The Vikings’ Depth Chart and The Players Who Got Bad News Due to 2026 Draft
Football tends to be a zero-sum game. Going +1 with a promising DT means needing to go -1 on another DT, at least in terms of playing time.
So, the Vikings’ depth chart did get a minor makeover, if only on paper.
Using the No. 18 selection on Caleb Banks has led to no shortage of digital ink being spilled on the topic. Many see upside and yet there’s considerable risk. Even still, the tangible action from the team tells us much: Mr. Banks has been brought to town to play (so long as his health cooperates). What depth chart shuffling can we anticipate as a result of the higher picks more broadly?
The Vikings’ Depth Chart:
The In-House Players Now Battling Tough Competition
Levi Drake Rodriguez, Taki Taimani, & Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins
Over on Vikings Territory, Dustin Baker dove into the case for Ingram-Dawkins getting bumped down.
Very likely, folks, that Ingram-Dawkins slots in behind Banks for total snaps, but these two players offer a different build. Banks is built like a nose tackle as someone who is handy to 330 pounds; Ingram-Dawkins is built like a 3-4 defensive end at roughly 290 (think playing 3T/5T, if you’re into the football lingo).
To my eye, Taimani – the UDFA who played more as a rookie than as a sophomore – faces a tough road ahead to get back onto the roster. He’s a larger lineman, possessing a good frame to be a nose tackle. His issue is that he now needs to overcome Banks and Domonique Orange. That’s a tough challenge.
Rodriguez has been ascending, improving in his role as a smaller DT who plays with great energy and hustle. He’ll be fine in the end.
Ivan Pace and Bo Richter
Jake Golday stands at 6’4” and weighs close to 240 pounds. In just a general sense, his build mirrors Andrew Van Ginkel (listed at 6’4″ and 242 pounds). That’s good news for the Vikings but bad news for Mr. Pace (an off-ball linebacker) and Mr. Richter (an edge rusher).
Golday offers very good speed. He’s an aggressor, possibly allowing him to chase down ball carriers from sideline-to-sideline. So, too, does he appear capable of exploding off the line of scrimmage. Minnesota’s hoping that he’ll be able to stress offensive tackles with length and wheels.
Alongside Eric Wilson, Golday is an off-ball linebacker who can be both someone who plays a traditonal linebacker role while getting kicked up to edge rusher. If he fulfills his potential, Golday will steal snaps from others.
Walter Rouse and Caleb Etienne
Mr. Rouse boasts great size and does excellent off-field work. Snagging him in the 6th of the 2024 NFL Draft appeared to be a nice move, but he has had a modest start to his career.
Adding Ryan Van Demark means boasting a strong OT3. Or, at the very least, someone whom the Vikings expect to be a strong OT3. But then there’s the more recent investment in the position. Snagging Caleb Tiernan in the 3rd looks like a really nice move since many draft analysts had him going higher.
As a result, there’s a pretty clear OT hierarchy, if only on paper:
- LT1: Christian Darrisaw
- RT1: Brian O’Neill
- OT3: Ryan Van Demark
- OT4: Caleb Tiernan
- OT5: Walter Rouse
- OT6: Caleb Etienne
The Vikings are going to keep somewhere around nine or ten offensive linemen on the final roster. The move will then be to dress eight for games: five starters alongside three backups. Van Demark and Tiernan aren’t going to sit unless something unexpected occurs, so the competition is going to be intense.
