Kevin O’Connell Suggests Potential Position Transition for Vikings Rookie
The 2024 version of Minnesota’s draft featured the arrival of the new franchise quarterback, J.J. McCarthy. At least that is what head coach Kevin O’Connell said after his pricey first-round quarterback injured his knee. Fellow first-rounder Dallas Turner has the talent to be an immediate difference-maker, and his long-term projection is just as enticing.
Kevin O’Connell Suggests Potential Position Transition for Vikings Rookie
Later in the draft, the Vikings acquired a pair of offensive linemen: Michael Jurgens and Walter Rouse. Both qualified for the 53-man roster. Jurgens is listed as the backup left guard but has experience at center and could be a long-term replacement on the interior of the offensive line.
Rouse, meanwhile, played his entire career on the left side of the offensive line at left tackle. To become a premier reserve in the league, he must learn to play on the right side, too, as roster spots are limited and teams need versatility from their replacements. The Vikings have experimented with that in the preseason.
O’Connell, however, has the theory that he might end up at guard at some point down the line. In an interview with the voice of the Vikings, Paul Allen, he said:
The growth we’ve already seen, both at the right tackle position ‒ I do believe he’s gonna have the ability to play some guard also. It’s not something you start him out in his NFL journey, bouncing around [in] different spots on the line.
Kevin O’Connell
He has been lining up primarily at the tackle spots with a few reps at guard mixed in throughout his young NFL journey. Dalton Risner missing time with an injury helped open up a few reps at right guard.
Rouse played on 137 offensive snaps in his three preseason contests, earning a promising 69.4 grade from PFF. Of those snaps, 70 were at left tackle, 46 at right tackle, and 21 at right guard, showcasing O’Connell’s plan to develop him as a versatile player with inside and outside flexibility.
Just a year ago, the Vikings moved former sixth-round pick Blake Brandel from tackle to guard. He spent a couple of years as a depth option, becoming the top left tackle backup in 2022. Last season, Brandel was a backup guard, and now he is starting after re-signing with the Vikings early in the offseason.
A similar path ‒ a few years of learning and then sliding into the starting lineup wherever he is needed ‒ is possible for Rouse.
O’Connell continued, praising the tall lineman out of Oklahoma.
He’s a very smart, physical, strong, stout player. Like every young offense lineman coming into the NFL, pass protection is always what you’re working technique and fundamentals on, you can’t just overpower everybody anymore.
Kevin O’Connell
Starting 52 games in college, first at Stanford and then at Oklahoma, Rouse possesses ideal measurements for a tackle at 6’6″ and 313 lbs, with 35″ arms. He studied biomechanical engineering at Stanford (without graduating, as he had prepared for the draft before transferring), which highlights his intelligence.
According to Pro Football Focus, Rouse ranked first among offensive tackles in pass-blocking efficiency in FBS football, and he didn’t give up a sack in the entire 2023 campaign.
Curiously, the Vikings acquired the pick with which they drafted Rouse as compensation in the trade that sent Ezra Cleveland to Jacksonville. He also played tackle in college but only guard in the NFL.
Wherever Rouse ends up position-wise, he has the talent to succeed, but barring injury, he will be a reserve for at least a couple of years with all five starters under contract through 2025.
Rouse turned 23 in March.
Editor’s Note: Information from Pro Football Focus helped with this article.
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Janik Eckardt is a football fan who likes numbers and stats. The Vikings became his favorite team despite their quarterback at the time, Christian Ponder. He is a walking soccer encyclopedia, loves watching sitcoms, and prefers Classic rock over other genres. Follow him on Twitter if you like the Vikings: @JanikEckardt