The Minnesota Vikings open training camp for the 2020 NFL season on July 28 at TCO Performance Center in Eagan, Minnesota. The Vikings finished the regular season 10-6 and in second place in the NFC North. They return 18 starters from that team as well as head coach Mike Zimmer and coordinator Marwin Maalouf (special teams). Here's a 53-player roster projection:
QUARTERBACKS (2): Kirk Cousins and Sean Mannion.
The Vikings will continue the trend they started a year ago of keeping just two quarterbacks on the active roster. Cousins' durability is impressive with 79 consecutive regular season starts (that would have been 80 had the Vikings' not already clinched a spot in the playoffs ahead of Week 17), so there's only a need for one backup. Former Iowa quarterback Nate Stanely, drafted in the seventh round, takes this year's developmental QB spot on the practice squad, beating out Jake Browning.
RUNNING BACKS (4): Dalvin Cook, Alexander Mattison, Mike Boone and Ameer Abdullah.
The Vikings didn't draft a running back. Even if Cook holds out during training camp, Minnesota can confidently turn the reins of the running game over to Mattison and use Boone and Abdullah as change-of-pace backs. Of the four, Abdullah will face the most competition for a spot on the roster and battle with rookie K.J. Osborn for his job as a returner.
FULLBACK (1): C.J. Ham.
The Vikings use a lot of 22 personnel, which is reliant upon the fullback and tight end position. Ham's role is vital, and the Vikings rewarded him with a multi-year extension this offseason.
WIDE RECEIVERS (5): Adam Thielen, Justin Jefferson, Bisi Johnson, Tajae Sharpe and K.J. Osborn.
For years, a popular training camp storyline in Minnesota was centered on the team's No. 3 receiver. With Stefon Diggs gone, that attention shifts to the Vikings' No. 2. It's obvious to count on Jefferson to fill that void, but how the rest of the depth chart shakes out is unknown. Sharpe, signed as a free agent, and Johnson, who had a strong rookie season, appear to have a leg up on the eight other receivers not named Thielen or Jefferson. Osborn, a fifth-round pick, makes a strong case to earn a spot over Chad Beebe and top UDFA Quartney Davis (who is likely bound for the practice squad). Osborn has the ability to play on the boundary or in the slot and has potential to take over on punt return.
TIGHT ENDS (3): Kyle Rudolph, Irv Smith Jr. and Tyler Conklin.
The tight end group doesn't present a lot of mystery. The top two spots are set with Rudolph and Smith Jr., who should see his role as an F-tight end increase significantly this season. Last season Conklin made a handful of important contributions in the passing game and has become a better blocker, which could be enough to fend off former UDFA Brandon Dillon from taking his spot.
OFFENSIVE LINE (10): Riley Reiff, Pat Elflein, Garrett Bradbury, Dru Samia, Brian O'Neill, Ezra Cleveland, Rashod Hill, Dakota Dozier, Oli Udoh and Aviante Collins.
Minnesota has more depth on the offensive line than in recent years, and that will be important when it comes to deciding the competition for both guard spots. This training camp feels like Elflein's last chance in Minnesota, but the flexibility he provides at guard and center might keep him around as a backup if he gets beat out by Samia and Dozier. It remains to be seen what the Vikings will do with second-rounder Ezra Cleveland. If he's ready, Cleveland could slide in at left tackle, which might force Reiff to play left guard and create an intriguing game of musical chairs. Either way, the Vikings will go heavy on the offensive line because they have the personnel to make significant improvements to this unit.
DEFENSIVE LINE (9): Danielle Hunter, Ifeadi Odenigbo, D.J. Wonnum, Kenny Willekes, Michael Pierce, Armon Watts, Jaleel Johnson, Jalyn Holmes, James Lynch and Hercules Mata'afa.
With the youth movement in full effect on defense, the Vikings can choose to part ways with Shamar Stephen and upgrade the three-technique spot with Armon Watts, James Lynch and Hercules Mata'afa. Odenigbo is penciled in as the starter opposite Danielle Hunter at defensive end. Rookies D.J. Wonnum and Kenny Willekes have a shot to earn rotational edge rusher roles.
LINEBACKERS (5): Anthony Barr, Eric Kendricks, Eric Wilson, Troy Dye and Cameron Smith.
Minnesota often finds its special teams depth within the linebacker corps, so maybe the team ends up keeping six over five. Dye, a fifth-rounder, has tremendous athletic traits and can contribute immediately on special teams and as a backup linebacker with good coverage skills. Wilson's game translates better to the Vikings' scheme, which means Ben Gedeon gets cut.
CORNERBACKS (7): Mike Hughes, Jeff Gladney, Holton Hill, Kris Boyd, Cameron Dantzler, Harrison Hand and Nevelle Clarke.
The Vikings entered the draft with depth concerns at corner and head into training camp with 11 on the roster. Hughes has experience playing in the slot and outside. If Minnesota doesn't sign a veteran in the coming weeks, it makes sense for Hughes to take over at nickel. That means Gladney, Hill and Dantzler will be in line for the two outside corner spots. Boyd's contributions on special teams last year might put him in line for a bigger role in 2020. Hand makes the roster for defensive back flexibility while Clark was a top UDFA signing.
SAFETIES (4): Harrison Smith, Anthony Harris, Brian Cole II and Josh Metellus.
Minnesota has one of the NFL's top safety tandems but little depth behind Smith and Harris. The two players they drafted on Day 3 -- Cole II and Metellus -- should find a way onto the roster via special teams and as backups.
SPECIALIST (3): Dan Bailey, Britton Colquitt and Austin Cutting.
Could it be a season without a kicking, punting or long-snapping competition in Vikings training camp? Special teams coordinator Marwan Maalouf deserves a lot of credit for the improvements made by this unit in a year's time. With all three specialists under contract through 2022 after Bailey and Colquitt signed new deals in March, the Vikings can continue to build on the continuity they established within their kicking and punting battery.