Vikings Release First Depth Chart of 2013

The Minnesota Vikings released their initial depth chart for 2013 over at their official site, and it looks like this:

QB
Christian Ponder
Matt Cassel
McLeod Bethel-Thompson
James Vandenberg

HB
Adrian Peterson
Toby Gerhart
Matt Asiata
Joe Banyard
Bradley Randle
Jerodis Williams

FB
Jerome Felton
Zach Line

WR - X
Jerome Simpson
Cordarrelle Patterson
Joe Webb
Chris Summers
Rodney Smith
Greg Childs

WR - Z
Greg Jennings
Jarius Wright
Stephen Burton
LaMark Brown
Adam Thielen
Erik Highsmith

TE
Kyle Rudolph
John Carlson
Rhett Ellison
Chase Ford
Colin Anderson

LT
Matt Kalil
Kevin Murphy
DeMarcus Love

LG
Charlie Johnson
Jeff Baca
Tyler Holmes

C
John Sullivan
Joe Berger
Camden Wentz

RG
Brandon Fusco
Seth Olsen
Travis Bond

RT
Phil Loadholt
Brandon Keith
Troy Kropog

RDE
Jared Allen
Everson Griffen
George Johnson
Collins Ukwu

NT
Letroy Guion
Fred Evans
Chase Baker
Anthony McCloud

UT
Kevin Williams
Christian Ballard
Sharrif Floyd
Everett Dawkins

LDE
Brian Robison
Everson Griffen
D'Aundre Reed
Lawrence Jackson
Marquis Jackson

WLB
Marvin Mitchell
Desmond Bishop
Tyrone McKenzie

MLB
Erin Henderson
Audie Cole
Michael Mauti
Nathan Williams

SLB
Chad Greenway
Larry Dean
Gerald Hodges

RCB
Chris Cook
A.J. Jefferson
Brandon Burton
Bobby Felder
Roderick Williams

LCB
Josh Robinson
Xavier Rhodes
Jacob Lacey
Marcus Sherels
Greg McCoy

Nickel
Josh Robinson
Jacob Lacey
Bobby Felder
Marcus Sherels

FS
Harrison Smith
Robert Blanton
Brandan Bishop

SS
Jamarca Sanford
Mistral Raymond
Andrew Sendejo
Darius Eubanks

P
Jeff Locke

K
Blair Walsh

LS
Cullen Loeffler

Holder
Jeff Locke
Matt Cassel
McLeod Bethel-Thompson

Punt Returner
Marcus Sherels
Jarius Wright
Stephen Burton
Josh Robinson

Kick Returner
Cordarrelle Patterson
Marcus Sherels
Josh Robinson
A.J. Jefferson
Stephen Burton
Joe Webb
Greg McCoy
Jarius Wright

On offense, there really isn't a whole lot of surprises. Based on the legend that is becoming Bradley Randle, I thought we might see him a little higher on the depth chart, but anything past Matt Asiata is a crapshoot at this point. What I do find interesting is the battle for the #5 WR, which looks like it's between Joe Webb and Stephen Burton, at least for the time being. And with DeMarcus Love's four game PED suspension, it's no surprise he's at the bottom of the LT depth chart. I don't see him making the final 53 at this point, either.

And yes, before you point that out, it is another one of my predictions gone horribly wrong.

Over on defense I noticed a couple more surprises. On the defensive line, Christian Ballard is ahead of Shariff Floyd at the under tackle spot. As much as I like Ballard, by the end of camp I expect that to be flip flopped.

At linebacker, Marvin Mitchell is ahead of Desmond Bishop. Bishop's been hurt and limited in practice, but if Mitchell can play well, Bishop might be in trouble, seeing as how he's only on a one year contract. I expect Bishop to be the starter on Opening Day, but any time you open the door for someone due to an injury, anything is possible.

And in the secondary, Josh Robinson is the starting nickel back...and right cornerback. That means Xavier Rhodes will be the guy on the right during the nickel package and Robinson will slide to the inside, much like Antoine Winfield did the last few years in Minnesota.

A lot can change between now and the beginning of the season, but it doesn't seem like there are a lot of spots left open, with a lot of guys vying for said spots.