4 positions the Vikings could still upgrade in free agency in 2022

Offensive Tackle

The Vikings have two very good starting bookend tackles in Christian Darrisaw and Brian O’Neill. O’Neill has proven over the last handful of seasons to be one of the best right tackles in the entire league, rarely getting flagged on a play, or allowing his quarterback to take a hit. Darrisaw played well as a rookie a season ago and he should be even better with a full and healthy offseason and preseason as he prepares for his second regular season in Minnesota.

The question and the major issue here is the depth. The Vikings don’t have much experience on the depth chart, or maybe quality experience is the better phrase for it. Oli Udoh is the primary backup who can play basically anywhere on the line. While his versatility is nice, he simply isn’t good no matter where lines up. He can’t hold his ground in pass protection, and while his run blocking is better, it is average at best.

Blake Brandel has played just 59 offensive snaps in his career so far and the jury is out if he can hold up against NFL-caliber pass rushers. Rounding out the depth chart is Vederian Lowe who is a sixth-round rookie and by no means a lock to make the final roster. That is a depth chart that doesn’t exactly ooze confidence.

Minnesota could always get nutty and shift Ezra Cleveland out to tackle if one of the starters goes down for an extended time. Their interior depth is arguably better than the tackle depth so that is an option. A more likely scenario is that they scour the streets and look for a grizzled veteran who is far past his prime, but could still put together a stretch of adequate football.