5 offseason moves the Minnesota Vikings must make

1. Do Something About The Offensive Line (Maybe Multiple Things)

It’s been the same story for the Vikings going back years–a lack of resources devoted to the offensive line. They did take Garrett Bradbury in the first round last year, but he’s a center when there were left tackles still on the board.

Right tackle Brian O’Neill looks like a keeper with a bright future, and he may eventually land at left tackle. Bradbury also looks like building block. But beyond that, Riley Reiff, Pat Elflein and Josh Kline are imminently replaceable at left tackle, left guard and right guard respectively. Simply put, good pass rushers and pass rushes have their way with the Vikings’ offensive line on a far too regular basis.

Reiff has been a perfectly average, if slightly overcompensated, left tackle. But perfectly average won’t cut it against the Khalil Macks and Nick Bosas of the world, and the Vikings can move on this offseason while clearing $8.8 million in cap space ($4.4 million in dead money). A contract restructure may be in order, at minimum.

Using a second straight first-round pick on an offensive lineman should be on the radar for the Vikings. Ideally it would be a left tackle, even if they keep Reiff with the idea of possibly kicking him inside to left guard to possibly upgrade that spot. At least three of five offensive line starters could be different for the Vikings next year, via added competition, moving one or more guys to a new spot or a more dramatic reshuffling of the player mix. The latter seems unlikely, and unpalatable, but anything is possible.