Questions for Kwesi: Is Minnesota Doing Enough For Its Offensive Line?
K. Joudry
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Anyone who has followed Minnesota for any amount of time knows that the offensive line inspires no little consternation among Vikings fans.
For years, fans have had to suffer through paltry blocking from their favorite football team. Thankfully, there are some signs of hope. Christian Darrisaw, as his coach recently said, is likely going to keep ascending. Brian O’Neill is already one of the game’s best right tackles, and it won’t be shocking to see him climb into elite territory very soon.
A strong tackle tandem, though, is a mere piece of the larger puzzle.
Indeed, there are three other spots that need attention. Ezra Cleveland, God bless him, will likely solidify one of those spots. The 2022 third-year player has great athleticism, making him a strong option in the scheme Kevin O’Connell will be running. When partnered with Darrisaw, the Vikings have a left side that’s already above average.
The center and right guard spots are a work in progress. The Jesse Davis deal suggests that the Vikings view him as the frontrunner to start. His $2.25 million cap hit isn’t insignificant, especially given the void year to get that number down in 2022. The leadership in Minnesota seems to think he can, at the very least, be great depth for multiple positions. He has experience as both a tackle and guard. If Chris Reed or Wyatt Davis happen to win the RG spot, then Davis may end up bumping Blake Brandel or Oli Udoh off the roster.
Of course, the main concern for the Minnesota offensive line remains at center. I don’t buy the notion that Garrett Bradbury is basically locked-in as the starter. If memory serves, Wyatt Davis got some practice reps at center last year. The team may also look to the draft. Tyler Linderbaum is the main name, but there are others who could be considered later on (Dohnovan West, Alec Lindstrom, etc.).
Is this enough? Without a major talent infusion, the Vikings are hoping that a better head coach & offensive coordinator will help.
To their credit, the Vikings didn’t overspend. They clearly had a firm idea of how much they thought they could spend on an iOL player, refusing to deviate from the plan. The guard and center spots will never be as important as corner, EDGE, and QB, so the rationale makes sense. However, the abundance of great DTs in the NFC does make competent play along the interior necessary. Minnesota therefore has some reason for concern about their offensive line. Plus, football is a physical game. When an injury occurs, is there sufficient depth to weather the storm?
The next major step in the offseason is the draft. I’m expecting the Vikings to bring in at least one player for the OL. From there, they’ll look to the UDFAs for more depth and competition. The hope and plan is that this will be enough to complement the talent that’s already present, though we shouldn’t discount the possibility of another signing or two following the draft.
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