The Vikings announced that training camp will start for rookies and quarterbacks on July 23, with the whole team to report July 28.
This training camp will be an important one for Minnesota — in more ways than one. But one of the biggest reasons it will be is because of the positional battles that will take place.
This is a new-look Vikings team, one that will see new starters on both sides of the ball. When it came to deciding where the most important positional battle will be, NFL.com’s Grant Gordon landed on the offensive line.
“With all the unpredictability and changes to the offseason schedule, it’s unlikely that a project such as second-round tackle Ezra Cleveland will displace Riley Reiff as Kirk Cousins’ blind-side protector. The real area of concern is the interior of the offensive line. Projected starting guards Dakota Dozier and Pat Elflein will likely have to show some improvement in camp, with Dru Samia, Aviante Collins and possibly (and most interestingly) Cleveland sliding inside as the top contenders to cede them. Minnesota has ample talent at the skill positions but needs to solidify the line.”
If Cleveland did somehow displace Reiff, the Vikings could move Reiff to left guard, which would help solidify the interior. If that doesn’t happen, though, look for players like Samia, Dozier and Collins to step up.