10 bold predictions for the Minnesota Vikings 2023 season

Prediction No. 6

Ed Ingram or Ezra Cleveland will be benched at some point this season

For the first time since 2012, the Vikings are bringing back all five starters across the offensive line. The problem is this note seems valid only in name rather than their actual performance.

While it was much quieter than it was in recent years, “Can he play guard?” is still a thing in Minnesota, and it centers around fourth-year veteran Ezra Cleveland and second-year starter Ed Ingram.

Ingram’s rookie season was a disaster as he led all offensive linemen in quarterback pressures allowed. Many times, there was little resistance for opposing pass rushers to take a shot at Cousins’s ribs. Others, there was a rookie mistake such as oversetting to step on Cousins’ feet or picking up the wrong guy in the trenches.

These are mistakes befitting of a rookie but even more glaring when they happen with a veteran. Cleveland entered Minnesota’s starting lineup midway through his rookie season in 2020 but still finished third among all offensive linemen in pressures allowed. While you could pin Ingram’s mistakes on being young, Cleveland should be better than he showed last year – especially in a nine-pressure performance against the Commanders last year.

In some ways, the guard position is heading towards a change. It’s a matter of when, not if. But instead of addressing the issue with more cap space and flexibility in 2024, Ingram and Cleveland could accelerate the rebuild this season and lead to new blood in the trenches.