5 Vikings with the most to gain against the Raiders

The Minnesota Vikings will open the preseason against the Las Vegas Raiders on Saturday afternoon. While the game is a dress rehearsal (or even a day off) for established veterans, it’s a proving ground for several players looking to win a roster spot or just solidify their standing on the team.

With that, here’s a list of five Vikings that have the most to gain with a strong performance against the Raiders.

Lewis Cine

The Vikings already sent one 2022 draft pick out the door, trading Andrew Booth Jr. to the Dallas Cowboys on Friday afternoon. But the first-round pick from that draft has even more to gain than he did one year ago.

Last year, Cine was working his way back from a broken leg and was given a chance to get reps during the preseason. While Kevin O’Connell was encouraged by his progress last summer, Cine gradually fell behind on the depth chart and was a gameday inactive for the majority of the second half of last season.

Entering Saturday, the depth chart at safety has grown even deeper. Harrison Smith, Cam Bynum and Josh Metellus are all unlikely to play while Theo Jackson and free-agent pickup Bobby McCain seemed to have an advantage over Cine, who has been dealing with a lower-leg strain.

Perhaps it’s too late for Cine to earn a role with the Vikings but Saturday’s game could be an audition for another team. That means Cine needs a big performance that could be a first step against the Raiders.

J.J. McCarthy

Perhaps McCarthy doesn’t have much to gain on the Vikings' depth chart as Sam Darnold has received a majority of the first-team reps during training camp. But McCarthy could win over the court of public opinion if he looks good against the Raiders.

Vikings fans have embraced McCarthy since he was selected with the 10th overall pick in last April’s NFL Draft but there are still some questions surrounding him. The Vikings were careful not to overexpose McCarthy during training camp and offseason team activities but Saturday’s game will be his first real chance to introduce himself to the public.

If McCarthy succeeds, fans will be excited about the future. And if Sam Darnold looks rough, it could spark a new conversation between now and the Sept. 8 opener against the New York Giants.

Jalen Nailor

One of the stars of training camp, Nailor has finally found a way to stay on the field. Nailor is talented playing behind Jayden Reed and Keon Coleman during his time at Michigan State but injuries prevented him from a true breakout. Nailor didn’t do much in his rookie season and the injuries returned in his sophomore campaign limiting him to just six games.

The third wide receiver spot is something near and dear to Vikings fans – ask someone about Jake Reed and Jarius Wright – but the position has been up for grabs after K.J. Osborn signed with the New England Patriots last spring. While Brandon Powell has mixed in Reed is the best candidate for the job thanks to his size and athleticism and Saturday could be a solid audition for the third-year receiver.

Levi Drake Rodriguez

One of the most intriguing players in Saturday’s game, Rodriguez is a seventh-round pick from Texas A&M Commerce. His backstory helped inspire The Athletic’s Kalyn Kahler (who is now with ESPN) to give him the nickname “Prospect X” but cool nicknames aside, Rodriguez has been backing things up with his play on the field.

Rodriguez has mixed in with the first team during training camp and is competing at a position that doesn’t have much behind Harrison Phillips and Jonathan Bullard. Jerry Tillery seems to have a starting spot locked down for now, but Rodriguez could make his way into the rotation with a strong performance on Saturday.

Dwight McGlothern

There are other UDFAs that could have this final spot including wide receiver Jeshaun Jones and edge rushers Gabriel Murphy and Owen Porter. But McGlothern is the most interesting due to the Vikings’ situation at cornerback.

The Vikings have been scrambling at cornerback since Mekhi Blackmon tore his ACL during the first practice of training camp and Shaquil Griffin was injured a few days later. The Vikings signed McCain and cornerback Fabian Moreau but they’re part of healthy competition on the back end of the depth chart.

McGlothern has stood out from the group as a cornerback with size and ball skills and has been mixing in with the first team during camp. While practices are one thing, McGlothern could stand out in game action and make his claim toward a roster spot with a strong performance against the Raiders.

This article is courtesy of Athlon Sports writer Chris Schad.