Minnesota Vikings: Top 5 Position Battles to Watch in Training Camp

This is why they play the games.

The Minnesota Vikings, theoretically, have most of their positions set for the upcoming 2012 season. Many of the lineup changes that will occur will have been made from in-house promotions and the 2012 NFL draft, but there were a handful of free agents signed, too.

There are far more battles that will go unheralded during training camp; battles that others won't see coming and battles that I didn't believe were among the top five to watch.

These are the five battles I will watch closely during Vikings training camp in 2012.

5. No. 1 Tight End

This battle could be exciting or very dull.

In the offseason, the Vikings gave former Seattle Seahawks tight end John Carlson a five-year, $25 million contract. The four-year veteran missed the 2011 season with a torn labrum, but had back-to-back 50-catch seasons in 2008 and 2009, with 12 touchdowns over that span.

Carlson, at 6'5" and 251 pounds, has good size and strong hands. He should make Minnesota's offense better, given that the team will implement more two-tight-end sets in 2012.

However, Minnesota drafted Kyle Rudolph in the second round in the 2011 NFL draft, and he could have been a first-round pick if teams hadn't been worried about his hamstring injury.

Rudolph is taller (6'6"), bigger (259 pounds) and more athletic than Carlson. His rookie season wasn't impressive statistically (26 receptions, 249 yards and three touchdowns), but he showed great potential as a receiver with some of the plays he made.

The Vikings intend to feature more two-tight-end sets, a proclamation they made last year and failed to follow through with, which is why this battle could be dull. If the team frequently uses two tight ends as they've said they will, then this battle becomes much duller.

Starting Tight End: Kyle Rudolph

4. No. 3 Cornerback

Minnesota signed Chris Carr and Zack Bowman, and drafted Josh Robinson in the third round to better a group of cornerbacks that was among the worst in the NFL last year.

Chris Cook and Antoine Winfield are the two expected starters for the Vikings, but beyond that, there should be some stiff competition.

Robinson made a name for himself at the 2012 NFL combine with his 4.29 40-yard dash. At 5'10" and 199 pounds, he's not the biggest defensive back, but he has great recovery speed and strong ball skills.

Bowman has good size (6'1" and 196 pounds) and speed. He's known for his zone-coverage skills, and his best season came in 2009 when he recorded six interceptions.

Carr signed a one-year deal with Minnesota after three seasons in Baltimore, one in Tennessee and three with Oakland. His best season was in 2010, when he recorded 61 tackles, two interceptions and three forced fumbles. He's at his best working out of the slot.

I think Minnesota will want to get Robinson on the field as much as possible in 2012, and thus expect him to win the position. But I expect to see plenty of all three on the field at different times in 2012.

No. 3 Cornerback: Josh Robinson

3. No. 2 Wide Receiver

The front-runner is Michael Jenkins, who had the second-most receptions last season (38) despite playing in just 11 games. He is Minnesota's tallest wide receiver (6'4") and is the team's best jump-ball wide receiver. Jenkins isn't the fastest wide receiver in the league, but he has good hands and runs good routes.

Devin Aromashodu and Greg Childs are dark-horse candidates.

Aromashodu's problem throughout his five-year career has been consistency. He has breakaway speed and good size (6'2"), but he drops too many passes. He has the skills to be a difference-maker in the NFL, and this may be his last year where anyone will believe he still has "potential."

The more Greg Childs was discussed around the 2012 NFL draft, the more people talked up how his patellar tendon injury affected his performance in his senior year at Arkansas. Prior to the injury, Childs was a hotshot wide receiver.

At 6'3" and 217 pounds, Childs has the body to be an impact wide receiver and boasts a 36.5" vertical. His speed won't blow anyone away, but it's adequate enough.

No. 2 Wide Receiver: Michael Jenkins

2. Right Guard

With the selection of Matt Kalil, the Minnesota Vikings think they have solidified the left tackle spot and their left guard. Last year's starting left tackle, Charlie Johnson, is expected to take over at left guard.

John Sullivan and Phil Loadholt have tight grips on the starting center and right tackle positions, respectively, meaning that right guard is the big question mark on this offensive line.

The two candidates: Geoff Schwartz and Joe Berger.

Schwartz signed with Minnesota in the offseason after three seasons with the Carolina Panthers. He started all 16 games for the Panthers in 2010, but missed the 2011 season with a hip injury.

Berger filled in for Minnesota's depleted offensive line in 2011. He started seven games and spent time at center, guard and tackle throughout the season. It was his first year in Minnesota after seven seasons spent with Dallas and Miami.

Obviously, Berger already knows the system, which will give him the early edge. However, I like Schwartz to win this battle.

Schwartz is a quick offensive lineman with great size (6'6" and 331 pounds). The Vikings liked what Berger did last season, but Schwartz is younger (24 years old compared to Berger's 29), and on a young team it's important to see what the younger players can do.

Starting Right Guard: Geoff Schwartz

1. Starting Safeties

Harrison Smith and Mistral Raymond are expected to be Minnesota's starting strong and free safeties, respectively—but neither is a lock.

Yes, Minnesota traded back into the first round to put itself in position to select Smith, but he still has to prove himself worthy to start in the NFL as a rookie.

Smith is touted as a smart safety who makes all the necessary plays to succeed in the NFL. Not known as overly flashy, he could provide stability to a defensive backfield in dire need of it.

Many believe Raymond will be better than what he displayed last year. As a rookie, Raymond recorded 22 tackles and had one of Minnesota's eight interceptions on the year.

The 2011 sixth-round pick has good size for a safety (6'1", 202 pounds), but isn't the fastest defensive back (ran a 4.67 40-yard dash at the 2011 NFL combine). He has solid ball skills, but Minnesota needs him to improve his coverage skills if he's going to hold down a spot.

Jamarca Sanford is the other competitor for the starting spot. I like him more than Raymond because he is strong in run support. With Sanford, you know you're getting a strong run-support safety with weak cover skills.

We'll see what Raymond does in camp. I'm not sure you know what you get with him yet.

Starters: Harrison Smith and Jamarca Sanford