The end of mandatory minicamp ushers in the quietest time on the NFL calendar.Coaches go on vacation. The players get away. The storm of the season awaits.The Minnesota Vikings took their spring practices seriously, so it’s only fair to assess them with the same rigor. What might the 53-man roster look like with training camp about a month and a half away? What’s worth keeping in mind over the summer?Here is a complete assessment of each position group and where it stands.Quarterback (3)In: Kyler Murray, J.J. McCarthy, Carson WentzOut: Max BrosmerThe Vikings wanted to build a deeper and more talented quarterback room this offseason. Mission accomplished.At this time last year, the Vikings rostered three quarterbacks with a combined 18 NFL starts and five wins. This group features 198 starts and 94 wins. That disparity underscores last year’s lofty dice roll, but it also represents why the team believes it is set up to succeed through the slog of a physical season, regardless of who emerges as the starter.Executives and evaluators around the NFL think Murray will begin the season under center. That said, Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell has not tipped his hand. The first few days (and weeks) of training camp should serve as a proving ground for Murray to demonstrate his understanding of the system and for McCarthy to showcase his improved accuracy.Running back (3)In: Aaron Jones, Jordan Mason, Demond ClaiborneOut: Zavier Scott, Kejon OwensIn 2025, the Vikings posted their best rushing season with O’Connell in charge. Every metric supports this: yards per carry, EPA per rush, rushing success rate, explosive rush rate, rush DVOA. Minnesota produced these numbers without left tackle Christian Darrisaw consistently on the field and with dreadful quarterback play. So there’s room for them to get even better.Improved quarterback play could force defenses to allocate more defenders to coverage, opening up space underneath. A revamped blocking scheme could create more of an identity in this phase. Claiborne’s burst could add a home run-hitting element.Regardless of who is playing quarterback come September, the Vikings need the run game to prevent the quarterback from shouldering too much of the load. General manager Nolan Teasley knows this. He recently witnessed the Seahawks win a Super Bowl with this philosophy as a central tenet.Fullback (1)In: Max BredesonPlay callers like to use different personnel groupings because it allows them to dictate matchups to the defense. The ability to vary usage hinges on personnel. It doesn’t make sense to use three tight ends, for example, if those three tight ends aren’t dynamic enough to offer an edge.Bredeson is smart and physical enough to provide an advantage. He will be able to fill C.J. Ham’s third-down, backfield-blocking role, and his size should help him hold up as a run blocker on the edge.Adding assistant head coach Frank Smith gives the Vikings a new layer, too. Smith oversaw a Miami Dolphins offense that utilized a fullback at the second-highest rate of any team since 2022. Bredeson could become the Vikings’ Alec Ingold.Wide receiver (6)In: Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, Jauan Jennings, Tai Felton, Myles Price, Dillon BellOut: Jeshaun Jones, Dontae Fleming, Michael Briscoe, Terrill Davis, Marcus Sanders Jr., Luke Wysong, Trayvon RudolphThe Vikings need Jefferson and Addison to be present and healthy during training camp to maximize the offensive preparation. Jefferson missed most of last summer’s practices with a hamstring injury. His presence may not have helped the rapport with McCarthy, but it couldn’t have hurt. Reps together matter. Simulating a rhythm and timing-based offense takes connectivity.The back end of this position group is also intriguing. Felton looked more fluid as a route runner in minicamp, while Price’s returning ability remains his calling card. Bell, an undrafted receiver from Georgia, flashed too many times in recent weeks not to earn a roster spot.Tight end (3)In: T.J. Hockenson, Josh Oliver, Gavin BartholomewOut: Ben Yurosek, Bryson NesbitTight end usage is one of the more interesting NFL storylines ahead of the 2026 season. Teams across the league are leaning into two- and three-tight-end sets to force defenses to play with bigger bodies, which affects their speed in coverage. Notably, the Vikings haven’t been able to create this conflict. In recent years, opponents have felt comfortable defending their 12-personnel sets with both heavy and light personnel. The Vikings must find a way to run or throw with dominance to pigeonhole defenses.Hockenson enters a contract year with much to prove. Oliver, meanwhile, continues to be one of the NFL’s best run blockers on the edge. The depth comes with questions. Maybe Bartholomew, a 2025 