Vikings Complete the Set
The speculation is over. There was no trade down. Kwesi Adofo-Mensah stayed at No. 24 and picked a guard in the first round — only the second time in franchise history that has been done. It was a move that completed an interior offensive line that should please one man more than anybody — J.J. McCarthy.
Vikings Complete the Set
McCarthy’s rookie season was lost to a knee injury suffered in the preseason. The early signs were promising, but we don’t know whether he would have made it onto the field with any permanency in 2024. Sam Darnold led the team to a 13-win season, but for the second time in three seasons under the guidance of Kevin O’Connell, the Vikings crashed out of the playoffs at the first hurdle.
While so much of O’Connell’s offense was good, one glaring weakness showed up in LA.
The Rams were able to sack Darnold nine times in that playoff game. You simply can’t win from that position. Coach O’Connell vowed improvement in that area for 2025, and the Vikings have delivered in a big way. Minnesota started by signing veteran Pro Bowl and second-team all-pro center Ryan Kelly to a 2-year, $18 million contract to replace Garrett Bradbury.
They followed that by signing Kelly’s teammate Will Fries to a huge 5-year, $88 million contract to play right guard.
With Christian Darrisaw and Brian O’Neill proven at tackle, the remaining doubt was left guard. Blake Brandel was transitioned to guard from tackle last year and had a mixed season. There were good games and bad, which is typical of Vikings’ interior linemen in recent years. Minnesota’s recent guards have either been smaller athletic players or tackles who have been moved inside.
None of these experiments has worked. The decision to draft Donovan Jackson shows a change in direction.
Donovan Jackson
Jackson is a true guard, described by some as the best pure guard in this year’s draft. At 6’4″ and 320 lbs, Jackson is a big boy who should help the Vikings become a team that can now bully the opposition at the line of scrimmage. A far cry from what we’ve seen in recent years, when Minnesota has been so reliant on their tackles and tried to find ways to cover for their inadequacies on the interior.
The scouting report tells the story of a player comfortable in any scheme, who can dominate in both run blocking and pass protection with the power, athleticism, and footwork needed to be an immediate starter. Jackson also showed he could kick outside to tackle during Ohio State’s national championship run, which is a bonus, especially as Darrisaw recovers from the torn ACL that ended his 2024 season.
Good News for J.J. McCarthy
All of this is good news for McCarthy, not to mention the Vikings running backs Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason. Minnesota’s offense should be more effective on the ground this season, which is exactly what you want for a young QB. The Vikings shouldn’t have issues with nearly giving up double-digit sacks in big games with the OL they have compiled.
With the run game and pass protection seemingly solved, McCarthy was already blessed with a landing spot that provides him with some of the best playmakers in the game. If he’s given plenty of time to distribute the ball to Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and T.J. Hockenson, with a supporting act of Jalen Nailor, Ronald Moore, and Josh Oliver, there are no excuses for McCarthy. He couldn’t wish to be starting his NFL career as the Vikings QB1 in a better situation.
Adofo-Mensah and O’Connell have given McCarthy everything he needs to succeed. Jackson is the latest and possibly final piece. Now it is up to McCarthy to deliver.
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