Why the Vikings should start Christian Darrisaw on Sunday vs. Browns

With Minnesota Vikings rookie left tackle Christian Darrisaw being a full-participant during practice this week, should he start against the Cleveland Browns on Sunday?

For the first time this season, Minnesota Vikings rookie offensive tackle Christian Darrisaw has been able to practice in full this week after injuring his groin earlier this year.

The imposing 6-foot-5, 315-pound left tackle will eventually add to a Vikings offensive line which has come a long way over the past few years and especially over the past few weeks. Following perhaps Minnesota’s best offensive performance of the Mike Zimmer-era in Week 3, where the unit opened up holes leading to 140 rushing yards while also only allowing one sack.

Darrisaw would be tasked with protecting the blindside of Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins if he was given the chance to start against a Cleveland Browns defense that is currently averaging an impressive four sacks per game. Going up against Cleveland’s dangerous pass-rusher Myles Garrett, who has figured out how to literally teleport past blockers, would be a true trial-by-fire scenario debut for the rookie.

Should the Minnesota Vikings start their rookie left tackle in Week 4 or Week 5?

If Darrisaw were able to live up to the first-round hype and expectations, the Vikings would not only be in for a successful day offensively against the Browns, but they should see an unprecedented amount of continued success on offense throughout the rest of the season and years to come.

Minnesota running back Dalvin Cook recently stated that he believes Kirk Cousins with a clean pocket is the best quarterback in the NFL. Perhaps Darrisaw getting closer to debuting is the perfect timing for fans to see if Cook’s quote can hold true and the rebuilt Minnesota offensive line can give Cousins time in the pocket to repeat last week’s fantastic performance.

That being said, if Darrisaw were to start and struggle on Sunday against Cleveland, it is not like he has big shoes to fill. In fact, his shoes are probably the biggest in the Vikings locker room.

Left tackle has been as inconsistent a position for the Vikings as quarterback for nearly the past decade. After drafting Matt Kalil with the third overall pick in 2012 (deep breath), Minnesota has seen a revolving door come at the blindside position.

Many Vikings fans, along with Sam Bradford, still have nightmares of T.J Clemmings allowing countless strip-sacks and ruining many promising drives (again, deep breath).

On Thursday, Minnesota offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak stated that the team will be sticking with Rashod Hill as their starting left tackle. And while Hill has only allowed one sack this season, it’s time for him to resume his role as a backup tackle.

A Vikings starting offensive line featuring Darrisaw, Ezra Cleveland, Garret Bradbury, Oli Udoh, and Brian O’Neill is a young unit with a lot of promise going forward. It could be this combination that gives Cousins the ability to deliver on a weekly basis and most importantly, give an offense that wants to run the ball 25-plus times per game the ability to do so.

Left tackle is also not a position like quarterback, where a team can ruin a prospect by rushing him to play too early. It would be a great test for Darrisaw to go up against the Browns defensive line on Sunday if Minnesota chose to start him. He is a (very) big dude and he would greatly benefit from the challenge of facing Cleveland’s talented defensive front-seven.

The Vikings should start Darrisaw Sunday. They drafted him in the first round to be a starter at the left tackle position for the next decade, so start that process now. Get his feet wet, let him get up to speed this weekend so that come the following week against the Detroit Lions, he already has a game under his belt and has seen probably the best edge rusher he will face all season long.

There is no better way to prepare Darrisaw than letting him go at it against one of the best pass rushers in football when Minnesota takes on the Browns on Sunday.