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Predicting the Vikings’ Offensive Starters — Pre-Training Camp
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- Predicting the Vikings’ Offensive Starters — Pre-Training Camp
Jeffrey Becker
The Minnesota Vikings have 90 men on their roster right now, but that will change in late August when the number shrinks to 53. Along the way, a depth chart will take shape, so we're here in early July to project the offensive starters.
There's a long way to go at training camp and in the preseason , but these are our prognostications as of Independence Day. Starters are bolded in red.
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Kyler Murray Headlines Vikings ' Pre-Camp Offensive Projection
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kyler Murray speaks with reporters following minicamp practice at the TCO Performance Center on June 9, 2026. Murray discussed his work with quarterbacks coach Josh McCown and his transition into Minnesota's offense, offering another snapshot of his early progress and comfort level with the new team during a busy June session. Mandatory Credit: YouTube.
Quarterback (3)
QB1: Kyler Murray
QB2: J.J. McCarthy
QB3: Carson Wentz
Projected to Miss 53-Man Roster: Max Brosmer
Murray will win the quarterback battle — he's a -770 favorite from oddsmakers to do so — and McCarthy will have to wait until Murray gets dinged up or struggles to see the 2026 offense. The Vikings brought Wentz back with a purpose, putting Brosmer on the chopping block .
Running Back (3)
RB1: Aaron Jones
RB2: Jordan Mason
RB3: Demond Claiborne
Projected to Miss 53-Man Roster:
Zavier Scott
| Kejon Owens
Claiborne better win the RB3 job over Scott; if he does not, what was the point of the draft pick? The Vikings desperately need youth at running back. Claiborne is their one big shot until perhaps being forced to use Round 1-4 draft capital on a tailback next April.
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In the meantime, Jones and Mason will share RB1 touches until one guy gets hurt. We picked Jones as the RB1 because he'll probably take the first handoff of the season.
Fullback (1)
FB1: Max Bredeson
A no-brainer here, Bredeson is a member of the Vikings to take over C.J. Ham's job after Ham retired a few months ago. The Vikings are not done with the fullback era.
Wide Receiver (5)
WR1: Justin Jefferson
WR2: Jordan Addison
WR3: Jauan Jennings
WR4: Tai Felton
WR5: Myles Price
Projected to Miss 53-Man Roster:
Dillon Bell | Jeshaun Jones
| Dontae Fleming
| Luke Wysong | Marcus Sanders | Trayvon Rudolph | Michael Briscoe | Terrill Davis
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We reserve the right to change this, adding Bell to the active roster at the end of the summer. He has a strong tailwind, but he must prove it at training camp and in the preseason. If Bell turns heads later this summer, it could put Felton or Price on notice.
The main three wideouts are simply indisputable.
Tight End (3)
TE1: T.J. Hockenson
TE2: Josh Oliver
TE3: Gavin Bartholomew
Projected to Miss 53-Man Roster:
Ben Yurosek
| Bryson Nesbit
| Marshall Lang
Minnesota Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson (87) looks on from the sideline during the first quarter against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on Nov 2, 2025. Hockenson returned to a familiar NFC North setting in Detroit, watching early action unfold as Minnesota worked through another divisional road test inside a loud stadium. Mandatory Credit: Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images.
Hockenson and Oliver are locks; the TE3 spot is trickier. We're rolling with Bartholomew because of the 2025 draft investment. In fact, it feels like Minnesota has an extra rookie because Bartholomew didn't play in 2025 due to injuries.
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Left Tackle (2)
LT1: Christian Darrisaw
LT2: Caleb Tiernan
Projected to Miss 53-Man Roster:Tristan Leigh
No mysteries here — Darrisaw and Tiernan will easily win roster spots, with Leigh crossing his fingers for the practice squad .
Right Tackle (3)
RT1: Brian O'Neill
RT2: Ryan Van Demark
RT3: Walter
Rouse
Another no-brainer, O'Neill is guaranteed to win the RT1 spot, his job since the 2018 campaign. He's also up for a contract extension, which should be automatic by the Vikings' decision-makers.
Center (3)
C1: Blake Brandel
C2: Michael Jurgens
C3: Gavin Gerhardt
Minnesota has outwardly announced that it likes Brandel for this job, and investing a 7th-Rounder in a replacement — like Gerhardt — probably doesn't mean much. Brandel will be the starting center this season, and at age 29, he has the opportunity to hold the job for the next half-decade or so.
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Left Guard (1)
LG1: Donovan Jackson
Projected to Miss 53-Man Roster:Henry Byrd | Delby Lemieux
Former Ohio State Buckeye Donovan Jackson stands on the sideline before Ohio State's matchup with Texas at Ohio Stadium in Columbus on Aug 30, 2025. Jackson took in the pregame scene before a high-profile college football opener, with cameras capturing him near the field ahead of another heavyweight Saturday matchup. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Robertson/Columbus Dispatch-USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images.
Minnesota used a 1st-Round pick on Jackson in 2025, and he played quite well for a rookie. Fast forward to 2026, and the Vikings signed no guards in free agency and drafted none in April. The job remains Jackson's.
Our Brevan Bane noted on Jackson a couple of weeks ago, "Jackson definitely needs to improve upon his run-blocking for sure, although you could make the argument that the Vikings' all-around shaky running game last season could contribute to his performance."
"The good news is that Jackson is looking like he could be a legitimately good pass-blocking guard. Across 440 total reps in pass protection, PFF credited Jackson with allowing 2 sacks, 5 QB hits and 19 QB hurries to total 26 total pressures."
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Right Guard (2)
RG1: Will Fries
RG2: Joe Huber
Projected to Miss 53-Man Roster:Vershon Lee | Tomas Rimac
Fries seeks a bounceback season, at least one that lives up to the five-year, $87 million contract he signed during the 2025 offseason. His 61.8 Pro Football Focus grade last year was decent but not worth the monster price tag.
Huber figures to be the primary backup guard with the aforementioned Brandel presumably moving to center .
