The Youngest Vikings at Each Position in 2023: Offense
The Minnesota Vikings have made big strides to get younger across their roster this offseason. As training camp gets closer, here is a look at the youngest Vikings at each position on the offensive side of the ball.
Quarterback: Jaren Hall (25)
Jaren Hall spent five years at BYU before entering the 2023 NFL Draft. During his senior season, the QB tabulated 3171 passing yards for 31 TDs while tossing just 6 interceptions. Additionally, he put together 350 rushing yards and scored a trio of touchdowns on the ground. In the fifth round of this spring’s draft, the Vikings selected him with the 164th overall pick. Now, the 25-year-old QB will likely spend his rookie season behind both Kirk Cousins and Nick Mullens on Minnesota’s depth chart.
Running Back: DeWayne McBride (21)
Minnesota released veteran starter Dalvin Cook from the roster last month, so now, the Vikings will be relying on a group of young players to handle the workload in the backfield. One of those players is seventh-round draft pick DeWayne McBride, who spent his collegiate career at UAB being one of the most productive running backs in all of college football. McBride is actually the youngest player on the entire Vikings roster right now at just 21 years of age.
Wide Receiver: Malik Knowles (22)
As we get into some of the Vikings that joined the team as undrafted free agents, one player that absolutely should be given attention in training camp is Malik Knowles. Knowles is a big-bodied receiver that was very productive for the Kansas State Wildcats. Not only did he put up 127 receptions and 1867 yards over his career, but he also tallied 36 carries for 440 rushing yards. Now, he will have to fight for a roster spot at one of the deepest positions on Minnesota’s roster.
Tight End: Ben Sims (23)
The Vikings tight end room seems fairly set at the top with T.J. Hockenson and Josh Oliver around, but perhaps someone like Ben Sims can sneak onto the final 53-man roster as the third player rather than a veteran such as Johnny Mundt. Sims was a strong pass-catching tight end during his career at Baylor, recording 31 receptions in both 2021 and 2022. Now, at just 23 years old, he hopes to mix it up with the vets.
Offensive Tackle: Christian Darrisaw (24)
There’s no denying that Christian Darrisaw, despite being just 24 years old, is one of the most talented offensive tackles in the entire league. After battling through some injury troubles during his rookie season, Darrisaw took massive steps forward in 2022 and should be considered an elite player in the trenches.
Interior Offensive Line: Jacky Chen (23)
Jacky Chen played his college football at the D-II level with Pace University, spending a total of five years in the program. Of all the positions on the Vikings roster, interior offensive line may be the thinnest spot, with only Austin Schlottmann and Chris Reed feeling like surefire candidates for the final 53. Chen has an opportunity to compete for a spot this fall.
Josh Frey is a Class of 2020 graduate of The College of Idaho and managing editor of PurplePTSD.com. When he’s not writing about the NFL, Josh enjoys running, gaming, or rooting for the Milwaukee Brewers and Bucks. Check out his Twitter account: @Freyed_Chicken.