There is still a plethora of noteworthy and affordable free agents available on the open market, but for the Minnesota Vikings and the league’s other teams, the conversation has shifted back to the NFL draft.
Most eyes shifted for two weeks toward free agency as legal tampering and official free agency commenced the week of March 15th.
For general manager Rick Spielman, the draft emphasis should now focus on offensive linemen – if the Vikings make no more moves to address the position. At the moment, the best offensive line that Minnesota could put on the field is: (LT) Rashod Hill, (LG) Mason Cole, ( C ) Garrett Bradbury, (RG) Ezra Cleveland, (RT) Brian O’Neill.
There is a small chance that this lineup would not be horrid, but the fivesome would be among the league’s least formidable when compared to 31 other NFL franchises.
What’s more, the Vikings are still rumored to be in talks on extensions with safety Harrison Smith and defensive end Danielle Hunter. If one or both of those materialize, the Vikings will have more 2021 free-agent money to spend on offensive linemen like Eric Fisher or Austin Blythe.
Does the rest of the punditry community foresee Minnesota seizing an offensive lineman?
Sorta.
Pro Football Network = Gregory Rousseau, EDGE (Miami)
Pro Football Network mocks a familiar face to the Vikings in their latest predictions. Rousseau was “the guy” for Minnesota by a consensus during most of February.
Rousseau would make Minnesota’s defensive trenches looks like this: (DE) Danielle Hunter, (NT) Michael Pierce, (DT) Dalvin Tomlinson, (DE) Gregory Rousseau. That’s difficult to scoff at.
Here is what PFN’s Ryan Gosling (yes, that’s his name) says about Rousseau to the Vikings at #14:
“The Minnesota Vikings need to find some help on the defensive line in the 2021 NFL Draft. With a lack of free-agent signings and Danielle Hunter‘s future with the team up in the air, the Vikings bring in Miami’s Gregory Rousseau in hopes of getting some sort of pressure on opposing QBs. Rousseau had 15.5 sacks and 19.5 tackles for loss in 2019, but he did not play in 2020. Nevertheless, he is an immediate upgrade over whatever Minnesota currently has.”
Sporting News = Micah Parsons, LB (Penn St.)
Parsons at #14 is interesting because it plots life after Anthony Barr while allotting the Vikings a delicious trio of Eric Kendricks, Barr, and Parsons for 2021.
Linebacker Nick Vigil was signed via free agency by Spielman to either start in place of Eric Wilson or be the team’s primary reservist linebacker. Wilson has not yet been signed for 2021 by any NFL team.
The drafting of Parsons is enticing as he figures to be the first non-EDGE linebacker off the board. The choice of Parsons also dabbles in the Best Player Available philosophy of the draft.
Vinnie Iyer of Sporting News says on Parson to the Vikings:
“Parsons’ stock isn’t falling; it’s the fact the teams picking ahead of the Vikings aren’t totally comfortable going for this position over other needs. He remains a hard-tackling and well-covering cleanup man, a rangy playmaker in the Luke Kuechly game-changing mold. Minnesota could go in other directions, including offensive line and pass rush, but they ultimately go for the best player available who can keep up the defensive youth movement and star inside or outside, especially with an Anthony Barr out in 2022.”
The Draft Network = Alijah Vera-Tucker (OL)
This one is probably the most realistic as of March 28th because the Vikings do not have startable guards on the roster. Each day that passes and Spielman does not sign a guard in free agency – the more likely it become that the draft will be an offensive lineman-heavy ordeal.
Vera-Tucker would start on day one – somewhere – on the Vikings line. And even if Vera-Tucker is the 1st-Round selection, the Vikings will likely stockpile linemen in the later rounds of the draft as it is the shallowest spot on the depth chart.
The scouting report on Vera-Tucker per TDN:
“Alijah Vera-Tucker has aligned predominantly at left tackle this season for the Trojans offense. He has exceptional athleticism, as evidenced by his balance and body control in his pass set. He is an easy mover who demonstrates his athleticism in the passing game, particularly in his kick slide. He plays with very good competitiveness when he is bull rushed. In the run game, he comes off the ball hard to strike and he excels by getting his body in favorable positions. He’s played this year at left tackle, affording him much more value due to his ability to play that position in a pinch at the next level.”
