I'd sure like to see the Minnesota Vikings fill out their coaching staff. It's a completion thing. It's tough to completely turn toward the draft with that task incomplete. But it's not impossible.
In order to do what they've never done, win a Super Bowl, there's really one objective this offseason for the decision makers of the Vikings. Improve the offensive line.
The Vikings have only two players on the roster that project as offensive line fixtures. Center Pat Elflein was selected in the third round of the 2017 NFL Draft. He followed a fine rookie season with a not so fine second season. He had ankle and shoulder surgeries following his fine rookie season and missed all of the offseason workouts and training camp. He didn't return to game action until Week 4. Coming back from an offseason surgery can be a long, grueling process. Coming back from two offseason surgeries is a longer and more grueling process. Elflein had shoulder and ankle surgeries. He couldn't strengthen his upper body and he couldn't run. That inactivity, no offseason workouts, and no training camp wrecked his 2018 season. Now, he's looking at a healthy offseaon. His second season was a wash. His third season should be an improvement on his fine rookie season. Tackle Brian O'Neill was selected in the second round of the 2018 NFL Draft. He was supposed to be a raw project. Instead he was a revelation. He wasn't supposed to contend for a starting spot until his second season at the earliest. He made his first start at right tackle in Week 6 as an injury replacement. It wasn't much longer until the position was his. He didn't give up a single sack in his 11 starts. That stat is a bit misleading as his play was far from perfect. He often looked like a rookie but he always looked like he belonged. He was way ahead of his draft projection and he looks like he'll be starting for a long time. He may eventually be the Vikings left tackle for a long time.
Another probable starter for at least another season is left tackle Riley Reiff. He was signed as a free agent in 2017. When healthy, he's better than serviceable. It's not a glowing tag but the Vikings can do a lot worse. They've done a lot worse (T.J. Clemmings). There's been some mention that Reiff could move inside. After the failed attempt to make 2017 right tackle Mike Remmers a 2018 right guard I'm skeptical of moving another player to a position that he's never played. But Reiff is a better football player than Remmers.
On paper, in January, the Vikings likely have three of their five starting offensive linemen in place.
Left tackle-center-right tackle.
So, it looks like the Vikings need two guards. In reality, they just have to add talent to the group. I wouldn't get too picky about the positions. But guards are a good place to start.
The 2019 NFL Draft is a draft that should be dominated by defensive players in the first round. It's a decent draft for offensive linemen despite the absence of any sure-fire top-10 talent. At this early date of the draft process, I see five first round offensive linemen.
Cody Ford, OG, Oklahoma
Jonah Williams, OT, Alabama
Greg Little, OT, Oklahoma
Jawaan Taylor, OT, Florida
Andre Dillard, OT, Washington State
I currently like the above in this order. That's partly because Ford and Williams might be best suited as guards in the NFL despite playing tackle for some if not all of their college days.
I currently see the following as day two players.
Yodny Cajuste, OT, West Virginia
Dalton Risner, OT, Kansas State
Chris Lindstrom, OG, Boston College
Nate Herbig, OG, Stanford
Connor McGovern, OG, Penn State
Michael Jordan, OG, Ohio State
And I like these three simply because they learned and played at Wisconsin. Offensive linemen from Wisconsin tend to be good offensive linemen.
David Edwards, OT, Wisconsin
Michael Deiter, OT, Wisconsin
Beau Benzschawel, OG, Wisconsin
So, in January, if the Vikings could pull one of the projected first round linemen and one of the projected day two players out of the first two days of the draft I'd be real happy Vikings fan. If those two players were Cody Ford and, say, Chris Lindstrom I'd be an ecstatic Vikings fan.
Right or wrong, the Vikings have tried to piece together a serviceable offensive line with late round picks. It's a great strategy if it works. It has worked in the past but it's been a disaster recently. That has to change. The Vikings can field a very explosive offense if the offensive line played at even an average level. It's time to shoot higher than average. A good way to hit that would be to raise the talent level. And perhaps improve the scheme and coaching as well.
Now, it's back to waiting for the offensive line and receiver coaching hires.
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