Old friend could help solve some Vikings offensive line problems
By Adam Patrick
Former Minnesota Vikings offensive lineman Nick Easton was let go by the New Orleans Saints on Friday.
For way too many years, the offensive line has been a constant problem for the Minnesota Vikings. No matter how many assets the Vikings use to try to improve the unit, nothing seems to work.
So as Minnesota figures out which parts of their roster need to be fixed this offseason, the offensive line is at the top of the list once again.
The Vikings‘ current group of blockers does have a few pieces to build on, but there always seems to be at least one or two spots that ruin the potential of the unit every year, and this was the case in 2020.
Minnesota Vikings should consider bringing back former offensive lineman
Midway through the 2015 season, Minnesota made a trade that sent linebacker Gerald Hodges to the San Francisco 49ers in exchange for guard Nick Easton and a 2016 sixth-round draft pick.
Easton didn’t make his first start for the Vikings until the middle of the 2016 campaign. But then in 2017, he started 12 games for Minnesota at left guard. A neck injury prevented him from playing at all in 2018 and then during the 2019 offseason, he ended up signing a four-year deal with the New Orleans Saints.
After two seasons with the team, the Saints made the decision to release Easton on Friday, making the offensive lineman free to sign with any team this year.
Coincidentally, the Vikings are in need of finding a new starting left guard after the disaster that was Dakota Dozier in 2020.
Easton is only 28-years-old and he was a solid part of the New Orleans offensive line for the last two seasons. In 22 appearances for the Saints since 2019, he only gave up a total of three sacks (Dozier allowed six sacks in 2020).
Easton definitely has some durability concerns as he has never appeared in more than 12 games in a single season since he entered the NFL in 2015. But this is also something that might allow Minnesota to sign him to a less expensive deal.
Easton wouldn’t be a flashy addition, but he could be one that helps the Vikings offensive line take some steps in the right direction. So if his injury history isn’t too concerning, Minnesota should definitely consider bringing back their former left guard this offseason.