5 young Vikings players to watch closely at 2021 training camp

Christian Darrisaw – OT

Letting Riley Reiff go ahead of time had nothing to do with the veteran’s production and everything with the financial implications that surrounded his departure. The Vikings addressed his replacement early in the 2021 NFL Draft, picking up a prospect that comes with a significant amount of upside who could fill the void long-term.

Christian Darrisaw was a no-brainer for the Vikings after he fell into their laps after a trade back. The former Virginia Tech standout has all the physical attributes needed to be a prolific presence in the pros and he is definitely a young stud to watch closely at training camp.

Something drastic needs to happen for Darrisaw not to earn the starting left tackle job in Week 1. His athleticism and technique already look NFL-ready, and although there might be some growing pains, there is a lot to like about his potential.

Putting Darrisaw opposite productive right tackle Brian O’Neill could give the Vikings a solid long-term bookend presence. Couple this with the addition of Wyatt Davis on the interior and things could be looking up for Minnesota’s offensive line.

Darrisaw was wrapped up in cotton wool during the early offseason program due to injury. So there is a great deal of excitement about seeing him line up at training camp and in preseason contests.