The 2022 Stakes for Ezra Cleveland
Adam New
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The Minnesota Vikings have invested a lot of draft capital in recent years in the offensive line.
The idea was a young athletic offensive line suited to a wide zone offense that would serve as the base of the Vikings offense for years to come. That hasn’t ultimately worked.
If Christian Darrisaw continues with an upward trajectory, the two tackle positions will be set with Brian O’Neill now a stalwart on the right side. The interior has been a bigger problem, with only Ezra Cleveland showing any potential. Drafted as a left tackle, the switch inside to guard has worked out for him.
The big question now is can Ezra Cleveland take the next step in 2022?
Cleveland has been better than the other names the Vikings have tried at guard. The likes of Dakota Dozier, Dru Samia, Oli Udoh, and Pat Elflein were frankly all terrible. However, heading into Year 3, Cleveland is still a work in progress. He’s been the best of a bad bunch, playing at a serviceable level. There is plenty of room for improvement.
What has impressed me the most is after thrown in midseason at a new position of right guard and then being moved across to left guard in his second season. Still, Cleveland has taken it all in his stride while showing consistent improvement.
Using Pro Football Focus grades as a guide, you can see his improvement. In 2020 his overall grade from PFF was 66.2, which rose to 68.5 in 2021. His run blocking grade went from 67.5 to 71.8, and his pass blocking grade went from 52.0 to 55.5 — modest but steady improvement. If Ezra Cleveland can take the next step and become a player that grades in the 70s, those are the types of good players that needed to build around stars to turn an average or good team into a very good or great team.
The Vikings will run a more modern offense under Kevin O’Connell, but it will still be a wide zone offense that will require athletic linemen. The days of hearing complaints from the head coach because we haven’t run the ball enough are over. The run game won’t be abandoned though, and I have been pleased to hear how the coaching staff speak about the players already on the roster — players on offense are different from what O’Connell and Wes Phillips had in Los Angeles — the likes of Dalvin Cook, CJ Ham, and Irv Smith Jnr. Their willingness to come up with new ideas with new players excites me. Getting the best out of and improving the players already here is just as important as bringing in new people.
General manager Kwesi Adolo-Mensah personally picked out Ezra Cleveland as one such player, saying about the Boise State alumnus:
The interior of the Vikings offensive line is the only real problem, other than the future of Kirk Cousins. That needs real attention on the offensive side of the ball.
If Ezra Cleveland can take the next step and become more than just serviceable but a genuinely good starting-caliber guard, the Vikings will have one position sorted out while turning their attention to the two more problematic positions.
And that’s namely right guard and center, where there’s the choice between Garrett Bradbury and Wyatt Davis or new personnel. Bradbury has struggled throughout his Vikings career, failing to show progress like Cleveland has. Despite his troubles, his $4 million fully guaranteed cap hit means another chance seems likely. It will be his last.
He is similar in stature and style to the Rams center Brian Allen who had a breakout season last year. Meanwhile, Wyatt Davis was anonymous during his rookie season.
If not only Ezra Cleveland can take the next step, but Garrett Bradbury and Wyatt Davis too, that would be a real testament to the ability of this new coaching staff.
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