5 Most Exciting Minnesota Vikings Position Battles to Keep an Eye on This Summer

The roster isn't solidified and it won't be solidified until well after the 2012 NFL draft, where Minnesota expects to fill most of its holes.

But that doesn't mean we can't have some fun previewing what position battles lie ahead. Some of them are already visible and others won't be clear until after the NFL draft.

Without a finalized roster, these are the battles to watch this summer on Minnesota's roster.

No. 2 Wide Receiver

Percy Harvin is the set-in-stone No. 1 wide receiver for the Minnesota Vikings in the 2012 season with or without a high-caliber receiver selected in the draft.

But the No. 2 spot is up for grabs.

The favorite is Michael Jenkins. He had 38 receptions for 466 yards and three touchdowns in 11 games last season. The 38 receptions were second most on the team.

At 6'4" and 214 pounds, he is the yin to Harvin's yang. His strength lies in his height, ability to challenge defenders with the ball in the air and he is a possession receiver.

But don't count out Devin Aromashodu. The Vikings re-signed him this offseason and he showed glimpses of greatness but was extremely inconsistent. Against the Denver Broncos he had six receptions for 90 yards but then at home against the Green Bay Packers he had one reception for 13 yards.

When it's all said and done I expect Jenkins to be Minnesota's No. 2 wide receiver as his more consistent approach will win him the gig. If Aromashodu can live up to his potential and be more consistent then it'll be his job.

Starting Guards

Minnesota's starting guards from 2011 will play elsewhere in 2012. Steve Hutchinson signed with the Tennessee Titans and Anthony Herrera remains unsigned.

One starter is already penciled in: Charlie Johnson. The Vikings expect to shift him from left tackle into one of the starting guard spots. Barring some miracle performance from another guard on the roster or an unforeseen acquisition, Johnson will be a starting guard in 2012.

But the other guard spot is more contestable. Minnesota signed Geoff Schwartz away from the Carolina Panthers this offseason. Schwartz, a 25-year-old guard with three years of NFL experience, would be my bet for starter if the season started today.

There is also Joe Berger, who filled in towards the end of the season when injuries began to take their toll on the offensive line. Berger started seven games for Minnesota in 2011 and could end up with starting-guard type of money, according to 1500ESPN.com.

Johnson should be the left guard in 2012, but look for Schwartz and Berger to compete for the right guard spot.

Middle Linebacker

E.J. Henderson has been Minnesota's middle linebacker for the previous few seasons but remains a free agent whom the Vikings have had very little contact with this offseason.

It seems the stage is set for Jasper Brinkley to make or break himself as an NFL middle linebacker in 2012.

The last time most Minnesota fans thought of Brinkley was when he was replacing Henderson for the final four regular season games of the 2009 season and into the playoffs.

What we all saw then was a player who could stop the run as well as Henderson could but looked uncomfortable and out of place in pass coverage.

At 6'1" and 252 pounds Brinkley is a big boy. He'll again provide good run-stuffing abilities. My concern are his pass coverage abilities. Does he have what it takes?

I don't see Minnesota signing a free agent to overtake Brinkley on the depth chart and there's still a chance Henderson returns.

If not, it'll be Brinkley's job to lose with a low-profile veteran and some rookies competing with him.

No. 1 Tight End

This position battle may be irrelevant.

With Kyle Rudolph, Minnesota's second-round pick in 2011, returning and the Vikings inking former Seattle Seahawk John Carlson to a five-year, $25 million contract there are two talented tight ends on the roster.

But who's the No. 1?

With little talent at the wide receiver position, I expect to see Carlson and Rudolph on the field together early and often.

But when it comes down to crunch time and the field needs to be spread with more wide receivers, who is the one tight end on the field?

My money is on Carlson, the guy Minnesota just showed the money to. Then again, Rudolph is an extremely talented pass catcher that would have been a first-round pick if not for hamstring injury concerns. NFL.com called him a steal in the second round.

Either way, keep an eye on how Minnesota handles this situation.

Starting Safeties

This is a position Minnesota has to address in the upcoming 2012 NFL draft. Has to. It cannot stand pat.

After the Vikings lost former second-round pick Tyrell Johnson to the Miami Dolphins on Thursday, the roster displayed three players at the safety position: Jamarca Sanford, Mistral Raymond and Eric Frampton.

Minnesota ended the season with Sanford and Raymond as its safeties. That cannot be the duo that starts in 2012 nor do I expect it to be, but both will and should have the opportunity to start (competition is good).

It'll be interesting to see at what part of the draft Minnesota addresses the safety position. It could be as early with its No. 35 pick (Notre Dame's Harrison Smith would be a nice fit) or it may not come until the fourth or fifth round.

Barring a plethora of offseason movement at this position I expect Sanford to start at one safety position and the other position "to be determined."

Either way, change is needed. Hopefully the Vikings make Barack Obama proud (is that too political?).