The Vikings’ Depth Chart for Round 1 of the NFL Playoffs
The Vikings’ depth chart couldn’t get the job done in Week 18. Accordingly, the challenge now involves going on the road to face Matthew Stafford and the LA Rams.
Maybe the most obvious way to improve upon the in-season loss to the Rams is to generate pressure aplenty on Mr. Stafford. Seeing the veteran work through the game without getting sacked would be a bad sign for Minnesota’s chance of moving on. To that end, look for Jonathan Greenard, Andrew Van Ginkel, Blake Cashman, and several others to have a critical role to play.
Similarly vital will be a bounceback effort from Sam Darnold, who played his worst game of the season last Sunday in Detroit. Seeing the QB1 putting the ball in his receivers’ hands rather than sailing above their heads will be a welcome sight for Minnesotans far and wide. Furthermore, Kevin O’Connell is going to need to be ready for a game plan that involves the Rams sending pressure aplenty while playing physical man coverage. Get sacks on Stafford, have Darnold back to his normal self in 2024, and have a masterful game plan from O’Connell. All of that adds up to a win.
Take a look at the roster going into the game.
The Vikings’ Depth Chart: The NFL Playoffs, Round 1
Offense
Quarterback
QB1: Sam Darnold
QB2: Nick Mullens
QB3: Daniel Jones
Running Back
RB1: Aaron Jones
RB2: Cam Akers
RB3: Ty Chandler
Fullback
FB1: C.J. Ham
Wide Receiver
WR1: Justin Jefferson
WR2: Jordan Addison
WR3: Jalen Nailor
WR4: Brandon Powell
WR5: Trent Sherfield
Tight End
TE1: T.J. Hockenson
TE2: Josh Oliver
TE3: Johnny Mundt
Left Tackle
LT1: Cam Robinson
LT2: Walter Rouse
Left Guard
LG1: Blake Brandel
LG2: Michael Jurgens
Center
C1: Garrett Bradbury
C2: Dan Feeney
Right Guard
RG1: Dalton Risner
RG2: Ed Ingram
Right Tackle
RT1: Brian O’Neill
RT2: David Quessenberry
Defense
Edge Rusher
OLB1: Jonathan Greenard
OLB2: Andrew Van Ginkel
OLB3: Patrick Jones
OLB4: Jihad Ward
OLB5: Dallas Turner
OLB6: Bo Richter
Defensive Line
DT/DE1: Harrison Phillips
DT/DE2: Jonathan Bullard
DT/DE3: Jalen Redmond
DT/DE4: Jerry Tillery
DT/DE5: Levi Drake Rodriguez
Inside Linebacker
LB1: Blake Cashman
LB2: Ivan Pace Jr.
LB3: Kamu Grugier-Hill
LB4: Brian Asamoah
Cornerback
CB1: Stephon Gilmore
CB2: Byron Murphy Jr.
CB3: Shaq Griffin
CB4: Fabian Moreau
CB5: Dwight McGlothern
Safety
S1: Harrison Smith
S2: Camryn Bynum
S3: Josh Metellus
S4: Theo Jackson
S5: Jay Ward
Special Teams
Kicker
K1: Will Reichard
Punter
P1: Ryan Wright
Long Snapper
LS1: Andrew DePaola
The Vikings Have a Problem to Solve at a Critical Position
K. Joudry is the Senior Editor for Vikings Territory and PurplePTSD. He has been covering the Vikings full time since the summer of 2021. He can be found on Twitter, as a co-host for Notes from the North, and as the proprietor at The Vikings Gazette, a humble Vikings Substack.