Minnesota Vikings Release First Depth Chart Of 2014

With their first pre-season game against the Oakland Raiders a little more than 72 hours away, the team has released their first depth chart of the season on the team's website.

So, who is situated where? Well, let's take a look. The top three at each spot will be listed. . .anyone listed on a fourth line falls under the heading of "others" on the depth chart at the present time.

Offense

Quarterback

Matt Cassel
Teddy Bridgewater
Christian Ponder

Running Back

Adrian Peterson
Matt Asiata
Jerick McKinnon
Joe Banyard, Dominique Williams

Fullback

Jerome Felton
Zach Line

Wide Receiver 1

Cordarrelle Patterson
Adam Thielen
Rodney Smith
Kamar Jorden, Donte Foster, Andy Cruse

Wide Receiver 2

Greg Jennings
Jerome Simpson
Jarius Wright
Kain Colter, Erik Lora, Ty Walker

Wide Receiver 3

Jennings
Wright
Thielen
Colter

Tight End

Kyle Rudolph
Rhett Ellison
Chase Ford (PUP)
A.C. Leonard, Mike Higgins, Allen Reisner

Left Tackle

Matt Kalil
Antonio Richardson
Kevin Murphy

Left Guard

Charlie Johnson
David Yankey
Pierce Burton

Center

John Sullivan
Joe Berger
Zac Kerin

Right Guard

Brandon Fusco
Vladimir Ducasse
Jeff Baca

Right Tackle

Phil Loadholt
Mike Remmers
Austin Wentworth

Defense

Left Defensive End

Brian Robison
Corey Wootton
Jake Snyder
Tyler Scott

Defensive Tackle

Sharrif Floyd
Tom Johnson
Kheeston Randall
Isame Faciane

Nose Tackle

Linval Joseph
Fred Evans
Shamar Stephen
Chase Baker

Right Defensive End

Everson Griffen
Scott Crichton
Justin Trattou

Strongside Linebacker

Anthony Barr
Gerald Hodges
Dom DeCicco

Middle Linebacker

Jasper Brinkley
Audie Cole
Mike Zimmer

Weakside Linebacker

Chad Greenway
Brandon Watts
Michael Mauti
Larry Dean

Left Cornerback

Captain Munnerlyn
Josh Robinson
Marcus Sherels
Julian Posey, Robert Steeples

Right Cornerback

Xavier Rhodes
Jabari Price
Derek Cox
Kendall James, Shaun Prater

Strong Safety

Robert Blanton
Jamarca Sanford
Mistral Raymond
Chris Crocker, Antone Exum

Free Safety

Harrison Smith
Kurt Coleman
Andrew Sendejo
Branden Bishop

A couple of quick observations. . .

-This rookie class seems to be making a bigger impression that what might have been expected, particularly on defense. It's interesting to see guys like Brandon Watts (weakside LB) and Jabari Price (right corner) as the primary backups at their positions, as well as Anthony Barr apparently having taken over the starting strongside linebacker spot.

-Many of the Vikings' writers on Twitter have noted that Josh Robinson and Captain Munnerlyn are listed as being neck-and-neck on the depth chart at left corner. I would assume that means that Robinson has the inside track on being the nickel guy. . .which, if it means he stays outside while Munnerlyn slides inside, isn't a terrible proposition.

-I would expect Chris Crocker to move up the depth chart before too long, and I'm a little surprised to see Antone Exum sort of buried the way he appears to be. I thought the coaching staff was fairly high on him. Also a little surprised to see Shaun Prater and Derek Cox as far down as they are, but maybe I shouldn't be.

-Michael Mauti as the #3 weakside linebacker. A sad. . .I has one.

-No surprises on the quarterback depth chart, but I wouldn't be surprised to see it change before too long, either.

What do you folks think of the Vikings' first depth chart of 2014?