6 Vikings Camp Battles to Watch This Summer

Wake Forest running back Demond Claiborne (1) carries the ball through traffic during second-quarter action, Nov. 23, 2024, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, as the Demon Deacons faced the Miami Hurricanes in a late-season ACC matchup with Claiborne showcasing burst and vision between the tackles. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images.

6. RB3 Demond Claiborne vs. Zavier Scott

This one may not be much of a competition if the draftheads are right about Claiborne. He has 4.37 speed, the same size as Miami Dolphins halfback De’Von Achane, and the Vikings just so happen to employ Achane’s offensive coordinator from the last three years, Frank Smith.

Scott has clawed his way up the depth chart over the last couple of seasons, but in reality, he’s probably best suited as a practice squad commodity.

VT’s Prediction: Demond Claiborne

5. Punter Johnny Hekker vs. Brett Thorson

The past versus the future. Eight years ago, Hekker was the best punter in the world. He’s now a Viking, but Minnesota scooped Thorson from undrafted free agency last weekend. Thorson was one of the best punters in college in 2025; he’s also a Viking.

Some intel even hinted that Thorson could be a mid-round pick during the draft, but that proved to be smoke.

Still, Hekker performed at an average clip last season. His prime is over. Thorson is just getting off the ground.

VT’s Prediction: Brett Thorson

4. NT Domonique Orange vs. Levi Drake Rodriguez

Disclaimer: this discussion is about Week 1 — not the long haul. Orange will obviously be the Vikings’ nose tackle of the future. He better be.

Still, Rodriguez has performed decently over two seasons, and there’s a world in which defensive coordinator Brian Flores takes it slow with Big Citrus. In fact, in recent years, Minnesota has preferred not to play rookies, though most assumed that former general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah just didn’t draft good ones.

VT’s Prediction: Domonique Orange

3. Safety Theo Jackson v. Jay Ward

Ward took Jackson’s job down the stretch of 2025, and that actually flew under fans’ radar. Jackson could’ve used the offseason to reset because, at the start of 2025, he held the advantage of roster placement over Ward.

Ward is a faster and meaner safety. He has one year left on his rookie contract, and Minnesota should roll with him over Jackson, especially if Harrison Smith retires.

Minnesota Vikings safety Jay Ward (20) tracks a deflected pass and secures an interception during fourth-quarter play, Aug. 24, 2024, at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, as the Vikings faced the Eagles in preseason action with Ward capitalizing on a tipped ball to create a late turnover. Mandatory Credit: Caean Couto-USA TODAY Sports.

Our Janik Eckardt noted on Ward this week, “The Vikings were widely expected (by the media) to address the position in the draft by adding Oregon’s Dillon Thieneman. They didn’t, and now the safety room looks like last year’s, but with Smith potentially out and Jakobe Thomas, a third-rounder in.”

“It remains to be seen if Thomas can clinch a significant role in his debut season. Jay Ward usurped Theo Jackson late in the 2025 season and should be the front-runner for the second starting job next to Joshua Metellus.”

VT’s Prediction: Jay Ward

2. Center Blake Brandel vs. Michael Jurgens v. Gavin Gerhardt

Vikings fans thought Minnesota would leave the draft with Connor Lew, Logan Jones, Jake Slaughter, or Sam Hecht. Instead, head coach Kevin O’Connell waited until Round 7, unearthing his version of a gem in Gerhard from Cincinnati.

Round 7 rookies usually don’t start right away, so this is Brandel’s job to lose — unless the Vikings get frisky and trade for Aaron Brewer of the Dolphins, for example.

VT’s Prediction: Blake Brandel

1. OLB3 Bo Richter vs. Tyler Batty vs. Free Agent Signing

VT’s Prediction: Free Agent Signing to Be Named Later

With no Jonathan Greenard — he’s a Philadelphia Eagle — Minnesota has a major question at OLB3: Is Richter or Batty ready to serve as an OLB3 behind Andrew Van Ginkel and Dallas Turner?

Los Angeles Rams linebacker Leonard Floyd (54) lines up on defense during Super Bowl LVI, Feb. 13, 2022, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, as the Rams battled the Cincinnati Bengals on the league’s biggest stage with Floyd playing a key role in the team’s pass rush effort. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports.

Richter has played 81 defensive snaps in two seasons. That’s not exactly a green light to OLB3 trustworthiness for the 2026 regular season. Batty played 42 snaps in 2025 as a rookie. Neither is very experienced.

Therefore, the Vikings probably need to sign an extra veteran EDGE. Vikings defensive coaches have ties to these veteran OLBs:

• Joey Bosa
• Von Miller
• A.J. Epenesa
• Kyle Van Noy
• Leonard Floyd
• Cameron Jordan
• Emmanuel Ogbah
• Marcus Davenport

We will formally predict Floyd from that list. Jadveon Clowney, who logged 8.5 sacks in under 400 snaps last year with the Dallas Cowboys, is also on the open market.