Keep an Open Mind Regarding the Vikings Center Position
Josh Frey
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The Minnesota Vikings have a predicament on their hands along the interior offensive line. Particularly, the Vikings center position is one that seems in need of improvement. The Garrett Bradbury experiment has not seemed to work, and the time to move on is approaching. As for finding their next center, the Vikings have a few different routes that they could take.
The Draft
I’ve recently backed off on Tyler Linderbaum a bit, but that is just assuming that one of Ahmad Gardner or Derek Stingley will be available for Minnesota in the first round. If these two propsects go higher, then the Iowa alum would be my top choice for the new Vikings center.
Linderbaum is one of the most talented prospects in years at the position and already draws comparisons to a younger version of Corey Linsley. If the Vikings can get an All-Pro caliber player to anchor the middle of their offensive line, I don’t care if they used the first overall pick to get him, that is a win in this draft class.
Even if they don’t get their hands on Linderbaum, there are other quality players later that they could go after in Day Two. Such players include Dohnovan West of Arizona State or even Alec Lindstrom of Boston College. West would be a much more likely target for a Day Two pick as Lindstrom’s weaknesses against stronger nose tackles are a concern. They could also take a guard like Zion Johnson and swap him into the middle. Either way, there are multiple directions for Minnesota to go come late April.
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Free Agency
There’s always a chance that the draft board just doesn’t fall Minnesota’s way in terms of the center position. If that is the case, free agency should provide other options for the Vikings to choose from. Minnesota currently sits in the red, but they have multiple ways to clear up cap space this offseason. Should they choose to go after top targets, Ryan Jensen out of Tampa Bay would be the gold standard.
However, there are other players that had breakout seasons in 2021 that are entering the market. Ben Jones in particular had a very productive season for the Tennessee Titans and has missed a total of one game over the course of the past eight seasons since becoming a full-time starter.
Finally, another option that may fly under-the-radar is Detroit Lions center, Evan Brown. The 25-year-old has bounced all over the place over the first three seasons of his career, before finally landing a stable spot in Detroit. He played all 16 games in 2021, starting 12, and recorded a PFF grade of 66.7. Nothing stellar, but he is an intriguing young player that could be on the verge of a breakthrough.
Wyatt Davis
The Minnesota Vikings drafted Wyatt Davis in the third round of the 2021 draft with thoughts that he’d be a plug-and-play option at right guard. Injuries and the standout play of Oli Udoh made that impossible in the 2021 season. He may again not play at right guard in 2022, but it won’t be because he isn’t capable. Instead, the Vikings could decide to use him at center.
This isn’t out of nowhere. Davis took snaps at center during training camp last summer with the Vikings. His tape at Ohio State certainly shows a player that is athletic and strong enough to take on a role as the Vikings center as well. Perhaps Minnesota finds a high caliber right guard in free agency; then if they want to still use their young player on the o-line, he will have to adjust. It certainly wouldn’t be my top choice, but there’s a chance that it could work.