Now that free agency has died down, we are projecting the Vikings depth chart heading into next month's NFL draft. We started with the offense yesterday. Today, we take an educated guess at Mike Zimmer's defense.
- Right end: Everson Griffen, Danielle Hunter, Justin Trattou
- Defensive tackle: Sharrif Floyd, Tom Johnson, B.J. Dubose
- Nose tackle: Linval Joseph, Shamar Stephen, Kenrick Ellis
- Left end: Brian Robison, Danielle Hunter, Scott Crichton, Zach Moore
Comments: Hunter, who had six sacks as a rookie, could supplant the veteran Robison at left end. Crichton, a 2014 third-round pick, could be in danger of losing his roster spot. Stephen and Ellis will duke it out to back up Joseph. This is a deep defensive line draft, so this group is probably not complete.
- Strong-side linebacker: Anthony Barr, Edmond Robinson, Alex Singleton
- Middle linebacker: Eric Kendricks, Audie Cole, Terrance Plummer
- Weak-side linebacker: Emmanuel Lamur, Brandon Watts, Travis Lewis
Comments: There are still some moving parts at the linebacker position. The return of Chad Greenway, if and when that happens, will shake this projection up. Greenway would presumably keep starting at the weak-side spot and Lamur would be Barr's backup and perhaps Greenway's primary backup, too. If the Vikings draft a middle linebacker they really like and think can play right away, Kendricks could potentially be moved to weak-side linebacker. Special teams will determine if Cole, Lewis and others make the team.
- Left cornerback: Trae Waynes, Terence Newman, Marcus Sherels
- Right cornerback: Xavier Rhodes, Terence Newman, Melvin White
- Slot cornerback: Captain Munnerlyn, Jabari Price
Comment: The Vikings won't hand Waynes, their top draft pick in 2015, a starting job, but they hope he will be ready. If not, Newman will be a starter again when the 2016 season kicks off. The Vikings could look to draft a slot cornerback, as Munnerlyn is heading into the final year of his contract.
- Free safety: Harrison Smith, Andrew Sendejo, John Lowdermilk
- Strong safety: Michael Griffin, Antone Exum, Anthony Harris
Comment: Griffin and Sendejo appear to be the two leading candidates to start next to Smith, a Pro Bowler in 2015. Considering that Zimmer said last month that the Vikings were looking for the "right" safety to pair with Smith, we can assume Griffin has the inside track there. Plus, Sendejo, in addition to being a quality special teams player, seems like a better fit for the in-the-box role that Smith plays. The two youngsters who got starts in 2015, Exum and Harris, will try to play their way into a starting job, too. The Vikings also seem likely to draft a safety at some point, perhaps even with an early-ish pick.
