The Minnesota Vikings had big plans for their offensive line this offseason, with three new interior pieces to go with offensive tackle mainstays Christian Darrisaw and Brian O'Neill. But entering Week 5, and likely until at least after their Week 6 bye now, their projected starting five have not played a single snap together this season.
Darrisaw missed the first two games as he completed his recovery from a torn ACL. In Week 2, center Ryan Kelly suffered a concussion, and he suffered another in Week 4. Rookie left guard Donovan Jackson suffered a wrist injury in Week 3, and he's in line to miss at least one more game. O'Neill suffered a sprained MCL in Week 4, and he's considered "week to week," but he will almost certainly miss Week 5.
No team is incredibly well-equipped to handle a litany of offensive line injuries, and with that in mind, no team is going to easily trade from its own offensive line depth.
So the Vikings are pretty much left to manage their litany of injuries with internal options, in the hope their starters are healthy fairly soon, and the external options to add depth land as underwhelming in terms of who is or could be available.
Trade proposal for Minnesota Vikings could also benefit New York Giants OT Evan Neal
The Vikings are among the six teams Bleacher Report's Alex Kay recently considered a "fringe contender" going into Week 5, as he also offered a trade proposal for each.
For the Vikings, the area to try to bolster in a trade is obvious.
"Minnesota Vikings receive: OL Evan Neal
New York Giants receive: 2026 seventh-round draft pick
Evan Neal may be the perfect answer, even though he's yet to see the field for the New York Giants in 2025.
He was relegated to backup guard work this season despite making 27 starts since the G-Men drafted him at No. 7 overall in 2022. He's most experienced at the tackle positions and could slot in to replace O'Neill immediately, becoming the latest reclamation project in the Twin Cities under head coach Kevin O'Connell.
"While Neal has been a draft bust for Big Blue, he's playing out the final year of his rookie deal and is certain to exit New York after the 2025 campaign.
Rather than lose him for nothing after the season, the Giants should be open to trading him Minnesota's way for a Day 3 pick—a move that will help both clubs."
The Giants took Neal seventh overall in the 2022 draft. He started 13 games at right tackle as a rookie, and all 27 of his starts (as subpar as his play has been) have been at that position. He was moved to guard, and he has yet to play a snap this season.
The Vikings could use some experienced offensive line depth. Neal badly needs a change of scenery/a chance to put any kind of good game tape out there, as he moves through the final year of his rookie contract.
It's not easy for any player to learn a new offensive scheme in the middle of a season. But as available options go for the Vikings to bolster their offensive line depth, Neal at least has latent potential that could still be cultivated in a better situation. And if O'Neill is going to miss substantial time, the former top-10 pick would surely be better than Justin Skule.