Minnesota Vikings security Jay Ward knocks the soccer free from Chicago Bears broad receiver DJ Moore throughout second-half motion on Sep. 8, 2025, at Soldier Discipline in Chicago, Illinois. Ward continued competing for a bigger defensive function in Brian Flores’ secondary whereas contributing bodily play and flexibility all through Minnesota’s defensive backfield rotation. Necessary Credit score: David Banks-Imagn Photos
Minnesota Vikings coaching camp is lower than 10 weeks away, and through that occasion, the teaching employees will shave the roster from 90 males to 53. Accordingly, it’s time to begin defining a number of the neglected gamers coming into the summer season.
Minnesota’s roster has a number of quieter names who might turn into helpful items earlier than the common season.
Minnesota’s roster is greater than able to returning to the postseason in 2026. The next gamers will quietly help in that endeavor.
Depth Gamers Will Have an effect on Key Summer season Battles
The annual underrated pecking order of Vikings, ranked in ascending order (No. 1 = most underrated).
Pittsburgh tight finish Gavin Bartholomew (TE02) participates in on-field drills through the 2025 NFL Mix on Feb. 28, 2025, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. Bartholomew showcased his athletic profile in entrance of NFL evaluators as groups assessed tight finish prospects forward of the draft, with Minnesota among the many franchises monitoring offensive depth choices through the scouting course of. Necessary Credit score: Kirby Lee-Imagn Photos.
5. Gavin Bartholomew | TE
Minnesota drafted Bartholomew in 2025 from Spherical 6 — after which he didn’t do a rattling factor as a rookie due to harm. Undrafted tight finish Ben Yurosek swiped his job.
Now, although, Bartholomew is presumably wholesome, so he’s mainly one other rookie for the Vikings this season. He and Yurosek will duke it out for the TE3 job this summer season, and there’s an opportunity that Bartholomew prevails, constructing on the plan from the 2025 NFL Draft.
Who is aware of? Maybe Bartholomew is simply plain good. There’s no approach to inform till he steps foot on an everyday season subject. The Vikings drafted him for a purpose 13 months in the past.
4. Ryan Van Demark | OT
The 2025 numbers for Van Demark, a newcomer in free company, are fairly phenomenal, particularly for a man who initiatives as a backup deal with on the Vikings’ 2026 depth chart.
Listed below are the Professional Soccer Focus grades with snap counts
2025: 74.4 (312 snaps)
2024: 53.3 (199 snaps)
2023: 60.2 (47 snaps)
The pass-blocking:
2025: 65.6
2024: 51.8
2023: 27.2
And the run-blocking:
2025: 74.9
2024: 51.4
2023: 64.4
Followers hope that Christian Darrisaw’s ACL has lastly healed. If Darrisaw encounters extra troubles, inserting Van Demark into the lineup shouldn’t spell doomsday, primarily based on his efficiency in Buffalo final 12 months.
3. Jay Ward | S
Ward’s path to elevated enjoying time is now clear. With Harrison Smith’s departure, ample security snaps can be found. The Vikings additional emphasised this by passing on Dillon Thieneman and Emmanuel McNeil-Warren within the draft, regardless of Thieneman often showing in mock drafts as a Minnesota-bound participant. This leaves Ward, Theo Jackson, and Third-Spherical rookie Jakobe Thomas as the first contenders for these roles.
Ward already demonstrated his potential late in 2025. He quietly started taking snaps from Jackson, bringing a grittier, extra aggressive type to the secondary as Brian Flores relied on him down the stretch.
With just one 12 months left on his contract, this upcoming season is essential for Ward to show he might be greater than a rotational defensive again. Ward performed 250 defensive snaps final 12 months and banked a 70.4 PFF grade. His aggression and playmaking had been noteworthy.
2. Blake Brandel | OL
Brandel persistently elevates the significance of a backup function, a lot in order that he often wiggles his method right into a beginning job.
Minnesota Vikings offensive deal with Blake Brandel (64) stretches earlier than a preseason sport towards the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs on Aug. 27, 2021, at GEHA Discipline at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas Metropolis, Missouri. Brandel ready alongside Minnesota’s offensive line group earlier than kickoff because the Vikings evaluated roster depth and developmental expertise throughout preseason motion coming into the common season. Necessary Credit score: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports activities.
Final season, Brandel performed in all 17 video games, beginning 9 and logging 64% of Minnesota’s offensive snaps. The huge enjoying time was largely as a result of Vikings’ injury-plagued offensive line, for which Brandel supplied essential stability.
His biggest asset is his versatility; Brandel can play guard, deal with, and middle. It made him one of many Vikings’ most respected depth gamers in 2025, stepping in to regular an offensive line often disrupted by accidents.
It’s his work at middle, nevertheless, that really sparks curiosity for the 2026 season.
Brandel performed 383 snaps at middle, displaying regular enchancment all through the season. What started as a longshot alternative to begin on the place advanced into a real dialogue. Whereas his 61.4 PFF grade signifies strong somewhat than superstar-level play, it represents beneficial consistency for an offensive line that always lacked it.
Brandel is on deck to begin at middle in Week 1, too. Whoodathunkit?
1. James Pierre | CB
Pierre logged an impressive 86.8 PFF grade in 2025. If that mark interprets to 2026, properly, Pierre ought to truly begin over Byron Murphy Jr. or Isaiah Rodgers. That received’t occur as a result of the teaching employees loves Murphy Jr. and Rodgers, however Pierre has the backbone to begin.
Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback James Pierre (42) warms up earlier than a sport towards the Denver Broncos on Sep. 20, 2020, at Heinz Discipline in Pittsburgh. Pierre ready for early-season motion because the Steelers hosted Denver in entrance of a restricted crowd, with Pittsburgh ultimately incomes a 26-21 victory through the Week 2 matchup at residence. Necessary Credit score: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports activities.
That’ll be important to recollect if accidents beset both starter — Murphy Jr. and Rodgers one way or the other performed 17 video games apiece in 2025, which is uncommon for 2 beginning corners.
Pierre is the true deal, and at CB3, he has an opportunity to be the Vikings’ finest third nook because the Mike Zimmer period.
His 41.5 passer ranking allowed in Pittsburgh final 12 months was simply to die for.
Dustin Baker is a novelist and political scientist. His second novel, The Invaders , is out now. So is … Extra about Dustin Baker
