The O-Line that Vikings Draft Picks Built
Not too many teams have more draft capital invested in their offensive line than the Minnesota Vikings.
In fact, Vikings draft picks are solely responsible for the starting unit in Minnesota. Drilling down even further shows that the entire starting group was chosen by the Vikings in either the 1st or 2nd round of recent drafts. Given some of the recent history, seeing the OL finally begin turning the corner is a welcome sight for many within The Gopher State.
Vikings Draft Picks & Minnesota’s Front Five
Kwesi Adofo-Mensah hasn’t done too much to beef up the offensive line. He has made contributions and yet the majority of the work was done before he arrived in January of 2022.
One of the main gifts Rick Spielman left behind was a sensational tackle tandem. Christian Darrisaw and Brian O’Neill are a promising pair. Were it not for injury, the rest of the NFL would be able to see what Vikings fans see: towering offensive tackles capable of (mostly) neutralizing the other team’s pass rushers.
Their age – Darrisaw is 24, O’Neill is 27 – offers even more reason for optimism.
Along the inside, things aren’t quite as positive even if talent does reside there. Ezra Cleveland is a former left tackle who got kicked inside to LG. His athleticism is apparent on a week-in, week-out basis. Being able to anchor more effectively will mean he has developed into a complete player. Only 25, Cleveland still has room to grow.
Meanwhile, Garrett Bradbury is back on a brand new 3-year deal. Unless something totally unforeseen happens, Bradbury will be snapping the ball for the next little while. His initial trio of seasons were super disappointing but he did take a massive step forward working within Kevin O’Connell’s offense. A lot depends on him maintaining his upward trajectory.
The greatest area of concern is right guard. Ed Ingram held down the spot last year and struggled mightily while doing so. He got dinged with allowing 11 sacks, 18 QB hits, and 58 pressures. He added on 4 penalties. Truly awful numbers even as there is some hope in his ability to improve as a sophomore. After all, he flipped sides as a rookie, hanging out at right guard even though he was a college left guard.
Keeping track of all that? A quick recap of the starting fivesome:
- LT: Christian Darrisaw, 23rd Overall in the 2021 NFL Draft
- LG: Ezra Cleveland, 58th Overall in the 2020 NFL Draft
- C: Garrett Bradbury, 18th Overall in the 2019 NFL Draft
- RG: Ed Ingram, 59th Overall in the 2022 NFL Draft
- RT: Brian O’Neill: 62nd Overall in the 2018 NFL Draft
See the pattern? From 2018 to 2022 – a 5-year span – the Vikings sunk either a 1st- or 2nd-round selection into their offensive line. Every one of those players is now holding down a starting spot up front. Not bad.
In Week 1, Minnesota’s homegrown OL will get a true test when the Buccaneers march into U.S. Bank Stadium. Boasting a defense consisting of Vita Vea, Devin White, Shaquil Barrett, and Lavonte David means Tampa Bay won’t be easy to overcome. Neutralizing Todd Bowles’ defense will bode well for what’s to come in the rest of the 2023 season.
Editor’s Note: Information from PFF helped with this piece.
