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
July 15: Nos. 25-21
July 16: Nos. 20-16
Today, we'll look at players No. 15-11
15. Kyle Rudolph, TE
The Vikings expected Rudolph to have a breakout season -- and planned for him to be coming off of one by the time he started his new five-year contract this season. Rudolph wasn't able to follow up on a tantalizing preseason, though, when he sustained a sports hernia in Week 3. He's healthy now, and needs to stay on the field to earn the money he can make in his new deal. He's never going to be the type of game-changing athlete that Antonio Gates was in Norv Turner's offense, but Rudolph is a big target with good hands, and had worked to be better after the catch until he got hurt last September. Teddy Bridgewater sounded excited to have Rudolph back during OTAs, and the fifth-year tight end should be a good safety blanket for Bridgewater if he's on the field.
14. Phil Loadholt, T
There was plenty of attention paid to Matt Kalil's struggles last year, but Loadholt had a down year in his own right. Pro Football Focus credited him with five sacks allowed in 11 games, before he tore his pectoral muscle against Green Bay and missed the rest of the season. The Vikings believe Loadholt is fully recovered, but he'll have to be better at containing outside rushers than he was last season; there were too many times where Loadholt got beat around the edge. The Vikings can cut Loadholt without major repercussions after this season, and with T.J. Clemmings possibly in line to be the right tackle at some point, Loadholt will have to be solid in his seventh NFL season.
13. Terence Newman, CB
Things could change if Trae Waynes appears ready to play, but the Vikings sure seemed as though they were preparing for Newman to start at left cornerback during their spring practices. He'll be 37 before the start of the season, but he's got as long a history with Mike Zimmer -- and as thorough an understanding of his defense -- as anyone, and Zimmer still thinks Newman can play in his defense. When he's been good, Newman has carried out one of Zimmer's core beliefs on defense: Don't let your guy catch the ball. Newman only has 37 career interceptions in 12 seasons, but he's excelled at taking away receivers over the years. And unless Waynes grabs the job in training camp, the Vikings will be trusting Newman as a cover corner in their defense.
12. Mike Wallace, WR
Vikings offensive coaches were elated when the team acquired Wallace from Miami in exchange for a fifth-round pick in March. Now, the hope is Wallace will give Teddy Bridgewater the deep threat he lacked last season. The Vikings also have high hopes for the number of big plays Wallace can generate off screen passes; since 2009, he's averaged 7.25 yards after the catch on passes that traveled five yards or fewer, according to ESPN Stats and Information. Only three receivers -- DeSean Jackson, Demaryius Thomas and Percy Harvin -- have gotten more after the catch on short throws than Wallace in that time. It should be noted Wallace left Miami two years into a deal slated to pay him $30 million guaranteed; he fell out of favor with coaches there, and was upset with his role in the offense. He dove into his work with the Vikings, though, and has spent time with both Adrian Peterson and Bridgewater since the end of minicamp. The Vikings are hoping Wallace joins those two among their biggest playmakers.
11. Matt Kalil, T
Kalil is this high on the list, after a disappointing third season in 2014, largely because the Vikings need him to be this important. They're without a proven option at left tackle should Kalil falter again in 2015, and they're banking on him protecting Bridgewater's blind side more effectively this year than he did last season. The Vikings have two reasons to think Kalil will be better. First, his knees aren't a concern after a series of operations this offseason. Kalil admitted at the end of last season his knees were bothering him all season, and joked last month that he felt like a 50-year-old man in 2014. The Vikings also moved Brandon Fusco over to the left side of the line, to give Kalil a steadier playing partner after a rickety performance from the since-released Charlie Johnson. Those factors also mean the Vikings should have everything they need to make a decision on Kalil's future. They picked up his $11.098 million option for 2016, but can cut him before next season if they're not sold on his future. It's hard to envision the Vikings keeping Kalil at that price if they're not sold on him. They've done as much as they can to put Kalil in position to succeed; if he does, there'll be plenty of money waiting for him.