The Vikings believe they already have the answer to one of the bigger questions on their roster

usatsi_19184095

OTAs are not just exciting because they're the official start of football activities for all players - it's also when we start finding out how coaches plan on utilizing the guys on their roster.

Will a defensive lineman/EDGE kick inside on obvious passing downs? Will someone play center or try guard, first? Is a receiver an X, Z, or slot player? Getting an idea of how all of that might work, plus more, is almost intoxicating as we progress through the next few weeks.

The Minnesota Vikings have plenty of figuring out to do themselves, albeit at some really important positions, as well. One position group that is nearly figured out is the offensive line, but there is still a question mark at the left guard position.

That's only because the presumed and current starter, Blake Brandel, is entering his fifth year in the league and has played a total of 503 offensive snaps over his first four seasons. For context, Cleveland Browns guard Wyatt Teller led his respective position with 1,374 offensive snaps during the 2023 regular season, per Pro Football Focus.

The lack of experience isn't something the Vikings are thinking about, though. They shouldn't be, either, since that's all in the past. What matters most, now, is how Brandel handles himself and from the sound of things - he's doing a good job.

"I'm really excited about Blake," Vikings offensive coordinator Wes Phillips told reporters Tuesday. "I feel like he gets bigger every time I see him. He's just a massive man on the inside, in there. But he's in great shape. He's always been very coachable. You talk about technique fundamentals, footwork, hand placement - all the things that are critical for the o-line. You know, one false step for an o-lineman could be a catastrophe. So it's been very encouraging so far with him stepping into that starting spot on the left, there.

"And I think it'll only grow from there, [with] the more experience [and] the more reps he gets. He's been a guy that, anytime he's been put in a game at several positions, has come through for us. And we haven't forgotten that and I think he's earned this opportunity.

Brandel's time in Minnesota has been interesting since he was taken in the sixth round of the 2020 NFL Draft. He was actually waived before the start of that season and the Vikings signed him to the practice squad two days later. He made the 53-man roster in 2021, but was released after Week 2 and re-joined the practice squad. The Vikings called him up to the 53 ahead of Week 7, where he actually logged 64 of his 65 snaps that year at inline tight end, per PFF.

Brandel then logged 273 snaps at left tackle in 2022 before settling down at guard in 2023, where he played 163 snaps on the right side. His career numbers aren't impressive, at all: He's allowed 8 sacks and 21 total pressures over the course of 307 pass blocking snaps, which comes out to a 2.6% allowed sack rate and an allowed pressure rate of 6.8%.

That didn't deter the Vikings from handing Brandel a three-year, $9.5 million contract back in March. And while that's nowhere near resetting the market, it's a serviceable salary that carves out a path for Brandel to be the starting left guard come Week 1. Outside of bringing in veteran Dan Feeney, which wasn't a needle-moving pick-up to begin with, Minnesota also didn't make any major investment in the interior offensive line, further demonstrating its confidence in Brandel.

If Brandel proves his coaches right, the Vikings will have one of the better offensive lines in the NFL. Led by one of the league's best tackle duos in Chrisitan Darrisaw and Brian O'Neill, Brandel would then solidify an interior made up of himself, center Garrett Bradbury, and right guard, Ed Ingram. The unit would easily be in the upper-half of the league, maybe even top-12, depending on how well Brandel plays.

That's obviously a development any team would love to have, especially one like the Vikings, who are trying to figure out what they want to do at the most important position of all: quarterback.