ESPN Snubs Both Vikings OTs from Top 10
If you think the Minnesota Vikings are in good hands with two stud offensive tackles, that’s fine — but ESPN, and perhaps the league, do not view Christian Darrisaw and Brian O’Neill as Top 10 at their position.
Jeremy Fowler recently polled NFL executives, coaches, and scouts, with Darrisaw and O’Neill mentioned out of respect but not in the Top 10.
Darrisaw’s Recovery and O’Neill’s Apparently Quiet Excellence Factored into the Vote
Vikings Shut Out of Top 10 OT Rankings
O’Neill received a vote for the Top 10 from somebody, but it was not enough to make a dent in the rankings. As an honorable mention, an AFC scout said about Darrisaw, “Still one of the best combinations of good feet and hands in pass protection and can be a force in the run game, too.”
A Detroit Lions tackle took home the top prize, with Fowler noting, “Sewell took the top spot with consistency in the voting. Though he didn’t dominate the first-place voting, he was living in the second- and third-place range, which improved his average in the composite total. And one NFC executive was blunt when describing Sewell’s strengths as a player.”
“But even so, his 89.6% pass block win rate landed outside the top 40 offensive tackles last season. It was his lowest since his rookie year in 2021. Sewell is making the anticipated switch from right tackle to left tackle this season, and it will be something to watch.”
Darrisaw’s Injury Woes
Darrisaw was firmly considered a Top 10 offensive tackle around the sport — until late October 2024. That’s when he tore his ACL, and truth be told, he hasn’t been the same. The lineman battled back to start for the 2025 Vikings, but it quickly became apparent that something was off about his recovery. Minnesota put him on a pitch count in games, and by December, the club shut him down altogether.
Thankfully, Darrisaw is reportedly healthy — he said he felt “great” last month — and the injury woes are probably behind him.
But the injury stunted his reputation in the court of public opinion. If he’s not making ESPN’s Top 10 OT lists, it proves the world has largely forgotten about him. Now, it’s up to Darrisaw to roar back.
Just a Lack of Respect for O’Neill
O’Neill has been a cornerstone of the Vikings since they drafted him with the 62nd overall pick in 2018. He has played in 124 games, starting 120, providing much-needed stability to an offensive line that struggled with consistency.
Beyond his impressive durability, O’Neill performs at a high level. He has logged 7,900 career snaps, with 4,840 dedicated to pass protection and 3,060 to run blocking.
His 2024 season was arguably his best yet, earning an 81.6 overall grade from Pro Football Focus. This included a solid 76.4 for pass protection and an impressive 84.5 for run blocking. O’Neill has never received an overall PFF grade below 63.0 in any season and earned Pro Bowl selections in 2021 and 2024.
For a team that once lacked a stable offensive line, O’Neill has been an invaluable asset. Yet, per ESPN. he doesn’t do enough to crack the Top 10.
VikingsWire‘s Glenn Erby noted on O’Neill last month, “O’Neill has never played fewer than 14 games in a season, giving Minnesota a level of availability that has become increasingly valuable at a premium position.”
“Coach Kevin O’Connell has repeatedly referenced his reliance on O’Neill as a leader, and that may be the most important part of the equation. The Vikings are still shaping their offensive identity and building around a roster that features young talent at several key spots.”
Vikings May Only Get Love at WR for ESPN Rankings
While ESPN’s series of Top 10 players at every position is not complete, the club is on track to boast just one player — Justin Jefferson. That list hasn’t been published yet, but when it hits, Jefferson will assuredly be in the Top 10.
And then that’s it.
Offensive tackle was the Vikings’ best chance at leaguewide recognition from ESPN; Darrisaw and O’Neill are great. No other position on the Vikings’ roster comes close to WR or OT in terms of firepower. It’s Jefferson, Darrisaw, and O’Neill as the club’s most dependable players.
Andrew Van Ginkel didn’t get any Top 10 love at EDGE from ESPN. Jalen Redmond, a defensive tackle, was snubbed.
Jefferson will remain the face of the franchise, and ESPN’s Top 10 list will re-prove it in 2026.
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