Nov 13, 2022; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Minnesota Vikings offensive tackle Brian O'Neill (75) on the sidelines before a game against the Buffalo Bills at Highmark Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports.
It’s the Minnesota Vikings’ bye week, a time to take stock and look back at the first five games. Several players have stood out, but Brian O’Neill is better than ever in Year 7 and has enjoyed a fantastic start to the season.
O’Neill has become a stalwart of the Vikings offensive line, providing consistently good play on the right side of the line ever since he took a starting role early in his rookie season. The Vikings made him the second-highest-paid right tackle in the league back in 2021 with a whopping 5-year, $92.5 million contract extension. A just reward for the Vikings 2018 second-round pick. The Pro Bowl tackle is earning that money year after year, and this season promises to be his best yet.
O’Neill has yet to allow a sack or even a quarterback hit through five games, and he has only allowed six pressures on his quarterback. That is elite-level tackle play from O’Neill, which has earned him an overall grade of 82.4 from Pro Football Focus — ranking him 10th in the league. PFF gives O’Neill a run-blocking grade of 82.4 and a pass-blocking grade of 77.2. O’Neill has conceded a couple of penalties, which isn’t too bad, though ideally, he would like to keep them down to around five or six across the season and no more.
At 29 years old, O’Neill should have plenty of years left at a high level — Trent Williams is regarded as the best tackle in the game, and he’s 36. O’Neill’s current contract runs until the end of the 2026 season, when he will be 31. He will hope for one more big contract, and if he keeps his current performance levels up, he should get one. I’d hope for at least five more seasons out of O’Neill before decline sets in.
O’Neill and left tackle Christian Darrisaw provide the Vikings with two stout bookends. In his fourth season, Darrisaw has already emerged as one of the best tackles in the game. Hence why the Vikings secured his long-term services early with a 4-year, $113 million contract extension before this season. PFF grade Darrisaw at 85.0 – fifth best in the league – giving the Vikings a pair of tackles both graded above 80. The Philadelphia Eagles are the only other team that can say that, with Lane Johnson and Jordan Mailata.
The Vikings are well set at tackle for the next few seasons at least. The same can’t be said for the interior, where the Vikings still have problems. Minnesota has used the draft to build its OL, and while it has been a great success at tackle, it has not worked out so well on the interior. Ed Ingram continues struggling, and big interior pass rushers are like kryptonite to Garrett Bradbury. The Vikings turned to Blake Brandel to be left guard this season. His transition from tackle to guard is going ok so far. He impressed in the season opener against the Giants and has held his own against some tough DLs.
Dalton Risner may be back soon to boost the Vikings at guard after missing the start of the season with a back injury. If the Vikings could get their interior anywhere close to the level of the tackles, their offense might be unstoppable. For now, the tackles will pick up the slack as I fully expect O’Neill and Darrisaw to be two of the best tackles in the league throughout the rest of the season.
Sam Darnold struggled for the first time as a Vikings against the Jets, and it coincided with some rough days on the OL and being unable to get the ball out quickly to cover up some of the IOL’s deficiencies. O’Neill had an excellent day, grading at 90.9 per PFF, the highest score of his career to date. When O’Neill and the Vikings return to the field in Week 7, they will have Aidan Hutchinson to deal with. It’s a stern test but also a chance for O’Neill to show he really is a top-10 tackle.