Vikings

Vikings Add Six to an Already-Crowded Offensive Line Depth Chart

Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-USA TODAY Sports

Minnesota’s crowded offensive line depth chart bulked up even more over the weekend. While the Vikings didn’t immediately or directly address their perceived need at offensive guard, they did add six linemen to the mix to compete for work in Minnesota’s trenches. Here’s a rundown of those additions, from second-round steal Ezra Cleveland to the trio of undrafted free agents looking for an opportunity to prove they belong in the NFL.

Ezra Cleveland

When it comes to athleticism among offensive tackles in the 2020 draft class, nobody is better than Ezra. Using the relative athletic scores (RAS) developed by Kent Lee Platte (follow him on Twitter @mathbomb), Cleveland’s 9.93 is tops among tackles — besting first-rounders Mekhi Becton (9.85), Tristan Wirfs (9.74) and Austin Jackson (9.47). His speed and agility are graded as “elite,” while his explosion grade is merely “great.”

Cleveland’s short shuttle and 3-cone drill times were the best among tackles at the combine, and his athletic profile is virtually a mirror image of Brian O’Neill — who has worked out pretty well for the Vikings. Cleveland’s scouting report in Pro Football Focus notes that “the track record of success for tackles with Cleveland’s movement skills is very good.”

Cleveland also has a wrestling background, which is common for linemen who find their way to the Vikings, and the three-year starter oozes experience — with all 914 of his snaps last season coming at left tackle. Cleveland was projected by many to go in the first round, the expectation is that he is the long-term solution at left tackle.

Will that happen right away? With the possibility of no hands-on minicamp and an abbreviated training camp, the Vikings may be best served to keep Riley Reiff at left tackle and let Cleveland compete for the left guard gig. But given his talent and the current state of the Vikings’ offensive line, it’s tough to see Cleveland spending too much time on the sidelines.

For more on Cleveland check out Sam Ekstrom’s article here.

Blake Brandel

In the sixth round, the Vikings selected Brandel, a four-year starter at Oregon State who played all 839 of his snaps last season at left tackle. Pro Football Focus gave Brandell a 93.1 pass-blocking grade, the best among all graded FBS offensive tackles, and his run-blocking grade of 82.5 also placed in the top 15 at his position. Scouting reports site his hand usage, technique and fundamentals while noting he needs to get stronger to find success in the NFL — not an uncommon critique among incoming offensive linemen.

Brandel’s RAS is a respectable 7.18, boosted by a “great” explosion score but dragged down by a “poor” agility grade. His 29 reps on the bench press suggest he knows his way around the weight room and can add the necessary strength, and at 6’6″ and 308 pounds, he has an NFL frame. He’ll need to beat out Rashod Hill to make the roster, and he has a great toolkit of technique and fundamentals to work with.

However, the most likely outcome is Brandel landing on the practice squad with an opportunity to develop physically.

Kyle Hinton

Round 7 saw the Vikings add Hinton, a Division II All-American tackle from Washburn who projects inside to guard. Hinton was a three-year starter on the left side for the Ichabods, where he also earned All-American track and field honors in the weight throw. At 6’2″ and 291 pounds, he’s undersized for an NFL tackle, but one look at his highlight package crystalizes what the Vikings like about him.

Caution: you’ll need extra syrup for this stack of pancakes.

Hinton’s RAS of 9.43 is a top-five score among either draft-eligible guards or tackles, so he’s clearly athletic. With leaps of 10’1″ in the broad jump and 34.5 inches in the vertical, Hinton has “elite” explosion, and his 1.71/2.81/4.88 10/20/40 times give him “elite” speed as well. His agility is merely “good” and of course, he’s a couple of inches shorter and 20 pounds lighter than what the NFL wants.

The Vikings are willing to wager a seventh-round pick that Hinton’s athleticism and nasty streak make up for those couple of inches, and the Ichabods standout develops into a viable NFL guard.

Brady Aiello

Signed as an undrafted free agent, Aiello has good speed and explosion and a solid 5.93 RAS score despite poor results in his short shuttle and 3-cone drill at his pro day. He brings a nasty attitude and position versatility to the Vikings, having started at three different positions (right guard, right tackle, left tackle) over the course of his Ducks career. He also put on an 82 jersey and caught a touchdown his senior season.

Aiello started 10 games at left tackle as a redshirt freshman, then 10 at right tackle over the next two seasons before playing most of his snaps at right guard as a senior. His explosion is also a selling point, and he has enough athleticism for his college team to give him some run as a tight end; he’ll need to demonstrate he has the strength and agility to succeed in Minnesota’s zone-blocking scheme to earn a roster spot.

Tyler Higby

Higby is another versatile, experienced option signed as an undrafted free agent to compete for a depth spot on the Vikings roster. A three-year starter at Michigan State, Higby made 30 starts over the course of his Spartans career including 13 at left guard during his first two seasons. He made eight starts at left guard, three at left tackle and two at center as a junior and started four games at left tackle as a senior before missing the final six games of his college career with an injury.

Scouting reports credit Higby for being better at pass protection than run blocking, though he pulls well and is effective as a second-level blocker. Reviews about his footwork and ability to anchor are mixed, and his technique needs work if he’s to stick in the NFL.

Jake Lacina

In a draft filled with legacies, the Vikings look to add one of their own in undrafted free agent Lacina, a Division II All-American from Augustana. Lacina’s father, Corbin, was drafted out of the same school by the Bills and played 11 NFL seasons including a stint with the Vikings. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree in this case, as the younger Lacina was a four-year starter at center for Augustana, where he was a college teammate of current Viking C.J. Ham.

Scouting reports credit Lacina, who won the Division II Rimington Award as the best center in the country, for having great feet for his size (6-foot-4, 300 pounds) — a definite asset in a zone-blocking system. Having an elite offensive line technician at the family dinner table doesn’t hurt, either.

Plus, as Vikings fans know well, Division II has produced NFL talent such as Ham, Adam Thielen and former Minnesota lineman Brandon Fusco as well as Chargers running back Austin Ekeler, Chiefs wide receiver Tyreek Hill and Bucs center Ryan Jensen.

The Vikings return 10 offensive linemen from last year’s squad, so competition will be fierce — for one or both guard positions, for depth behind the starting five — even for developmental spots on the practice squad. The 2020 class is definitely athletic, a fit for the team’s zone-blocking scheme; determining whether those talents translate into NFL-caliber football players will be the task of Rick Dennison and the Vikings’ staff heading into the upcoming season.

Vikings
Harrison Smith Has Become Minnesota’s Lone Survivor
By Kaleb Medhanie - Mar 27, 2024
Vikings
Andrew Van Ginkel Brings Versatility and Energy To Minnesota’s Defense
By Matt Fries - Mar 27, 2024
Vikings

Malik Mustapha Is the Perfect Mid-Rounder To Bolster Minnesota's Safety Depth

Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-USA TODAY Sports

The Minnesota Vikings have done a good job of patching holes in their defense this offseason. The additions of Jonathan Greenard, Andrew Van Ginkel, and Blake Cashman […]

Continue Reading