Surprise Names Stand Out on Vikings Preseason Depth Chart
Jan 13, 2025; Glendale, AZ, USA; Minnesota Vikings safety Joshua Metellus (44) against the Los Angeles Rams during an NFC wild card game at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images.
While it is fun to speculate early on depth charts in the offseason, it is all done with an enormous grain of salt. Nothing has been done on the field yet, and even the highest of draft picks haven’t been in a training camp to see how they adapt and evolve.
The Vikings’ first preseason depth chart came with more than a few surprises. From Lucky Jackson to Josh Metellus, here are the names making unexpected noise in camp.
I made a final roster prediction, knowing that those who “bookmarked” it might come back to challenge my takes. I really don’t care because you can’t be that serious about guesses you’re making with limited information. With today’s release of the first unofficial depth chart, the Vikings are letting us all know what their thoughts are with much more information than we’ll ever glean.
There are a few surprises on the depth chart. It’s not like they list Justin Jefferson as WR3 or anything like that, but a few things that caught my eye. It’s what I love about the preseason, watching players and seeing if the team has found a diamond in the rough. I’m going to list these from least surprising to most surprising.
Surprises from Vikings’ Depth Chart Release
1. Sam Howell as QB2
I wasn’t getting too caught up in the concerns about Howell and his performance in practice. Why? Because JJ McCarthy has also been struggling facing the Vikings defense. Kevin O’Connell is a great coach and can get the most out of quarterbacks, as we’ve seen since he’s been here.
Jun 10, 2025; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9), quarterback Sam Howell (8) and quarterback Brett Rypien (11) practice during minicamp at the Minnesota Vikings Training Facility. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images.
Howell has his faults, but you can’t defend McCarthy and then turn around and fault Howell using the same parameters. After Saturday, this could all change if he falls apart in action, and seeing him further down next week would also not be a surprise, but we need more “live” tests to see if his struggles are over hyped or legitimate. There’s a reason he has become somewhat of a journeyman.
2. Ty Chandler at RB3
Chandler still has some clout with the team and has had moments where he shone. The problem is he hasn’t been able to maintain those moments and has struggled at pass blocking, which is quintessential for O’Connell’s offense.
Zavier Scott has gained some momentum this week with his practice performances, which is great. However, if he gets in a game and gets blown up trying to pass block, then there is no real advantage to him on the team. Chandler is definitely on the bubble this year, but someone needs to prove to the coaches that theyhave surpassed him.
3. Lucky Jackson at WR4
When the Vikings signed Rondale Moore, most pegged him as the 4th wide receiver on the roster. It was largely due to his former draft status, as there were few other names on the roster that shone brighter than his.
Aug 17, 2024; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Lucky Jackson (81) catches and returns a punt by the Cleveland Browns during the second quarter at Cleveland Browns Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Galvin-USA TODAY Sports.
One of those names is Lucky Jackson, who has been on and off the roster and practice squad the last few years. Jackson made some decent noise in the now-defunct XFL. It caught the attention of NFL teams, and the Vikings snapped him up. He has had flashes of potential that seem to be bubbling to the surface, listing him as the backup to Jordan Addison. Since Jalen Nailor is listed as Jefferson’s backup and has been the 3rd wide receiver, the assumption is that Jackson goes to WR4.
Any players beyond the top three wideouts is always fluid, but it shows the team doesn’t care about your clout, but what you’re showing. With Addison being suspended for the first three games, we will see how lucky the offense can be.
4. Levi Drake Rodriguez as DL4
I’ve heard from several people who have attended camp, including Paul Allen on KFAN, that Rodriguez has been making splash plays. When he was drafted, the Vikings told us that he was underrated and that they expected great things from him. It wasn’t just lip service.
Vikings Entertainment Network’s Tatum Everett talked virtually with 2024 Seventh Round Draft Pick defensive lineman Levi Drake Rodriguez from Texas A&M – Commerce. The young defender has turned heads at Vikings training camp and could be on deck for playing time as a rookie.
We saw flashes of potential last year, and I thought he might get more playing time as the season went on, but then Jalen Redmond came in and started making plays in the backfield regularly.
This year seems different as LDR is getting the chance to show what we’ve been hearing from camp and be the first guy off the bench to showcase his talents. With some of the others on the chart with an “and” between them and a teammate he stands alone.
5. Gabriel Muphy at Edge 4
Murphy was one of those guys that General Manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah plucked out of undrafted free agency and was applauded for doing so. Murphy played at UCLA, and although his stats were not elite, he was seen as a project at the NFL level due to his high level of athleticism.
Last year wasn’t as successful for Murphy as it was when Ivan Pace Jr. went from undrafted to a starter. He didn’t do anything to stand out and was overshadowed by fellow undrafted end Bo Richter, whose story was just as enjoyable. Richter got in regular season games by the end of the season and put some good stuff on tape. Murphy didn’t.
With another year under his belt, he may have leaped forward and has earned the right to be opposite of Dallas Turner on Saturday afternoon after the starters get their work in. He will get the first chance to put more on tape and let us see how much of a battle there is at that backup spot.
6. Josh Mettellus listed as the starting safety
Of all the surprises I saw on the depth chart, this one made me raise my eyebrows immediately. Coaches and players have raised Theo Jackson as the guy to fill the void that was left at safety by Cam Bynum taking the free agency train to Indy.
Nov 14, 2021; Inglewood, California, USA; Minnesota Vikings safety Josh Metellus (44) warms up before the game against the Los Angeles Chargers at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports.
Now, I don’t think this is a bad reflection on Jackson or that he won’t start any games this year or that Mettellus has suddenly become much better at deep coverage. It’s intriguing because it may be showing us that Brian Flores has something up his sleeve, scheme-wise. Mettellus is the ultimate “Leatherman” in the NFL with his ability to play all over the field, and if he were listed as the top backup at safety, I wouldn’t have batted an eye.
Having him as the starter doesn’t make me wary of Jackson’s status on the team or at his position. This is more of a, “Ooooo, what do we have here?!” that makes me excited to see what might be up Flores’ sleeve.
We’ve got a few more weeks to see how this goes, and names will move up and down the charts and even off the roster. We also have to remember that just because we don’t see something happen on the field doesn’t mean a player isn’t doing exactly what they’re supposed to do for the team to have success. We’ll get more answers on Saturday.
I’m a small-town boy with12 years in telecommunications and 13 years in radio but a lifetime as a Vikings … More about Tony Schultz
