Vikings Should Keep Adding the Beef
Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has made some excellent moves so far in free agency, particularly regarding the trenches. Significant additions on both lines of scrimmage have been added to the Vikings’ roster, but there is no need for it to stop there. The Vikings should keep adding the beef to get even stronger in the trenches.
Vikings Should Keep Adding the Beef
Adofo-Mensah has been widely praised for his work in free agency, receiving an A+ grade from Pro Football Focus and an A grade from USA Today and Yahoo Sports.
The major new faces have come on the interior of the offensive and defensive line in the form of veteran center Ryan Kelly, his teammate at guard from Indianapolis Will Fries, and defensive linemen Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave, who both add much-needed pass rush to the Vikings DL.
Minnesota transformed what were two areas of weakness on the roster into what should be two areas of strength. Does that mean everything has been solved in these areas? I would argue — no. The
Vikings still need to find an answer for left guard on the OL, and while the DL has improved dramatically, the top three guys are all around or above 30. Leaving Adofo-Mensah to think about the long-term situation at the position.
Offensive Line
The offensive line for the coming season currently shapes up like this;
- LT Christian Darrisaw
- LG Blake Brandel
- C Ryan Kelly
- RG Will Fries
- RT Brian O’Neill
Last year’s rookies Michael Jurgens and Walter Rouse offer depth at both center and guard and tackle and possibly guard, respectively. Minnesota also signed veteran tackle Justin Skule as a capable swing tackle and, presumably, insurance in case Darrisaw is not fully recovered from the knee injury that cut his 2024 season short.
After that, the Vikings have a group of players who are more likely to be vying for a practice squad place rather than a spot on the roster — Henry Byrd, Marcellus Johnson, Trevor Reid, and Leroy Watson. The expectation is that Garrett Bradbury will be released if Adofo-Mensah can’t find a trade partner for him.
There is room for one more addition to the interior, either adding to the depth or taking that left guard spot. Brandel transitioned from tackle to guard, and after a promising start, his season tailed off dramatically. Are the Vikings fine with waiting to see if he can completely figure things out in a second season at the position and risk leaving a weak point in an area they invested in significantly?
Brandel finished the season with a lowly 55.2 overall grade from PFF, but his pass blocking was graded at a middling 61.4.
Dalton Risner is still available in free agency and was Minnesota’s best guard last season once he returned from injury to replace Ed Ingram. Risner posted an overall grade of 67 and an impressive pass-blocking grade of 76.2 — the area where he has always excelled.
Like last season, Risner and the Vikings may take their time as he looks for better recompense, but if that isn’t forthcoming, I wouldn’t be shocked to see him return. Other guards with the caliber to be starters who are yet to sign with a team include Teven Jenkins, Brandon Scherrf, Shaq Mason, and Will Hernandez. Alternatively, Adofo-Mensah could turn to the draft for one of the top-rated guards in the first two days.
Defensive Line
As a three-man front, the Vikings defensive line for the coming season currently shapes up like this;
- DE Jonathan Allen
- NT Harrison Phillips
- DT Javon Hargrave
The depth will be made up of Jalen Redmond, who had a breakout season last term, Taki Taimani, and Levi Drake Rodriguez — all of whom played their first NFL games last season. Also on the roster are Jonathan Harris and Travis Bell, who are likely practice squad candidates. I don’t think Minnesota will need to bring in any other veteran for the DL, but with the age of the starters looking to the draft, it would make sense.
My ideal target in the draft would be Michigan’s Kenneth Grant, who can be drafted as the successor to Phillips at nose tackle. This year’s draft class is stacked at DL, and other options the Vikings could consider include Derrick Harmon, Darius Alexander, Walter Nolen, and T.J. Sanders, to name a few.
Whatever else the Vikings decide to do over the coming weeks and months, they have made big strides to becoming more dominant at the line of scrimmage, but you can never have too many good players in the trenches.
You must be logged in to post a comment.