1. What will the Vikings’ offensive line look like heading into the 2019 season?
This is clearly the biggest question facing the Vikings as they head into the draft and beyond. Right now the depth chart from left to right reads Riley Reiff at left tackle, Aviante Collins or Dakota Dozier at left guard, Pat Elflein at center, Josh Kline at right guard, and at right tackle Brian O’Neill.
It can be argued whether or not that is an upgrade over a season ago, and clearly, help is still needed. The question or questions are when will Minnesota address this in the draft and with what position?
In the first round at pick No. 18, they could take a guard, a tackle, or a hybrid of both. Names like Cody Ford, Jonah Williams, Andre Dillard, and Garrett Bradbury have all been linked to the team.
If the Vikings take a true tackle like Dillard, then there is a chance Reiff ends up moving inside to guard. If they take a guy like Ford and put him at guard, then the tackles likely stay the same.
Minnesota could also address the offensive line multiple times in this year’s draft and create competition at both guard spots. This would mean their biggest free agent acquisition from this offseason, Josh Kline, would have to battle for the starting spot with a rookie. But competition can only make everyone better and it should be welcomed by the players, coaches, and fans alike.
It’s almost a certainty that there will be at least one new face in the Vikings’ starting offensive line after the draft. It just remains to be seen if that will be at guard or tackle.
No matter which it is, one thing that is guaranteed is that this offensive line will be much improved over what it was a year ago at this time.