EAGAN, Minn. -- The Minnesota Vikings open the 2023 NFL regular season against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sept. 10 at U.S. Bank Stadium.
They spent the past five months reshaping large parts of their offensive and defensive position groups, refusing to go all-in after a 13-4 season that surprised many people inside and outside the organization. Gone are running back Dalvin Cook, receiver Adam Thielen, pass-rusher Za'Darius Smith, linebacker Eric Kendricks, defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson and cornerback Patrick Peterson. They'll be replaced by a combination of relatively recent draft picks and younger free agent acquisitions, from running back Alexander Mattison to linebacker Brian Asamoah II to pass-rusher Marcus Davenport.
Still, some of the core of the Vikings' 2022 success remains intact, especially on offense, which returns all five starters along the offensive line as well as quarterback Kirk Cousins and receiver Justin Jefferson.
As training camp opens, here's a projection of the team's 53-man roster:
QUARTERBACK (3): Kirk Cousins, Nick Mullens, Jaren Hall
Cousins' durability minimizes the need for three active quarterbacks, so the question is whether the Vikings would lose Hall via waivers if they tried to get him onto their practice squad. After all, they cut two quarterbacks after training camp in 2022 -- Sean Mannion and Kellen Mond -- and both landed elsewhere. Hall was a fifth-round pick, a reflection of how the other 31 teams view him, but the Vikings will want to ensure he remains in the program.
RUNNING BACK (4): Alexander Mattison, Ty Chandler, Kene Nwangwu, DeWayne McBride
This might be the Vikings' most straightforward position, barring injuries. Mattison will get an opportunity to be their full-time back, leaving relatively little playing time for the depth behind him. Chandler might be the favorite to spell Mattison when needed, with Nwangwu returning kickoffs, while McBride learns the offense.
FULLBACK (1): C.J. Ham
O'Connell's offense needs a fullback, and if there are any doubts about whether it will be Ham, recall that the Vikings gave him a contract extension that will pay him $3.3 million in full guarantees this season.
WIDE RECEIVER (5): Justin Jefferson, K.J. Osborn, Jordan Addison, Jalen Nailor, Brandon Powell
The first three here are pretty obvious, and Nailor has a relatively high upside for a former sixth-round pick. That leaves a decision between Powell and Jalen Reagor. They have similar attributes with punt-return ability, but Powell played for O'Connell in Los Angeles in 2021.
TIGHT END (3): T.J. Hockenson, Josh Oliver, Johnny Mundt
Three tight ends might be a little light for team that will rely heavily on the position, but the Vikings should be able to stash one or more backups on the practice squad and leave a spot open for talent at another position. Hockenson and Oliver will play a lot and, barring injury, there won't be much need for a third tight end on offense.
OFFENSIVE LINE (10): Christian Darrisaw, Ezra Cleveland, Garrett Bradbury, Ed Ingram, Brian O'Neill, Blake Brandel, Vederian Lowe, Austin Schlottmann. Olisaemeka Udoh, Chris Reed
This projection essentially runs it back from 2022. 10 might seem like a big number for a team that is returning its starting line, but Brandel, Schlottmann, Udoh and Reed were all forced to make starts last season because of injuries.
DEFENSIVE LINE (5): Harrison Phillips, Dean Lowry, Khyiris Tonga, Jaquelin Roy, Esezi Otomewo
The Vikings acquired Lowry to replace Tomlinson. Tonga showed some potential in the second half of last season, Otomewo could make a jump in his second season and Roy could be a sleeper pick from the Vikings' 2023 draft.
LINEBACKER (9): Danielle Hunter, Marcus Davenport, Brian Asamoah II, Jordan Hicks, D.J. Wonnum, Patrick Jones II, Troy Reeder, William Kwenkeu, Andre Carter II
We're keeping this group a little heavy following Hunter's absence from all offseason activities. Carter gets a spot on the basis of the $340,000 in guarantees the Vikings used to lure him as an undrafted free agent.
CORNERBACK (5): Byron Murphy Jr., Andrew Booth Jr., Akayleb Evans, Mekhi Blackmon, Joejuan Williams
General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has dramatically revamped this position group over the past two seasons. None of these five players were on the roster in 2021. Murphy will play outside in base coverages, with Booth and Evans competing to start across from him, and move inside when the Vikings shift to nickel.
SAFETY (5): Harrison Smith, Camryn Bynum, Josh Metellus, Lewis Cine, Jay Ward
This position is interesting because it includes one backup, Metellus, who merits more playing more playing time and another, Cine, who is destined for a bigger opportunity assuming he recovers fully from a broken leg. Smith and Bynum enter camp set to resume their starting roles. Ward's versatility will be key; he will get work at safety and nickel corner.
SPECIALISTS (3): Greg Joseph, Ryan Wright, Andrew DePaola
The Vikings re-signed both Joseph and DePaolo during the offseason, fully guaranteeing them $1.7 million and $1.5 million, respectively. Those figures aren't prohibitive if the team wants to make a change, but they are a strong indication of preference. Wright's successful rookie season makes him an unlikely candidate to be replaced as well.