sixth-round pick, surfaces as a Johnny Mundt type.Offensive line (9)In: LT Christian Darrisaw, LG Donovan Jackson, C Blake Brandel, RG Will Fries, RT Brian O’Neill, T Ryan Van Demark, G Joe Huber, T Caleb Tiernan, C Michael JurgensOut: Gavin Gerhardt, Henry Byrd, Walter Rouse, Caleb Etienne, Vershon Lee, Tomas Rimac, Delby Lemieux, Tristan LeighThe Vikings played with 17 different offensive-line combinations in 2025 (minimum 10 snaps), the second most in the league (behind the Los Angeles Chargers). Darrisaw’s availability will play a massive role. The Vikings stockpiled their depth at tackle with Van Demark and Tiernan to ensure the drop-off won’t torpedo the offense.The potential of this group is immense. Brandel must command the pre-snap operation well, especially if Murray becomes the starter. Seventh-round rookie Gavin Gerhardt could vie for the backup center role, but Jurgens’ experience in the system gives him the initial nod.Defensive tackle (6)In: Jalen Redmond, Levi Drake Rodriguez, Caleb Banks, Domonique Orange, Elijah Williams, Tyrion Ingram-DawkinsOut: Eric Johnson II, Isaiahh Loudermilk, Taki Taimani, Smith Vilbert, Monkell GoodwineBanks’ availability is one of the most important training camp storylines. The Vikings took a seismic risk on the first-round pick. O’Connell raved about his progress last week, and the team always targeted training camp as the time for his official introduction. Optimally, he lines up alongside Redmond in September, adding another game breaker for defensive coordinator Brian Flores.Rodriguez’s and Williams’ arrows continue to point up. They could be competing with Orange for early-down snaps. Keeping a veteran option like Johnson or Loudermilk is possible, too.Edge rusher (5)In: Andrew Van Ginkel, Dallas Turner, free-agent signing, Bo Richter, Chaz ChamblissOut: Tyler Batty, Cam’Ron Stewart, Arden WalkerHelp is needed here. Van Ginkel is a singular defensive player, capable of rushing the passer and playing in coverage with special traits. And Turner’s upside is undeniable. But they need reinforcements after those two, and the number of available free-agent edge rushers makes a signing likely. Richter, Chambliss and Batty all offer versatility with special teams value. Chiseling down the roster requires hard decisions, and keeping Batty off here was one of them.Linebacker (4)In: Blake Cashman, Eric Wilson, Jake Golday, Ivan Pace Jr.Out: Josh Ross, Keli Lawson, Bangally Kamara, Jacob RobertsThe Vikings view Golday as a Van Ginkel understudy, but they won’t force him into that role. In the short term, he will spend his time with the off-ball linebackers, able to fill in for Cashman or Wilson in the event of injury. Pace’s pass-rush potential keeps him in the fold, but Flores prefers not to play him on passing downs. The durability of this group will play a prominent role in the defense’s overall success.Cornerback (5)In: Byron Murphy Jr., Isaiah Rodgers, James Pierre, Charles Demmings, Zemaiah VaughnOut: Dwight McGlothern, Da’Veawn Armstead, Marcus Allen, Tyreek ChappellFew Vikings defenders flew around as well as Murphy this spring. His motivation stems from a down year in interceptions. The state of this position group also gives him a chance to slide in and cover slot receivers, which has long been one of his major strengths.Pierre’s on-ball impact should improve upon Jeff Okudah’s performance last year. Demmings’ athleticism gives this group more upside.Flores may still stick to his favorite zone coverages, but the speed and stickiness here introduce the chance for more man coverage than he has preferred in recent years.Safety (5)In: Joshua Metellus, Theo Jackson, Jay Ward, Jakobe Thomas, Tavierre ThomasOut: Jacob Thomas, Kahlef HailassieIf you are searching for sneaky roster possibilities, undrafted James Madison safety Jacob Thomas fits the bill. Other NFC teams aggressively pursued him as an undrafted free agent. The Vikings mixed him in with some of the second-team defenders during minicamp.Potential Hall of Famer Harrison Smith is an option here, too. He may not decide on his future for a while, which would open up opportunities for Metellus, Jackson, Ward and Jakobe Thomas to prove they can man the controls from depth.Tavierre Thomas’ special teams skills keep him in the running, although the Vikings could always replace him with a rookie with more defensive upside.Specialists (3)In: K Will Reichard, P Johnny Hekker, LS Andrew DePaolaInternational pathway player: P Brett ThorsonThe stability of this group speaks volumes. Former punter Ryan Wright departed for New Orleans in free agency, but the Vikings replaced him with reliability in Hekker. Factor in the team’s increased special teams explosiveness via the draftees, and coordinator Matt Daniels’ unit might be his best since his arrival in 2022.