It's true the Minnesota Vikings needed to upgrade their offensive line over the course of this offseason. It's also true that veteran guard Blake Brandel contributed to the Vikings' need to do so.
But, does that mean Minnesota should be ready to trade the former sixth-round pick? Bleacher Report's Gary Davenport recently shared the belief that he is the one player the Vikings should be looking to trade right now.
However, it doesn't make a lot of sense.
For one, Brandel has starting experience at both guard and tackle. He might not have had a strong season in 2024, but the fact is, he did start all 17 games for the Vikings. That counts for something. But his versatility, in and of itself, is not the overarching reason why Brandel should remain in Minnesota.
Trading Blake Brandel would put the Minnesota Vikings one injury away from disaster
Think of it this way: if a starter went down at either guard or tackle, who is the next man up?
It's probably Brandel, if we're being honest.
And, what are the odds a Vikings offensive lineman gets hurt? Well, let's see. Will Fries is recovering from a broken leg, so he's not even 100 percent yet.
The same can be said about Christian Darrisaw, who is coming back from a torn ACL.
Let's not forget, new center Ryan Kelly missed seven games last year due to a knee injury. Now, Brandel doesn't offer enough versatility to play center, but you get the idea. Three key starters are coming back from significant injuries.
So, we're banking on all three of them making perfect recoveries, only to not suffer any setback or future injury? Do the Vikings not need an experienced, versatile offensive lineman who can come in and start in a pinch?
I wouldn't be so sure of trading Brandel at this point. Regardless of those seven sacks allowed and 11 penalties against him in 2024, the experience counts for depth. Without Brandel, the Vikings might not know exactly where to turn in an emergency.