The Minnesota Vikings must improve their offensive line with free-agents this offseason, rather than waste another pick in the draft.
This seems like a reoccurring problem each and every offseason for the Minnesota Vikings lately, but improving the offensive line before next season is once again a top priority for this team. The Vikings have been trying to fix this leak on their roster with scotch tape every year rather than gathering the funds necessary for a more permanent solution.
Just last offseason, Minnesota used a fourth round draft pick on Western Michigan offensive tackle Willie Beavers, shelled out the big bucks to sign left guard Alex Boone in free agency, and also took a chance on free-agent offensive tackle Andre Smith.
Beavers and Smith ended up being disasters while Boone was solid for most of the 2016 season.
Minnesota’s offensive line also suffered an abnormal amount of injuries last year (nine players missed at least one game in 2016) and had a big effect on what the team was able to do on offense. Assuming that does not happen again next season, the Vikings need to stop shuffling their feet and put some actual effort into improving one of the worst lines in the NFL.
Of the 11 offensive linemen drafted by the Vikings since 2010, seven have never even started a game for the team
General manager Rick Spielman and the rest of Minnesota’s scouting staff seems to think that they can just take chances on offensive linemen in the draft each year and eventually it will pay off. But the Vikings have not drafted a decent player up front since Phil Loadholt back in 2009.
Since that year, Minnesota has selected a total of 11 offensive lineman with their picks in the draft. Of those 11, one is under contract for 2017 (T.J. Clemmings, yay?) and seven have never even started a game for the Vikings.
This is not to say that Minnesota should not use any of their draft selections this year on an offensive lineman. Just if they do, make sure it is a player with an early round grade that is not another project for the coaching staff to try and develop.
Recent history has just continued to prove that Spielman and his staff are not exactly the Michael Jordan’s of evaluating offensive line prospects.
So how about free agency? Well that route has gone a little smoother for the Vikings in recent years.
According to Spotrac, Minnesota has signed 15 free-agent offensive linemen since 2010.
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At first glance one would obviously see that total is higher than the amount of linemen they have added through the draft. But of those 15 players signed to block for the Vikings, eight were signed to one-year contracts.
Once again, Mr. Spielman and his staff added “depth” to Minnesota’s roster with unproven lineman whose chances to make an impact for the team were minimal at best.
Of the lineman that the Vikings have actually reached into their pockets to sign, most have worked out pretty well. From Steve Hutchinson, to Phil Loadholt, to Joe Berger, to Alex Boone, Minnesota has had much better luck when they do not try and fill their offensive lineman with cheap actors pretending to be NFL players.
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There are a few talented blockers in free agency this offseason, but the Vikings may actually have to spend money in order to get them to sign a contract. If Spielman elects to try and fix the team’s offensive line problems with unproven draft picks and cheap free-agents once again this year, his time in Minnesota could be coming to an end sooner than later.