EAGAN, Minn. — The Minnesota Vikings have listed Sam Darnold as the starting quarterback ahead of rookie J.J. McCarthy on the team’s first “unofficial” depth chart" of the season, which was released Tuesday.
Darnold, a former first-round pick and free agent acquisition, has taken the majority of the first-team reps, so it comes as no surprise that he’s slated as the team’s top QB prior to Saturday’s preseason opener against the Las Vegas Raiders.
McCarthy, the Vikings’ No. 10 overall pick back in April, is listed as the backup, along with veteran Nick Mullens, who appeared in five games for Minnesota last season.
Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison are the top two receivers, followed by Jalen Nailor and Brandon Powell. Nailor has had a solid training camp thus far and should get plenty of opportunities throughout the preseason.
The biggest surprise on offense could be Blake Brandel being listed as the starting left guard ahead of Dalton Risner, who played extremely well last year after joining the team mid-season. Brandel has been with the first team throughout camp, but with Risner’s track record from a season ago, it wouldn’t have been a surprise to see him as the projected starter.
On defense, first-round pick Dallas Turner is starting out the season listed as a backup at outside linebacker, behind free-agent acquisitions Jonathan Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel. Harrison Phillips, Jerry Tillery and Jonathan Bullard are the projected starters on the defensive line, while Eden Prairie native and former University of Minnesota standout Blake Cashman joins Ivan Pace Jr. as the starting inside linebackers. Byron Murphy Jr. and Shaq Griffin are atop the depth chart at cornerback.
Griffin signed with the Vikings over the offseason but was limited throughout camp with a hamstring injury.
All-Pro veteran Harrison Smith is set to start his 13th season with the Vikings, alongside Camryn Bynum, who is entering his fourth year in the NFL. Josh Metellus is listed as a backup but was featured in several packages last season in defensive coordinator Brian Flores’ scheme.
There’s still plenty of time before the regular season kicks off Sept. 8 against the New York Giants, but Tuesday’s depth chart provides the first look at what fans could expect this upcoming season.