Vikings select OL Blake Brandel in sixth round of 2020 NFL Draft

The Minnesota Vikings grabbed another offensive lineman in the 2020 NFL draft by selecting Oregon State’s Blake Brandel in the sixth round.

The Minnesota Vikings have been wheeling and dealing during the 2020 NFL Draft, acquiring future picks while grabbing some talent to add to their current roster. In the sixth round, the team traded pick No. 201 and 219 to the Baltimore Ravens for pick No. 225 and a fifth-round selection in 2021.

That made Minnesota’s first pick of the sixth round to be No. 203, where the purple and gold made the decision to draft Oregon State offensive tackle Blake Brandel in an attempt to add more talent to their offensive line.

Standing 6-foot-7 and weighing 307 pounds, Brandel was a four-year starter for Oregon State where he played both left and right tackle, but he could move inside to compete for a spot on the roster as a guard for the Vikings as well.

A move inside might do wonders for the former Oregon State lineman, allowing him to acclimate to the NFL level while polishing some of the issues that could prevent him from being a productive offensive tackle as a pro.

Minnesota is drafting several large men to compete on the offensive line and that strategy should be sound. No matter which spot the Vikings have in mind for him, the team could use some depth and competition to push for better protection for Kirk Cousins as well as run blocking for Dalvin Cook.

Congratulations go out to former Oregon State offensive tackle Blake Brandel on being a sixth-round draft pick of the Vikings. Hopefully, the team has a plan for him and he can develop into a productive player for the purple and gold.