6 guards the Vikings could select in the 2020 NFL Draft
By Chris Schad
Damien Lewis (LSU)
Measurables:
- Height: 6-foot-2 | Weight: 327 pounds
Damien Lewis was the starting right guard for the national champion Tigers last season. As part of one of the greatest offenses in college football history, he was able to keep quarterback Joe Burrow upright and clear lanes for running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire, while also mauling defenders in the process.
If the Vikings want someone that can clear a path for Dalvin Cook, Lewis would be a great addition to the right side of the line. His athletic testing numbers were in the upper half of this year’s class and his 87.5 zone-blocking grade suggests that he can function in Minnesota’s offensive scheme.
The big issue with Lewis is his consistency. Playing in a pass-heavy set, similar to what the New Orleans Saints run, didn’t do much to mask his flaws, but he only allowed 10 pressures on 481 pass-blocking snaps. This is even more impressive considering the gauntlet of interior defensive linemen he had to face in the SEC last year including South Carolina’s Javon Kinlaw and Auburn’s Derrick Brown.
Lewis has some work to refine his technique as a starting guard in the NFL. But with the Vikings having holes on both sides of the offensive line, plugging him in at right guard wouldn’t be a bad idea.