The most significant part of the Minnesota Vikings' offseason program begins May 26, when the team will hold 10 organized team activities and a three-day mandatory minicamp in a four-week stretch. Before that begins, we're taking a position-by-position look at the Vikings' roster and some key battles to watch:
Position: Defensive line
Who's new: The Vikings signed former Buccaneers defensive end Caesar Rayford after the veterans' combine in March, drafted LSU defensive end Danielle Hunter in the third round and spent a sixth-round choice on Louisville defensive end B.J. Dubose.
Depth chart:
Right end
1. Everson Griffen: After a 12-sack season, Griffen returns looking for an encore -- and possibly his first Pro Bowl selection. The Vikings' decision to give Griffen a five-year deal paid off; he doesn't turn 28 until December and figures to be a force for the next several years.
2. Hunter: The 20-year-old is raw, but the Vikings saw some of the same things in him that they've seen in Griffen. He's got the athleticism to be a dynamic pass-rusher once he learns what he's doing.
3. Rayford: His hustle and intensity impressed scouts at the veterans' combine, and he could wind up making the team as a backup if the Vikings don't believe Hunter or Scott Crichton is ready to take on a significant role. Coach Mike Zimmer has said he'd like to develop a better defensive end rotation, and Rayford could work his way into that group with a good spring and summer.
Nose tackle
1. Linval Joseph: He became the anchor of the Vikings' defensive line after the team gave him a five-year deal last March. Joseph's ability to keep blockers off the Vikings' linebackers makes him one of the most important pieces of the defense, and he also had three sacks last year.
2. Shamar Stephen: A 2014 seventh-round pick, Stephen gave the Vikings more than they thought they'd get out of him as a rookie, playing both defensive tackle spots. He'll likely play a key role in the defense again in his second season.
Defensive tackle
1. Sharrif Floyd: Even though he dealt with a bothersome knee injury during the second half of the season, Floyd stood out in his first season playing for Zimmer. He grasped the changes in the Vikings' defensive line technique, became a solid defender against the run and posted 4½ sacks, even though he started just 11 games.
2. Tom Johnson: His contributions as a nickel pass rusher -- 6½ sacks -- earned him a new three-year deal in March. Johnson got $2.75 million in guaranteed money this year; he'll have to keep producing to play out the final two years of the contract.
Left end
1. Brian Robison: The Vikings don't seem to be as down on Robison as some were after 2014, but at age 32, he could get pushed for some of his playing time after logging more than 900 snaps last year. Robison made some changes to his offseason training regimen in an effort to recoup some explosiveness. Of the Vikings' holdovers from Leslie Frazier's defense, Robison had to make one of the bigger technique adjustments. The Vikings are hoping for better things in 2015.
2. Crichton: A third-round pick from 2014, Crichton didn't earn much playing time last year as he worked to grasp the requirements of the Vikings' system. He'll be asked to contribute more in 2015, which means he'll have to be sound against the run in particular. The Vikings also still hope Crichton can be an inside pass rusher.
3. Justin Trattou: The Vikings gave Trattou a handful of snaps at the end of the season when they moved Robison inside as a pass rusher. He'll be fighting Dubose on the depth chart on the left side of the line.
Position battles to watch: There's not much mystery to the Vikings' tackle group, which means the main source of competition here will be at the end spots. The Vikings pushed hard to sign Michael Johnson before he went back to Cincinnati and also had discussions with the agents for Adrian Clayborn and George Selvie. Now they hope a couple of third-round picks -- Hunter and Crichton -- can help quickly, and see if Rayford can carry over his eye-opening performance from the veterans combine. The depth positions, with young players battling journeymen, are the ones to watch here.
