Bubble Watch for the Minnesota Vikings' Training Camp

The final 53-man roster for the Minnesota Vikings is going to come down to some tough decisions and a few surprises. For the most part, a team coming off a playoff season has relatively few changes to be made, yet for the Vikings, there are plenty of changes already taking shape for the 2013 season. 

There will be almost a complete overhaul at wide receiver and cornerback. With four linemen selected in the draft—two on each side of the ball—there is certainly going to be some turnover in the trenches. 

For those players that find themselves on the roster bubble, training camp is crucial for them to make their case and demonstrate that they deserve one of the last spots on the roster. 

There's little room for redundancy, or players that are limited to one position for those last few spots. Here's a look at those players with the most to play for and lose this training camp. 

(Depth chart projections courtesy of Ourlads.com)

Offensive Lineman Troy Kropog

Experience: Seven games over four seasons 

Depth Chart Position: backup left guard

Analysis: A fourth-round draft pick of the Tennessee Titans in 2009, Troy Kropog saw action in one game last season with the Titans. After his release, he was signed to the Vikings' practice squad. He was promoted to the active roster in December but never saw any action on the field.  

At 6'6" and 308 pounds, he has the size to play in the NFL. However, with the Vikings selecting two more offensive linemen in the draft this year, it sends the message that the Vikings are looking to improve. 

Kropog will be battling with Jeff Baca, selected in the sixth round, and Travis Bond, taken in the seventh. This will be a battle won in the trenches during practices and the preseason games. 

Defensive End D'Aundre Reed

Experience: two seasons

Depth Chart Position: fourth-string linebacker

Analysis: Since being drafted in 2011 from Arizona, D'Aundre Reed saw action in six games last season but did not register a tackle. 

It's somewhat of a surprise that the Vikings didn't draft another defensive end since the top three, Jared Allen, Brian Robison and Everson Griffen, are all free agents next season. 

Reed has been on the roster bubble since his rookie season. He will need to beat out George Johnson and Lawrence Jackson to secure a spot as one of eight defensive linemen.

Offensive Lineman DeMarcus Love

Experience: two seasons

Depth Chart Position: second-string offensive tackle

Analysis: Injuries have plagued DeMarcus Love since being drafted in the sixth round in 2011. Minor surgery to both knees limited him as a rookie, and pectoral surgery last summer landed him on injured reserve for the season.

At 6'4" and 315 pounds, Love has the size to play in the NFL. He will need to demonstrate that he is healthy and beat out rookies Jeff Baca and Travis Bond, as well as Troy Kropog, to make the team as one of three backup offensive linemen.  

Linebacker Marvin Mitchell

Experience: six seasons

Depth Chart Position: third-string strong-side linebacker

Analysis: Marvin Mitchell has exactly one start in six seasons and that came late last year in his first season with the Vikings. A seventh-round draft pick of the Saints in 2007, the Vikings are Mitchell's third team in three seasons. 

Before the signing of Desmond Bishop, Mitchell's experience may have been enough to stay on the roster. Primarily a special teams player, he could be a training camp casualty if the Vikings decide they want to use a roster spot to develop a future starter. He will find himself competing with rookies Gerald Hodges and Michael Mauti and second-year player Audie Cole to secure a backup role this season. 

A lot depends on how well Bishop and Mauti can perform as they both are coming off significant injuries. 

Cornerback Jacob Lacey

Experience: four seasons

Depth Chart Position: third-string cornerback

Analysis: As an undrafted rookie in 2009, Jacob Lacey started nine games for the Colts. He comes to the Minnesota Vikings with the most experience having played in 54 games and starting 36 of them.

He has averaged nine starts every season, and his six interceptions are more than the remaining nine cornerbacks on the roster combined.

Last year I predicted that one of the two veteran cornerbacks, Zack Bowman or Chris Carr, would make the final roster—I was wrong. This year the Vikings need some experience at the position, and Lacey provides that. He also has familiarity with defensive coordinator Alan Williams when both men were in Indianapolis.    

Linebacker Michael Mauti

Experience: rookie

Depth Chart Position: fourth-string linebacker

Analysis: The Vikings thought enough of Penn State linebacker Michael Mauti that they selected him with their first of three selections in the seventh round. He is coming of his third ACL tear in four seasons. Before his latest knee injury, he was projected as high as a third-round draft pick.

His chances looked only slightly better prior to the signing of Desmond Bishop. Expected to be cleared for training camp, Mauti will have to earn a spot on the roster. His best bet will be to shine on special teams as he battles Audie Cole and Tyrone McKenzie for a roster spot.   

Cornerback/Punt Returner Marcus Sherels

Experience: three seasons

Depth Chart Position: third-string cornerback

Analysis: Marcus Sherels has been the only Viking to return a punt the last two seasons. Last year he returned 32 punts for 287 yards and returned one for a touchdown against the Lions to help secure a 20-13 victory. 

The last player to lead the team in consecutive seasons in punt returns was Mewelde Moore in 2005 and 2006. In both seasons, Moore returned a punt for a touchdown. 

The difference between these two players is that Moore could also contribute at another position. The third-down specialist on offense, Moore also caught 116 passes in four seasons with the Vikings. 

Sherels, a backup cornerback, has not performed as well on the field in cover situations. 

If the Vikings decide they want to turn over the punt-return duties to another position player, it could spell the end of the former Golden Gopher's career with the Vikings.  

Defensive End Lawrence Jackson

Experience: five seasons

Depth Chart Position: second-string defensive end

Analysis: Lawrence Jackson, a first-round draft pick of the Seahawks in 2008, comes to the Vikings with 19.5 sacks. During his first two seasons in Seattle he started 24 games at right defensive end. 

A backup the last three seasons in Detroit, his presence at the Vikings' training camp makes George Johnson and D'Aundre Reed's chances of making the team much harder. 

Wide Receiver Joe Webb

Experience: three seasons 

Depth Chart Position: third-string wide receiver

Analysis: In his three seasons with the Minnesota Vikings, Joe Webb has looked better running the ball than passing it. He has averaged 6.7 yards per carry compared to 5.6 yards per pass. 

This is the reason the Vikings originally drafted him as a wide receiver in 2010, and after a failed attempt to become an NFL quarterback, have moved him back to receiver. He will also get a chance to return kicks and punts during the preseason.   

The Vikings like Webb's athleticism, but there's little room to develop a fourth-year veteran in the NFL.

Whether he makes the final roster will not solely depend on how he performs in camp, but to where the Vikings feel they can carry an extra player. 

If the Vikings go with six wide receivers, he's in. 

Wide Receiver Adam Thielen

Experience: undrafted rookie free agent 

Depth Chart Position: fifth-string wide receiver

Analysis: Adam Thielen, from Minnesota State, Mankato, was invited to try out at the Minnesota Vikings' rookie minicamp. He went there without a contract but impressed the Vikings so much that they signed him to a three-year, $1.49 million deal.

Thielen led the Mavericks last season with 74 receptions for 1,176 yards and eight touchdowns. MSU had 34 passing plays of 25 yards or more in 2012, and Thielen caught 21 of them.

As the primary punt returner, he finished with 239 yards on 24 punts, returning one for a touchdown.   

He's a long shot to make the team, but his versatility will help him to whittle out a spot on the roster.