Vikings signing top free-agent offensive lineman rumored as a possibility

All-Pro offensive guard Brandon Scherff is a free agent this year and signing with the Minnesota Vikings is rumored to be a possibility.

Prior to becoming the new Minnesota Vikings general manager this year, Kwesi Adofo-Mensah spent time with two NFL franchises in the San Francisco 49ers and Cleveland Browns that emphasize building their roster through the trenches.

One would assume that Adofo-Mensah will continue to have this mentality in his new role with the Vikings, especially on the offensive side of the ball.

Surprisingly, Minnesota’s offensive line actually has some bright, young pieces to be excited about in Brian O’Neill, Christian Darrisaw, and Ezra Cleveland. It’s the interior of the Vikings’ offensive line that needs improvement before next season and this is something that Adofo-Mensah will likely attempt to fix during the next few weeks.

Minnesota Vikings linked to free-agent offensive guard Brandon Scherff

When it comes to improving Minnesota’s offensive line, finding a new starting right guard and a new starting center seem like they should be the top two priorities this year.

Garrett Bradbury has been a disappointment at center since he was selected in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft and there is absolutely no reason for the Vikings to bring back Oli Udoh to be their starting right guard. Last season, PFF ranked Bradbury as the 29th-best center in the NFL, and Udoh was ranked as the 64th-best guard in the league.

If Minnesota is able to clear a good amount of cap space in the near future, they could find some offensive line help when free agency begins later this month. There’s even one free-agent offensive lineman who has already been linked to the Vikings.

SKOR North’s Judd Zulgad recently shared that “there are indications Pro Bowl free-agent guard Brandon Scherff would welcome the opportunity to sign with the Vikings.” Zulgad revealed that this info came courtesy of some tips that were recently sent to SKOR North’s Phil Mackey.

Landing Scherff would be a huge get for Minnesota if they were able to figure out a way to actually do it. Coming off a season where PFF ranked him as the 13th-best guard in the NFL, he has been one of the best guards in the league since he was selected with the No. 5 pick in the 2015 NFL Draft by the Washington Commanders.

While it’s exciting to think about the possibility of Scherff signing with the Vikings, cost is going to be a major factor. Spotrac has estimated that his market value could earn him a contract this year worth almost $13 million per season.

Unless Minnesota finds a way to clear some serious salary cap space, signing Scherff is going to be nothing more than a pipe dream.