MINNEAPOLIS -- We're continuing our ranking of the Minnesota Vikings' roster, counting down from No. 53 to No. 1 before the start of training camp. Here are the previous installments:
June 30: Nos. 53-46
July 1: Nos. 45-41
July 2: Nos. 40-36
July 3: Nos. 35-31
July 14: Nos. 30-26
Today, we'll look at players No. 25-21
25. Jarius Wright, WR
Wright clicked with quarterback Teddy Bridgewater once the rookie took over for Matt Cassel. making 36 of his 42 catches from Bridgewater and posting 524 yards. Bridgewater had a QBR of 97.1 on throws to Wright, who broke a pair of big gains on screen passes, including his 87-yard game-winning TD against the Jets on Dec. 7. He's proved he can be more than just a slot receiver and heads into training camp as the third receiver on the Vikings' depth chart behind Charles Johnson and Mike Wallace. Wright's rapport with Bridgewater figures to keep him in the thick of the Vikings' offense in 2015.
24. Rhett Ellison, TE
The Vikings had Ellison on the field for 564 snaps last season, using him as everything from a lead blocker and extra pass protector to an occasional receiving threat. Ellison caught a career-high 19 passes last season, opening the season with a 22-yard gain on a tight end screen when the St. Louis Rams effectively forgot about him. He started 12 games, as the Vikings' two-tight end set effectively became their base offensive package. Ellison could get pushed for playing time if MyCole Pruitt shows he can be an effective blocker, but the Vikings' jack-of-all-trades figures to find a way to be on the field.
23. Scott Crichton, DE
It's something of a projection to put Crichton this high on the list, but with Brian Robison still unable to practice during minicamp because of a pectoral injury, Crichton got a chance to show how he's improved after what amounted to a redshirt season as a rookie. He'll likely be asked to do quite a bit more this season; the Vikings don't have a proven defensive end behind Robison and Everson Griffen, and Crichton could see plenty of time at left end if the Vikings want to give the 32-year-old Robison a break. Crichton has good speed around the edge, but needed to be stronger against the run to play in Mike Zimmer's system. The Vikings were pleased with his progress this spring, though, and he'll get a chance to make a clearer statement once the pads are on at training camp.
22. Tom Johnson, DT
The Vikings gave Johnson a three-year deal this spring, rewarding him for the surprising return he delivered on a $845,000 deal a year ago. Johnson was a slippery pass rusher from the three-technique tackle spot, finishing the season with 6 1/2 sacks in just 444 snaps. He's not going to be a force against the run -- indeed, the Vikings only had him on the field for 122 run snaps last year, according to Pro Football Focus -- but as a nickel pass rusher, Johnson gave the Vikings valuable production, finishing second on the team in sacks.
21. Captain Munnerlyn, CB
When the Vikings signed Munnerlyn to a three-year deal in 2014, they planned to use him in their base defense in addition to the slot. Munnerlyn will primarily be a slot cornerback this season, and he'll have to rebound from what he's called his worst year in the NFL. He "freelanced" a little too often, as Zimmer said last season, and doesn't have the size Zimmer wants for his outside cornerbacks. Munnerlyn, who's trying to fill Antoine Winfield's shoes in some ways, was a similarly aggressive run defender last season. He needs to play within the structure of Zimmer's system, though, or the Vikings could look elsewhere in 2016. They won't owe Munnerlyn any guaranteed money in 2016, when he's scheduled to make $4.2 million.