4 things that must change for the Minnesota Vikings in 2021
By Dean Jones
Interior protection
The Vikings got some solid production from Brian O’Neill and Riley Reiff on the edge in 2020, but the same cannot be said of what transpired on the interior. This was an area of real concern and a distinct lack of experience or quality, so getting more consistency from this positional group is of critical importance.
Thankfully, this was something Minnesota also realized. Their decision to select Wyatt Davis out of Ohio State could be one of the draft’s biggest steals if he makes a smooth transition to the next level and if the Vikings had any sense they would throw the guard right into the starting lineup.
Everyone knows what Dakota Dozier can – or cannot – do. Slotting Davis alongside promising center Garrett Bradbury and second-year-pro Ezra Cleveland could be exactly what the team needs to upgrade.
This would provide Kirk Cousins with more security to go through his progressions, in addition to giving star running back Dalvin Cook more holes to do his customary damage.
The Vikings don’t want to get too cute, here.
Their current veteran options just don’t cut the mustard, so letting Davis and Cleveland man the interior is the best possible solution at this juncture.