Minnesota Vikings: 10 easy predictions for 2019 to set expectations
By Tim Arcand
The Vikings offensive line will be improved, a lot
Yeah, this is really an easy prediction — the offensive line only has one direction to go—up. If the offensive line does not improve, then more than Mike Zimmer’s job will be on the line.
According to Pro Football Focus the Vikings’ offensive line ranked 29th this past season and Football Outsiders ranked the unit 23rd overall. Quarterback Kirk Cousins suffered 40 sacks and was hit another 95 times.
The Vikings had only one lineman play in all 16 games last season and that was tackle Riley Reiff. With revolving doors at four positions along the line, it is extremely difficult to get any kind of consistency. Nowhere else on the field does it take as much coordination for a unit to perform.
The improvement of the offensive line started with the release of tackle Mike Remmers. After losing free-agent guard Nick Easton to the Saints the Vikings signed veteran guard Josh Kline, a starter of 59 games the last four seasons in New England and Tennessee.
The Vikings continue to build on the offensive line with the draft. With the 18th pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, the Minnesota Vikings upgraded their offensive line and gave hope to Vikings fans that this season will be different. The addition of center Garrett Bradbury from NC State provides improvement along the interior line for the Vikings. They addressed all three positions along the offensive line by adding guard Dru Samia from Oklahoma in the fourth round and tackle Olisaemeka Udoh from Elon in the sixth round. According to the Vikings’ website, they currently have 15 offensive linemen on the roster.
If Bradbury takes over at center, that means Pat Elflein, a 2017 third-round pick from Ohio State, who started 27 games at center over the past two seasons, most likely moves to guard. This would give the Vikings offensive line a starter from each of the last three drafts including Brian O’Neill a second-round pick from last season who started 11 games at tackle.