Maybe the Vikings OL Fixes … Are on the Roster?
The Minnesota Vikings all but vowed to fix the interior of their offensive line this offseason after a horrendous meltdown in the playoffs against the Los Angeles Rams.
Maybe the Vikings OL Fixes … Are on the Roster?
On the whole, the Vikings’ offensive line did not struggle in 2024, but the lasting taste in fans’ mouths involved the postseason record-breaking nine sacks allowed in the WildCard round.
And as folks peruse the free-agent market for solutions like Trey Smith, Drew Dalman, and Will Fries, few have considered internal repairs — in the form of 2024 draftees Michael Jurgens and Walter Rouse.
Those men are on the Vikings’ roster for the next three seasons no matter what, and if the coaching staff believes in their respective skill sets, well, perhaps general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah need not spend millions on veteran replacements.
The Athletic‘s Alec Lewis name-dropped Jurgens and Rouse as possible fixes this week: “Over the last year, the Vikings have believed that Rouse and Jurgens could play meaningful roles on the interior of the offensive line.”
“Considering the urgency of Minnesota’s need to revamp its interior offensive line group — with proven and productive players — it does not make sense to thrust Rouse and Jurgens into these roles now. So, what does the future hold for these two in the short term?”
Using Jurgens and Rouse would be bold and ambitious. Why? Well, neither man played on offense at all in 2024. The two rookies played zero offensive snaps, sprinkled in a bit on special teams for good measure.
In theory, Minnesota could audition Jurgens at center, a position he played in college at Wake Forest. As for Rouse, he’s a tackle at heart. But he told VikesNow last May, “If the Vikings need me to play guard, I’ll be the best guard they’ve ever seen.”
Here’s the skinny on the offensive line from 2024:
Vikings OL Rankings,
2024:
ESPN Pass Block = 2nd
Sharp Analysis = 9th
Pro Football Network = 10th
ESPN Run Block = 15th
PFF = 18th
The unit was not putrid, even if some fans decided that opinion after the loss to Los Angeles.
Finally, remember Kevin O’Connell’s musings after the playoff loss. “There’s no question that we got to be able to find a way to give a quarterback time. Especially with players like Jordan Addison, Justin Jefferson, T.J. Hockenson, we got to find a way to solidify the interior of the pocket, starting first and foremost,” O’Connell told reporters after the defeat.
O’Connell added, “There can be a thousand excuses made. But, for me, it’s the foundation of the interior of the pocket that we’re going to have to take a long look at.”
Changes are probably coming.
It’s just that most onlookers assume fancy free-agent signings are the optimal route, which may not be wrong.
Still, isn’t it time that the Vikings hit on some late-round draft picks for offensive line help?
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.
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