4 potential Vikings offensive line combinations for 2020
By Nik Edlund
Most probable combination
- LT – Riley Reiff
- LG – Pat Elflein
- C – Garrett Bradbury
- RG – Dru Samia
- RT – Brian O’Neill
The above line is the most probable combination the Vikings will go with at the start of the 2020 season. When looking at this combination, two spots create the most worry and one that isn’t that far behind.
Clearly, the biggest concern here would be at the guard position. Pat Elflein has been a great run blocker for the last couple of seasons, but his pass blocking has fallen off a cliff. He’s been a turnstile and much of the pressure that comes Kirk Cousins‘ way is from Elflein’s side.
Right guard is another major concern with this group. Dru Samia has plenty of potential, but he only appeared in one game last year. He is extremely raw and how he’ll perform as a full-time starter is a complete unknown.
He does have a nice thick build and he moves well for being so large. But the fact that he couldn’t crack the starting lineup a season ago might be a concern.
Left tackle would be the last issue with this group. Riley Reiff’s play has declined during the last couple of years and while he’s still serviceable, this could be a case where he’s replaced after a few games by the rookie Ezra Cleveland.
It’s really hard to say if the above group will be an improvement over what they had a season ago. Garrett Bradbury should be better with a season under his belt and supposedly living in the weight room in the offseason.
Brian O’Neill will be a stud on the right side, but Samia could be a major question mark next to him. Reiff could be a little worse, as he’s only getting older, and there’s no reason to think Elflein will be any better.
This is likely who will start the preseason as the Vikings’ first-team offensive line this year. The question is if it’ll be the same by the time the regular season kicks off.