Position Change on the Horizon for Vikings Sophomore
Last year’s draft class hasn’t had the envisioned impact in year one, which is primarily influenced by Andrew Van Ginkel suddenly playing at an All-Pro level, limiting Dallas Turner’s snaps, and J.J. McCarthy’s season-ending injury in the preseason.
Position Change on the Horizon for Vikings Sophomore
Among the day three picks, at least Will Reichard played a role. The three linemen, Levi Drake Rodriguez, Michael Jurgens, and Walter Rouse, had depth roles in their debut seasons.
Jurgens was recently mentioned as a potential threat to the incumbent starting left guard Blake Brandel. Fellow 2024 draft pick Walter Rouse could join that competition, too.
That possibility has been a popular fan theory throughout the offseason but cooled down a little with the signing of Will Fries and potentially another guard arriving in the draft on April 24th or the following two days. It’s back, however, due to observations made by Darren Wolfson via Skor North’s airwaves.
On Tuesday, he commented, “Walter Rouse, I’m told, his camp feels like there’s more of a pathway to playing time at some point at guard versus tackle. If you’re thinking Walter Rouse, draft pick last year, is more a tackle, just saying, don’t sleep on the possibility of him playing guard, getting guard reps, working more so at the guard position, not the tackle position.”
Rouse was selected in last year’s sixth round and has played left tackle all his life, but he wouldn’t be the first and won’t be the last tackle to move to guard.
In Minnesota, it’s quite hard to see the field at offensive tackle if the two main guys, Christian Darrisaw and Brian O’Neill, are healthy. At guard, meanwhile, Brandel could be usurped.
Last September, Kevin O’Connell already implied the transition: “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.”
Rouse played on 137 offensive snaps in his three preseason contests last August, 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.
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. PFF loved his final college season. 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.
O’Connell also said about his rookie prior to last season’s opener, “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.”
In addition to presumed starters Brandel, Will Fries, and Ryan Kelly, the Vikings employ two interior backups: the aforementioned Jurgens and reserve Henry Byrd.
Rouse just turned 24, and he appeared in one game last year, playing a handful of snaps on special teams. Don’t be surprised if the sophomore will get some reps at guard in OTAs and training camp.
Editor’s Note: Information from PFF, Over The Cap, and Pro Football Reference helped with this article.