Welcome Skoloholics!
We are all aware that the Minnesota Vikings offensive line has been one of the teams’ main weaknesses for several years now. It’s held the offense back, and has been a constant source of frustration for Vikings fans for years. Really, the team hasn’t fielded a solid offensive line since 2013. That is, until this year. That’s right, the Vikings have something that actually resembles an offensive line this year.
How did the Vikings do it?
How did they get here? Organically. After years of trying to piece together an O-line via free agency, the Vikings have FINALLY managed to build an entire O-line via the draft. The most senior member of the line is RT Brian O’Neill in the 2nd round of the 2018 draft, and he has been solid for the Vikings since day one. C Garrett Bradbury is a 2019 first round pick, and after a very rough start, has blossomed in 2022. I’m not sure if the new system helped, but something did, as Bradbury went from one of the worst centers in the NFL to being an average NFL center, which is a massive improvement. LT Christian Darrisaw was the Vikings’ 2020 first round pick, and LG Ezra Cleveland was added in the second round of that same draft. RG Ed Ingram is the newest member of the O-line, as he was the team’s 2nd round pick in the 2022 draft.
Ingram is likely the O-line’s weakest link right now, especially in the passing game. You expect a rookie to start slow, but Ingram is better than what we’ve had at the position, and he seems to be improving as the year progresses. I expect to see Ingram playing here for many years.
How Good is the Offensive Line?
PFF ranks each offensive line every week after each game. They grade each individual player, then use those rankings to rank the entire offensive line against the other NFL teams’ offensive lines. The Vikings were playing with a backup center on Saturday, which will have an affect on their team grade, obviously. Going into week 16, the Minnesota Vikings offensive line is ranked 14th in the NFL. This is one spot lower than the 13th spot they occupied last week. After years of seeing the Vikings O-line at or near the bottom of the NFL, this is a welcome sight, and is one of the factors that is contributing to the success the Minnesota Vikings are having on the field this year.
