5 free agents that could start for the Vikings in 2023

Free Agent No. 3

Dalton Risner - OG

2022 Team: Denver Broncos

Seeing Dalton Risner still on the open market this close to training camp is extremely surprising. Risner is an above-average pass blocker, something the Vikings' interior offensive linemen continuously struggle with. For Risner, his struggles happen when he has to run block.

Now, in the last four to five years, one could understand Minnesota not wanting to pursue an interior offensive lineman who struggles at run blocking, since most of their offensive philosophies centered around their rushing attack during that time span.

2023 is different, however, as the Vikings have hinted at using more of a 12-personnel style of offense, and with the departure of Dalvin Cook, we could see Minnesota flipping to even more of a pass-happy offense next season.

You can't get any worse than what Ed Ingram produced in his rookie season as the Vikings starting right guard in 2022. Ingram was the lowest-graded guard to start every game last season by PFF, in addition to allowing 11 sacks, which led the league, and raised huge concerns for his future in Minnesota.

Although Ingram did improve slightly as the 2022 season went on, he still did very little to help his case to continue as the Vikings' starting right guard.

Risner would be an immediate upgrade for Kevin O'Connell and Minnesota's offense on the right side of their offensive line.