4 emerging alphas on the Minnesota Vikings in 2022
By Dean Jones
Christian Darrisaw – OT
Things didn’t go to script for Christian Darrisaw over his rookie campaign. The 2021 first-round pick’s early development was hindered considerably thanks to injury, which restricted the offensive tackle to just 652 snaps overall.
Darrisaw performed superbly when given a consistent run of games. He gave up five sacks and conceded three penalties en route to an impressive 71.9 grade from Pro Football Focus, which is a solid foundation from which to build in the coming years.
The Minnesota Vikings could have a prolific bookend tackle tandem with Darrisaw and Brian O’Neill. Something that could provide the catalyst behind the offense thriving with Kevin O’Connell calling the shots.
Considering the challenges Darrisaw had to overcome last season, it was an encouraging year for the Virginia Tech product. His athleticism, length, and footwork all caught the eye on occasions, so providing there are fewer complications on the health front, his future looks incredibly bright.
Darrisaw has all the athletic attributes needed to become a franchise player. A gift that the Vikings were right not to pass up once he fell down to No. 23 overall in the 2021 draft.