Pat Elflein – Page 10 – Syndication Server

Vikings roster analysis: Three storylines surrounding the offensive line

The Vikings’ offensive line improved in 2019, but can the group take another step in 2020? Here are three storylines surrounding the offensive line.

Minnesota’s offensive line improved in 2019.

The team protected Kirk Cousins a little better, and Dalvin Cook made the group look good by going for 1,135 yards and 13 touchdowns.

The team lost incumbent starter Josh Kline this offseason, terminating his contract. Kline is a big loss, but there’s a possibility that a reserve from 2019 can step up in 2020, or even a rookie.

There’s plenty of potential on the offensive line — from young players who could take another step in their game, to already decent offensive linemen who can get better. I know this position group gets a bad rap among Vikings fans, and many times the criticism is valid. I still think this group is good enough to make the Vikings a contender, though.

Here are three storylines surrounding the offensive line:

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Vikings GM Rick Spielman: Guard is a “wide-open” race

Who do you think the two players starting at guard for the Vikings in 2020 should be?

The Vikings drafted three offensive linemen in 2020, and the team released guard Josh Kline this offseason.

That means there could be some new players coming in and starting on Minnesota’s offensive line. The team still returns four starters: left tackle Riley Reiff, left guard Patrick Elflein, center Garrett Bradbury and right tackle Brian O’Neill.

This year, the team drafted Boise State tackle Ezra Cleveland in the second round of the draft. They later took Blake Brandel, who could play either guard or tackle, in the sixth round, and Washburn guard Kyle Hinton, a Division II athlete, in the seventh round.

As reported by the Star Tribune, general manager Rick Spielman said that he expects there will be a “wide-open” race at both guard spots this summer.

“The coaches will figure out who’s our best five,” Spielman told the Star Tribune Saturday. “We’re excited about [Garrett] Bradbury, [Brian] O’Neill and Riley Reiff holding down the fort on the left side until we see what we have, but it’s going to be a wide-open competition at the interior spots — the two guard spots.”

I think that there are some notable reserves, such as Dru Samia and Dakota Dozier, who could also compete for starting spots on the offensive line.

Vikings’ free-agency watch: Center

The Vikings will rely on first-round pick Garrett Bradbury to take a big step forward in 2020.

Under contract:

After an up-and-down rookie season, 2019 first-round pick Garrett Bradbury is back for his second season.

He’ll almost certainly improve, and the Vikings need him to.

While there is no other player under contract at center, it’s worth noting that guard Pat Elflein can play center (where he played in college and in his first two seasons) if something were to happen to Bradbury.

Free-agent(s):

Brett Jones, who missed a big chunk of last season with a knee injury, will be a free agent after two years with the team. Jones made nearly $700,000 last season.

Don’t be shocked if the Vikings sign a player who can play both center and guard, similar to Jones, this offseason for cheap.

Cap casualty?

Nobody.

Vikings’ free-agency watch: Guards

The Vikings have both starters set to return in 2020.

Under contract:

The Vikings have 2019 starters Josh Kline and Pat Elflein under contract. Elflein is due $1.1 million, while Kline is due just over $6 million.

Dru Samia, who is entering his second season out of Oklahoma, is also in the second year of his rookie contract. He’s set to make $769,279, per Spotrac.

Free agents:

Rashod Hill, a guard/tackle hybrid who made $2 million last season, will be a free agent after four years with the team.

Hill appeared in 15 games last season and has started 16 games over the last three seasons.

Potential Cap Casualties:

There aren’t any obvious candidates, but keep an eye on Elflein. The 2017 third-round pick has been somewhat of a disappointment in his three seasons with the Vikings.

Elflein has a cap hit of just $1.1 million in 2020, but if the Vikings decide they want to move on, they would save more than $800,000.

Vikings show they desperately need help on the offensive line

Minnesota’s front five didn’t give Dalvin Cook any room to run and didn’t give Kirk Cousins any time to pass.

After Saturday’s Vikings loss to the 49ers, it was pretty obvious San Francisco was the better team.

It was also extremely obvious that the Vikings need help on the offensive line, and bad.

Minnesota’s front five didn’t give Dalvin Cook any room to run and didn’t give Kirk Cousins any time to pass.

How will the Vikings fix this concern?

There are some young pieces there that should naturally improve. Right tackle Brian O’Neill is solid and the team could maybe, one day, think about moving him to left tackle.

The question mark with the young players, however, is inside. Rookie Garrett Bradbury had a rough season at center and was far from the “safe” pick he was made out to be when the Vikings drafted him in the first round.

The guard to his left, Pat Elflein, wasn’t much better in his third season and you have to wonder if the team will bring in competition for Elflein this offseason. In three seasons in the the league, Elflein has been a below-average player.

Right guard Josh Kline was fine in his first season and is under contract for just $4.75 next season.

Left tackle Riley Reiff was also fine, but took a step back from last season. Reiff is due $11 million next season and it would be a huge surprise if the Vikings didn’t restructure his contract or let him walk for a $4.4 million penalty.

I would expect the Vikings to address the offensive line early in the draft and through free agency however they can. Fine isn’t good enough for a team with Super Bowl aspirations. It’s been a problem for this team and while it has been able to push it aside some, it was fully exposed against the 49ers. And while not every team (or any team) has a defensive line like the 49ers, that’s where the bar is at in the NFC right now.