Harry, Garett Maag and Jacob Copeland

Tight ends

Starter: T.J. Hockenson
Backups: Josh Oliver; Johnny Mundt; Nick Muse; Ben Sims; Colin Thompson

Tackles

Starters: Christian Darrisaw (LT) and Brian O'Neill (RT)
Backups: Vederian Lowe (LT) and Olisaemeka Udoh (RT); Jarrid Williams (LT) and Christian DiLauro (RT); Jacky Chen (LT)

Interior offensive linemen

Starters: Ezra Cleveland (LG), Garrett Bradbury (C) and Ed Ingram (RG)
Backups: Josh Sokol (LG), Austin Schlottmann (C) and Blake Brandel (RG); Jack Snyder (LG), Alan Ali (C) and Chris Reed (NFI)

Offensive takeaways

Nwangwu is RB2 here, which is interesting. He's been around longer than Chandler or McBride, but both had more experience playing the position in college. All four backup RBs should get work in the preseason to help sort out that competition.

The WR pecking order is basically as expected. From what I've observed, though, Powell is well ahead of Reagor in the battle to be WR5 and return punts. If Powell makes Reagor expendable, could Proehl or Jackson (if healthy) sneak onto the 53-man roster as a sixth receiver?

The only thing that stands out with the offensive line is Sokol being listed as the second-team left guard. In the past, he's been the third-string center. Reed (non-football illness) needs to get back to practicing soon if he's going to make this roster.

Defense

Outside Linebackers

Starters: Danielle Hunter and Marcus Davenport
Backups: Pat Jones II and D.J. Wonnum; Luiji Vilain and Benton Whitley; Andre Carter II and Curtis Weaver

Defensive ends

Starters: Dean Lowry and Harrison Phillips
Backups: Jonathan Bullard and Ross Blacklock; Jaquelin Roy and Esezi Otomewo; Sheldon Day and Junior Aho

Nose tackles

Starter: Khyiris Tonga
Backups: T.J. Smith; Calvin Avery

Inside Linebackers

Starters: Brian Asamoah II (MLB) and Jordan Hicks (WLB)
Backups: Troy Dye (MLB) and Troy Reeder (WLB); William Kwenkeu (MLB) and Ivan Pace, Jr. (WLB); Abraham Beauplan (MLB) and Wilson Huber (WLB)

Cornerbacks

Starters: Byron Murphy, Jr. and Akayleb Evans
Backups: Andrew Booth, Jr. and Joejuan Williams; Mekhi Blackmon and Kalon Barnes; Jaylin Williams and Tay Gowan; NaJee Thompson and C.J. Coldon, Jr.

Safeties

Starters: Harrison Smith and Camryn Bynum
Backups: Lewis Cine and Josh Metellus; Jay Ward and Theo Jackson

Defensive takeaways

There are a few things here that just don't align with what we've seen at practice throughout training camp. The most notable one is Blackmon being listed behind Booth and Williams. Williams started out as the CB3 with the starters, but that role has belonged to Blackmon for several practices now. Booth has never been in that mix. That's pretty clear evidence that this depth chart is still skewing against rookies for now.

Also, at inside linebacker, we've seen Pace get more work with the second unit than Reeder and Dye. That's another one where his status as a rookie is probably the only reason he's listed with the threes.

At defensive tackle, I hadn't been thinking a ton about the difference between 3-4 DEs and true nose tackles. Smith might have a case for a roster spot as the backup nose.

Remember, there are still three full weeks until roster cutdown day, including three preseason games and four joint practices. Those will go a long way towards determining roles and roster spots.