With significant salary cap space and limited draft resources, the needed improvements are expected to come in free agency. The Vikings will have options. Here’s a look at some that have dominated my early offseason thoughts.
The only option I haven’t considered, and won’t consider, is doing nothing at all to improve the interior of the offensive line.
Minnesota Vikings Offensive Line Options
1. One Big Swing:
Sign Trey Smith.
With about $60 million in salary cap space, and the ability to create much more, the Vikings will be able to bid with anybody for the signature of the clear #1 guard, and one of the best players, that could be available. Trey Smith of the Kansas City Chiefs. In the range of $20-25 million, his next contract will likely make him the highest-paid guard in the league. Just like the signing of Steve Hutchinson nearly 20 years ago, the signing of Smith would transform the offensive line, the offense, and the team.
The Vikings new offensive line:
LT Christian Darrisaw
LG Blake Brandel
C Garrett Bradbury
RG Trey Smith
RT Brian O’Neill
There’s been some recent mentions that the Vikings see Walter Rouse as an option at guard. Drafted as a tackle in the sixth round last year, Rouse is an intriguing player. Who knows, in this option, maybe a training camp battle between Brandel and Rouse for the left guard job. The only known here is that adding Smith would do wonders for the Vikings offensive line.
2. A Big swing and a modest swing:
Sign Trey Smith and Robert Jones
I’m not sure if Miami Dolphins guard Robert Jones is an improvement over Blake Brandel. When he had Christian Darrisaw next to him, Brandel was playing well. After Darrisaw was lost for the season, Brandel’s play started to be a little inconsistent. Maybe signing a guard like Teven Jenkins of the Chicago Bears or Will Fries of the Indianapolis Colts would be a better route. Signing Smith and Jenkins/Fries might be outside the realm of the Vikings salary cap space. Improving the offensive line might be the team’s biggest need but it’s not their only need.
The Vikings new offensive line:
LT Christian Darrisaw
LG Robert Jones
C Garrett Bradbury
RG Trey Smith
RT Brian O’Neill
3. A big swing and a draft pick:
Sign Trey Smith and use one of their few draft picks on a guard
If the Vikings can find a small school sleeper with one of their fifth-round picks (Jacksonville State’s Clay Webb), I like this option a lot. I doubt that Webb makes out of Day 2. Maybe the Vikings can trade their first-round pick for a couple Day 2 picks. If the Vikings can manufacture the draft resources to add a promising guard and still address their other needs, I’d love this option. I’m just favoring free agency as the best way to improve the offensive line.
The Vikings new offensive line:
LT Christian Darrisaw
LG Clay Webb
C Garrett Bradbury
RG Trey Smith
RT Brian O’Neill
4. Two modest swings.
Sign Teven Jenkins and Will Fries
If the Vikings lose the bidding for Trey Smith, this will be the best option.
I’ve thought about this option a lot. I believe the Bears will be very interested in Smith. Maybe they should just re-sign Teven Jenkins and stay out of the Smith bidding. The Bears have more salary cap space than the Vikings. Will the Vikings pay any price for Smith? I suppose we’ll see. Jenkins and Fries won’t be cheap either but each will probably be $6-7 million less than Smith. With that modest discount, maybe the Vikings could afford both.
The Vikings new offensive line:
LT Christian Darrisaw
LG Teven Jenkins
C Garrett Bradbury
RG Will Fries
RT Brian O’Neill
None of the above options include replacing center Garrett Bradbury. Many followers of the Vikings want him gone. I get that. His lack of size and strength against the league’s growing number of impactful defensive tackles has been a problem. His quickness and smarts are his assets. So is his experience in Kevin O’Connell’s offense. Those attributes will be helpful as the Vikings enter the J.J. McCarthy era. Bradbury was selected in the first round for clear reasons. He’s a skilled center. Unfortunately, he’s a small center. I’ve often wondered if we’d see the best of him if he was playing between better guards. He’s been with the Vikings for six years. The list of guards that have played next to him is frightening. I’d like to see what he can do with better talent finally around him.
Which option? My preference is any option that includes the signing of Trey Smith. I’ve become so smitten with that possibility that anything else would be seriously disappointing. If the Vikings could manage their limited draft resources to add Clay Webb (or more ambitiously North Dakota State’s Grey Zabel) and still address their other draft needs, #3 would be my favorite. Otherwise, I’m a firm believer in #1.
