Jul 27, 2022; Eagan, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings general Manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah looks on at TCO Performance Center. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports
They’ll probably wait until next year, like the deal with Justin Jefferson, right?
Nope.
The Minnesota Vikings said “no thanks” to procrastination on Christian Darrisaw’s contract, extending the man for four more years — on top of the two years left on his existing rookie deal. That’s right, Darrisaw is attached to the Vikings through the end of 2029.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweeted Tuesday, the start of Vikings training camp: “Vikings and OT Christian Darrisaw have agreed on a four-year deal worth up to $113 million in new money, including $77 million guaranteed. Darrisaw had two years left on his rookie contract. Deal includes $43.7 million guaranteed at signing. Deal negotiated by Drew Rosenhaus, Jason Rosenhaus and Robert Bailey.”
The deals topped Penei Sewell’s deal in Detroit, who netted a four-year, $112 million contract earlier this offseason.
The Darrisaw agreement shocked Vikings fans for one primary reason: timing. Because Jefferson’s deal took about 18 months to negotiate and finalize, folks figured Darrisaw’s would take center stage next spring and summer. Yet, evidently wanting to avoid another long slog, general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah got Darrisaw’s deal done a year early, affording respect to Darrisaw often reserved for quarterbacks.
Pro Football Focus ranked Darrisaw as the eighth-best offensive tackle in 2023, and his consistency is top-notch. The only knock on Darrisaw is injury — he’s missed 18% of his career games due to various ailments.
Last week, ESPN ranked the NFL’s top tackles, and Darrisaw checked in at No. 6. Jeremy Fowler explained the No. 6 ranking, “Somehow, Darrisaw hasn’t made a Pro Bowl in his first three NFL seasons, but the talent is unquestionably of a Pro Bowl caliber. His 87.1 pass block win rate isn’t stellar, but stats don’t encapsulate Darrisaw’s game. He passes the eye test.”
Trent Williams (No. 1, San Francisco 49ers), Penei Sewell (No. 2, Detroit Lions), Laremy Tunsil (No. 3, Houston Texans), Tristan Wirfs (No. 4, Tampa Bay Buccaneers), and Lane Johnson (No. 5, Philadelphia Eagles) checked in ahead of Darrisaw, per ESPN’s rankings. And that’s the group that generally takes Darrisaw’s spot(s) via Pro Bowl voting, as Fowler mentioned.
Darrisaw ranked ninth in last year’s edition of ESPN OT rankings, so the young lineman climbed three spots.
Before discovering Darrisaw in the 2021 NFL Draft, Minnesota experienced a carousel at left tackle for about 10 years, dating back to the days when Bryant McKinnie held down the left side of the trenches. Now, the Vikings have at least six more years of LT stability.
Darrisaw turned 25 in June.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The show features guests, analysis, and opinion on all things related to the purple team, with 4-7 episodes per week. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band). He follows the NBA as closely as the NFL.
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.