Three Surprises from the First Vikings Depth Chart

Players with Do or Die Stakes in Vikings Last Preseason Game
Jul 28, 2022; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Myron Mitchell. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports.

The Vikings first unofficial depth chart has dropped ahead of their first preseason game this weekend. While this is far from the final listing that will come out before their regular season opener against the Packers on September 11th, there are a few surprising things that have come out of this list. Today, we will discuss three of them.

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Myron Mitchell Emerges at WR

Amidst one of the deepest wide receiver rooms in the entire NFL, it is a former undrafted free agent that is emerging through the ranks. Myron Mitchell played his college ball at UAB before being signed as a UDFA by the Vikings in 2021. Following the preseason, he spent the regular season on the practice squad.

Coming into training camp in 2022, it is clear that Mitchell has become a different beast. The Vikings do not have official position rankings in this depth chart, but if the groupings are to mean anything, Mitchell appears to be a third-string receiver alongside Bisi Johnson. The only four receivers above these two right now are Justin Jefferson, Adam Thielen, KJ Osborn, and Ihmir Smith-Marsette. With the Vikings first preseason game happening this Sunday, we should see plenty of Mitchell throughout the afternoon in Las Vegas.

Blake Brandel as Backup LT

Christian Darrisaw and Brian O’Neill each have All-Pro potential at the starting tackle spots, but there was a bit of uncertainty with the backup spots. Vederian Lowe was a sixth-round selection in the 2022 draft, and there was some hype around him heading into camp.

However, it is once again an overlooked player that has taken hold of the backup spot. Blake Brandel was a sixth-round pick in 2020 and spent his first two NFL seasons on the practice squad. This year, he is not only one of the two backup tackles alongside Oli Udoh, but the Vikings have him listed as the backup left tackle in this grouping. With this development, it appears that Lowe may be destined to take Brandel’s former spot on the practice squad.

No Commitment to a QB2

Just like every year since the emergence of Case Keenum in 2017, there is a good amount of uncertainty with the backup QB spot. Kellen Mond was drafted in the third round of the 2021 draft and looked like the guy to take over the backup role behind Kirk Cousins. However, after a tough training camp and preseason, the Vikings once again brought in Sean Mannion to take the role, and Mond played just three snaps in the Packers game where Cousins was out with Covid.

Once again, the Vikings seem non-committal to Mond being the backup despite some decent play in camp. The backups on the depth chart behind Cousins are listed as “Kellen Mond OR Sean Mannion” while every other position has clear tiers assigned. Perhaps this is just a way of keeping their ultimate plans under wraps until the regular season begins, but it is a little concerning that Mond has not truly taken that backup spot yet.

The Vikings first preseason game will be played on Sunday, August 14th as they take on the Raiders in Las Vegas at 3:25 PM CST.

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