4 Potential Surprise Starters for Vikings
With training camp around the corner, the focus shifts from potential free-agent additions to position battles in camp. The coaches must complete their starting lineups, and the players compete with each other to produce a winner. Some positions have already established a clear favorite, but others are complete mysteries.
4 Potential Surprise Starters for Vikings
Who are some players who could slide into the starting lineup that nobody is really thinking about?
Jonathan Bullard
The defensive line in 2022, the first season under the new regime, changed from two to three interior starters. Next to guaranteed starters Harrison Phillips and Dalvin Tomlinson, a third one was expected to be Armon Watts, who was coming fresh off a five-sack season.
However, the coaching staff threw a curve ball, and Jonathan Bullard was the third lineman. A similar upset happened last year when folks expected Khyiris Tonga to play a significant role just to see Bullard log over 600 snaps and 14 starts.
This year, once again, the focus shifts to other players, such as free-agent signing Jerry Tillery and last year’s rookie Jaquelin Roy. Bullard is as good a bet as those guys, as he has shown that he is hard to beat in training camp. Two different defensive coaching staffs trusted him with major roles, and there’s no reason to expect a different outcome in 2024. The 30-year-old registered 44 tackles and two sacks last season.
Robert Tonyan
The tight end position is wide open with T.J. Hockenson recovering from a torn ACL. Last year’s addition, Josh Oliver, is primarily a blocking tight end, and Johnny Mundt was used as the team’s top receiving tight end in the final two games sans Hockenson.
While he was doing a decent job, Robert Tonyan is a superior athlete and a specialist in the passing attack. He has spent his entire career in the NFC North, coming off a season with the Bears where he disappeared in the subpar offense. Previously, he was a favorite target of Aaron Rodgers in Green Bay.
Although his 2023 season failed to match the numbers he produced in Green Bay, and he turned 30 in April, the early reports from Vikings’ practices have been positive.
Blake Brandel
The left guard spot has been tumultuous in the last 12 months. While Ezra Cleveland had a chokehold on the position for years, the Vikings signed Dalton Risner and traded Cleveland to Jacksonville. Risner remained in the starting lineup for the entire 2023 season.
After that year, however, he walked in free agency, and Blake Brandel re-signed for premier backup or low-end starting money. When Brandel was penciled in as a starter, Risner returned, surprisingly, for less money.
The coaching staff can now choose between Risner’s experience and longtime backup Brandel, who has drawn a ton of praise from the coaches in recent months. That, combined with the salary, suggests that last year’s depth chart order might no longer be accurate.
Jalen Nailor
Wide receiver K.J. Osborn departed in March after his rookie contract had expired, joining the New England Patriots. The Vikings didn’t add any apparent competitors for the WR3 spot behind Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison, so last year’s emerging contributor, Brandon Powell, is expected to have an increased role.
However, 2022 sixth-rounder Jalen Nailor has been a favorite of head coach Kevin O’Connell, and he recently mentioned the speedy wideout in a presser. His talent is undeniable, but Nailor struggles to stay healthy. If he remains available for the few weeks of training camp and the preseason, he has a chance to show his explosiveness and claim the WR3 spot.
Editor’s Note: Information from Over the Cap and Pro Football Reference helped with this article.
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Janik Eckardt is a football fan who likes numbers and stats. The Vikings became his favorite team despite their quarterback at the time, Christian Ponder. He is a walking soccer encyclopedia, loves watching sitcoms, and prefers Classic rock over other genres. Follow him on Twitter if you like the Vikings: @JanikEckardt