Can Pat Elflein resurrect his career with the Vikings in 2020?
By Dean Jones
Elflein’s prospects in 2020
The future appears bleak for Pat Elflein with the Vikings. His place in the starting lineup is hanging by a thread and he could even be fighting for a place on the roster during training camp.
Minnesota needs to find a more reliable presence to stop interior pass-rushers. Elflein’s struggles have been there for all to see and it would be a huge surprise if he were presented another chance to prove his worth by head coach Mike Zimmer.
The Vikings are working through some major changes elsewhere on the roster thanks to a series of high-profile departures this year. These do not take away their need for reinforcements on the offensive line and Minnesota has created some additional cap space to ensure this is a realistic possibility this offseason.
Any player coming in would immediately go above Elflein on the depth chart. It will be up to the player himself to make substantial improvements in all areas of his game to prove he is worthy of at least a spot on the rotation.
Elflein is still young enough to turn things around. The problem he has is after so much scrutiny regarding his poor play, it may have had a lasting effect on his confidence.
The Vikings have 12 draft picks this year following the Stefon Diggs trade. They are expected to address the offensive line early on and there has even been speculation lining the organization up with a move for stud offensive tackle Trent Williams from the Washington Redskins.
All of this spells bad news for Elflein’s long-term prospects with the franchise.