5 questions left for the Vikings after the 2020 NFL Draft
By Chris Schad
What are the Vikings going to do at guard?
The question of “can he play guard?” has reached meme-like status among Vikings fans and this year’s NFL Draft didn’t do much to calm these concerns. Out of Minnesota’s 15 picks, there was just one guard selected and that was their final selection of the draft.
As the Vikings enter their virtual offseason, Pat Elflein and 2019 fourth-round pick Dru Samia are expected by most to be the starters in 2020. But Rick Spielman recently noted that the guard competition is, “wide open.”
"“The coaches will figure out who’s our best five. We’re excited about (Garrett) Bradbury, (Brian) O’Neill, and Riley Reiff holding down the fort on the left side until we see what we have, but it’s going to be a wide-open competition at the interior spots, the two guard spots.”"
Many expect second-round pick Ezra Cleveland to be one of the key cogs at tackle. But Minnesota college director of scouting Jamaal Stephenson recently noted that Cleveland has, “guard like tendencies,” meaning he could be in the mix for a job on the inside.
Throw in the possibility that Cleveland overthrows Reiff at left tackle and it seems like there is very little solidified about the interior of the Vikings offensive line.