Training Camp Gets Going with a Fully Signed Draft Class
K. Joudry
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A week ago, we noted that the Vikings still had a couple picks to sign. Leading up the weekend, there were rumblings that Ed Ingram – a second-round guard – was getting close to agreeing to a deal. Well, the rumors ended up being true about Ingram. He did sign his deal, and so too did Andrew Booth Jr. Minnesota thus has their entire draft class under contract.
Obviously, it’s a good thing that Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, Kevin O’Connell, and the rest of the team’s leadership don’t need to answer questions about this issue throughout camp. The focus ought to be on competing in 2022. Right or wrong, this is a team that believes it has a shot at the Super Bowl. Training camp and the upcoming preseason games will be the most important portion of the offseason when it comes to preparing for the ultimate goal.
Ingram, in all likelihood, doesn’t have much of a shot at the starting position. Ezra Cleveland has proven to be a strong LG. Ideally, Cleveland can show further improvement in his third season, thus forming a strong tandem with Christian Darrisaw along the left side. Ingram should be the backup LG.
ABJ, on the other hand, appears to have a genuine shot at a starting position. In the modern NFL, team’s need at least three corners to play significant snaps every game. Patrick Peterson will be a starter, and Cameron Dantzler certainly has the upper hand in the corner competition. I believe he’ll end up being a strong starter along the outside. From there, it’s a competition between Chandon Sullivan, Nate Hairston, Akayleb Evans, and ABJ. We’ll learn who deserves the third corner spot as training camp and the preseason unfold.
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