Trail of Hints Suggest Vikings Will Be Choosy When Addressing Glaring Weakness

The offensive guard spot is a glaring weakness on Minnesota’s roster, meaning the Vikings will address the issue in some capacity.

Consider, for instance, just what Kevin O’Connell has previously said. After getting walloped by the Rams’ defense in the Wild Card Round, O’Connell promised improvement. The head coach said that Minnesota needs “to find a way to solidify just the interior of the pocket […] For me it’s the foundation of the interior of the pocket that we’re going to have to take a long look at.”

At the Combine, O’Connell was a bit more political when addressing a question about the interior offensive line. O’Connell softened his wording a bit, noting that he didn’t specifically promise to “replace” anyone. He then discussed the importance of “an emphasis on how I believe we need to play” alongside “a level of execution and a level of physicality that I think holds up.”

With Dalton Risner moving toward free agency and Ed Ingram likely being cut — which is say nothing of Garrett Bradbury moving into the final season on his deal — the Vikings have to do something.

The Vikings Will Address the iOL. How?

No doubt, Minnesota has a clear need. There has also been a public commitment to improve. How are the Vikings going to proceed?

The first hint that the Vikings will be choosy rests in the words from GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah. His end-of-season press conference confirmed that the Vikings need to improve the iOL: “Having studied it, I would agree with what [Kevin O’Connell] said. What I would say is, though, I think a lot of times everybody hears that and thinks that it’s, that the answer is kind of simple. And the answer can come from different ways.”

The GM then notes several options, including different personnel, internal improvement, better/adjusted scheme, or even having better receiver talent. In other words, there are different paths that can be taken.

Consider, as well, some of the updates from one of the most plugged-in Vikings insiders: KSTP’s Darren Wolfson.

Wolfson recently offered a pair of updates that are illuminating when we consider Minnesota’s inevitable turn toward improving the iOL. Guard Jonah Jackson became available on the trade market. He’s 28, plays a position of need, and spent last season with the Rams (a scheme similar to O’Connell’s). Makes sense for the Vikings to have interest, right? Wolfson offered clarity on Jackson: “Was asked multiple times if #Vikings were involved on this front. Told no.”

Consider another guard who ended up being available: Alex Cappa. The 30-year-old is a Super Bowl champion and was a potential option to fortify the RG spot. Some Vikings interest? Kick it over to Wolfson for the answer: “No.”

Add it all together and we could reasonably argue that there are a trail of hints for the topic. Kevin O’Connell has said that there needs to be improvement. Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has confirmed the need but explained that improvement can arrive in a variety of ways. Darren Wolfson has been asked about specific guard options and clarified that in neither instance were the Vikings interested.

Consider the evidence and we could deduce that Minnesota is going to be choosy when bringing in new interior linemen. Forced to guess, I’d argue that Blake Brandel gets the nod to continue being the LG1 while Garrett Bradbury returns to start at center.

The right guard spot is where there’s a clear opening. Snagging at least one starting-level talent — possibly a pair? — seems like a foregone conclusion. The willingness to consider different options beyond just adding new personnel (O’Connell & Adofo-Mensah), though, alongside the willingness to say no to players who become available (Wolfson) confirm that Minnesota isn’t desperate. The team won’t add simply for the sake of adding.

Over the Cap is still suggesting that Minnesota has around $63 million in cap space, but that’s not factoring in the new deal for safety Theo Jackson. The real number is likely closer to a bit above $60 million.

Editor’s Note: Information from Over the Cap helped with this piece.

K. Joudry is the Senior Editor for Vikings Territory and PurplePTSD. He has been covering the Vikings full time since the summer of 2021. He can be found on social media (Bluesky & Twitter). If you feel so inclined, subscribe to his Substack, The Vikings Gazette, for more great Vikings content.