The biggest area of need for the Minnesota Vikings continues to be at offensive guard.
Through the first six games of the current season and during the entire 2019 campaign, the Minnesota Vikings have been held back by poor offensive guard play. They are down to playing a rookie left tackle in Ezra Cleveland at right guard thanks to injuries and inconsistent play.
None of the guards who have played this season for the Vikings have really stood out in doing so. Dakota Dozier has been a staple on the left side, but he has not been impressive in his time with the first unit. The offensive line has shown improvements with Riley Reiff, Brian O’Neill, and Garrett Bradbury. However, the two guard spots have made the entire line look horrendous.
Fans will clamor for a quarterback in the 2021 NFL Draft, and rightfully so. But Minnesota should still consider taking an offensive guard early on in next year’s draft, whether it is in the first round or not.
The 2021 NFL Draft is expected to have plenty of talented interior offensive linemen that the Vikings will have to consider selecting. Let’s take an early look at some of the top guard prospects Minnesota should be keeping an eye on.
Wyatt Davis (Ohio State)
Outside of Trevor Lawrence, the prospect I am most excited about to potentially land with the Vikings is current Ohio State guard Wyatt Davis.
Davis originally opted out of the delayed Big Ten football season, but he has since rejoined the Buckeyes. He is far and away the best guard in this class that features plenty of quality young talent on the interior.
In 2019, Davis allowed zero sacks for the Buckeyes on 459 pass-blocking snaps, according to PFF. Through two seasons as a starter, he has allowed a total of just one sack. A First-Team All-American in 2019, Davis is primed to be the top guard drafted in 2021 and likely the second overall offensive lineman to be selected.
Should Minnesota miss out on one of the top quarterback prospects next year, they should think long and hard about drafting Davis with their first-round pick. Since the Vikings currently do not have a second-round pick in 2021, they might miss out on too many guards early on if they do not opt to take one in the first round.
If Minnesota lands outside the top five picks in next year’s draft, I would pound the table for Wyatt Davis. He would immediately improve the interior of the Vikings line by protecting the quarterback and filling space in the run game.
Trey Smith (Tennessee)
Trey Smith is another name to watch in the early stages of the 2021 NFL Draft. Smith was considered to be one of the top guards in the 2020 class before heading back to school for another year. He may not be a guaranteed first-round selection at this point, but he could work his way into that conversation.
Interior linemen are tricky because they rarely come off the board at the top of the draft. A guy like Smith, who very well may be the second-best guard in the class, could slide to the middle of the second round based on positional value alone.
Smith presents upside thanks to his experience at left tackle, giving him some flexibility wherever he plays at the next level. He is built to play inside as a power-dominant guard, but he has enough athleticism to slide outside should he need to.
The Vikings have questions regarding their future at tackle and guard, so Smith would not be the worst choice in the world. He can play virtually anywhere on the line with some success, which Minnesota desperately needs.
Zion Johnson (Boston College)
If you are looking for a complete sleeper at this point in the pre-draft process, Zion Johnson might be the guy. He began his career at Davidson before transferring to Boston College and he has become a starter for the Eagles.
Johnson plays left tackle for Boston College, but his NFL future will likely result in a move inside. He is a physical and aggressive blocker in the run game who initiates contact at the first and second levels.
Overall, Johnson is a good athlete who does his job on the line, but he has not proven to be a total game-changer at this point.
Like any lineman, Johnson has his fair share of whiffs and missed assignments, but he has improved over time. He has also shown the ability to step up his play to take on tougher competition after going from Davidson to the ACC.
If the Vikings choose to go the late-round route when addressing the offensive line in next year’s draft, Johnson could be a mid-round pick to monitor for them.
Deonte Brown (Alabama)
The Vikings offense survives by running the ball and Deonte Brown is the guy who can make that happen. He’s an aggressive run blocker who leads the way for one of the best rushing attacks in the nation at Alabama.
Measuring in at 6-foot-4 and 338 pounds, Brown is a massive anchor on the offensive line who can still move his body into space and impale would-be tacklers. He dominates in the run game and he does enough as a pass protector to start from Day 1 at the next level.
Brown has never played anywhere but guard in college, which is a bit concerning. But it also shows just how reliable he has been at his spot. The Vikings need stability up front and Brown looks to be someone who can make that happen.
Brown probably won’t be selected within the first 50 picks in the 2021 draft, mostly because he has not shown flexibility at his position, but he is still a very good interior blocker. Minnesota could reasonably target him at the top of the third round if they’re really interested in him.
The Vikings will have options in 2021 if they want to take a guard early in the draft. These guys make the early watch list, but there are more guys behind them who could still make an impact right out of the gate.