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CBS Sports tabs CB as Vikings most-important training camp battle


When Verizon Vikings Training Camp gets underway at TCO Performance Center, keep your eyes on the cornerback position.


Three established corners – Xavier Rhodes, Trae Waynes and Mackensie Alexander – departed this offseason, leaving the position group young and relatively unexperienced.


CBS Sports' Cody Benjamin took a look at the NFC North and pointed out each team's "most important position battles" heading into training camp. He said the Vikings focus should be on the secondary, since it's hard to "replace three-fifths of your starting secondary with a snap of the fingers." Benjamin wrote:


First-round pick Jeff Gladney figures to make a nice transition to the slot CB role, and former first-rounder Mike Hughes has the wherewithal to man an outside job. The depth, however, is a total unknown. Third-rounder Cameron Dantzler, fifth-rounder Harrison Hand and reserve holdover Holton Hill will be fighting for big roles this summer, especially considering the Vikings pass rush also took a hit with the loss of Everson Griffen.


Benjamin said the biggest position battle in Chicago will be at quarterback, where the Bears brought in Super Bowl MVP Nick Foles via trade to compete with 2017 first-round draft pick Mitchell Trubisky.


In Detroit, Benjamin expects some solid competition between running backs Kerryon Johnson and D'Andre Swift, whom the Lions drafted 35th overall.


And in Green Bay, Benjamin highlighted the receiver spot.


Davante Adams is a borderline top-five wideout when healthy, but even if you lump the tight ends into this group as potential pass catchers for [Aaron] Rodgers, you're left with a whole lot of uncertainty for a team that'll be vying to replicate its 13-win 2019.


Allen Lazard is penciled in as the No. 2 WR opposite Adams, and his numbers were serviceable for a former undrafted backup-turned-spot starter. Ideally, however, Green Bay would have one of its other vets push him down the depth chart. Marquez Valdes-Scantling flashed big-play ability but had an awful catch percentage in 2019. Equanimeous St. Brown's promising rookie year seems like ages ago.


Benjamin pointed out that Devin Funchess, whom the Packers signed as a free agent, "might have the best chance of breaking out as a red-zone target."