A lot was made about the struggles of the Minnesota Vikings' offensive line in 2025 after multiple injuries plagued the unit, but there is still some great talent within the group.
At least one of those guys is getting some proper praise for his play: Vikings left tackle Christian Darrisaw. ESPN NFL reporter Jeremy Fowler shared the latest rankings of the top 10 players at each position, based on a survey involving league executives, coaches, and scouts. Darrisaw did not make the top 10, but was an honorable mention and received some good compliments from an AFC scout.
"Still one of the best combinations of good feet and hands in pass protection and can be a force in the run game, too."
Minnesota Vikings fans want to see more of that from Christian Darrisaw
Darrisaw didn't have quite the 2025 season he was hoping for, with inconsistent play and a lingering knee injury that affected his play. He would miss seven games last season, finishing with 19 pressures allowed, four quarterback hits, and two sacks in 325 pass-blocking snaps, while also being called on eight penalties. Pro Football Focus graded him out at 65.6 overall, ranking 47th among 89 tackles in the NFL last year.
Over the years since the Vikings selected him in the first round in 2021, Darrisaw has been a very good offensive tackle and among the top half of the league. His biggest issue has been staying on the field, as he has yet to play all 17 regular-season games and has only twice in five years started 14 or more games.
The Vikings had another honorable mention in the survey of the NFL's best offensive tackles. Starting right tackle Brian O'Neill was also on there, but was under the "also receiving votes" category with no commentary.
O'Neill had a much better 2025 season than Darrisaw did, allowing 21 pressures, two sacks, and one quarterback hit in 446 pass-blocking snaps, while being called for six penalties. PFF ranked him 13th among tackles with an 81.6 grade. He's better known for his run-blocking, though, after earning an 84.5 grade and ranking ninth.
One good thing the Minnesota Vikings can hang their hats on is their strong tackle duo, which should be considered among the best in the NFL. As long as the two stay healthy, Minnesota should have a better season with the offense it needs.
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