It’s a no brainer! Anyone who has watched a minute of this line can see that! A NO BRAINER!!!!
Okay. Let me calm down, take a deep breath, and try to start over like an adult.
After a disappointing 7-9 record last season, the Minnesota Vikings are in win now mode. With that in mind, they had one of the most aggressive off-seasons in franchise history, adding $45 million on the defensive side of the ball. With several smaller signings on offense, the Vikings wanted to make sure nothing could get in the way, but plans for the offensive line have crumbled just two weeks into training camp.
With the assumption that Rick Spielman and Mike Zimmer have their jobs on the line, the Vikings need to do something to make sure the unit doesn’t destroy the season.
It’s time to call Russell Okung. It’s a no brainer.
It was assumed that Christian Darrisaw and Wyatt Davis would step into the starting lineup at the beginning of training camp but that hasn’t happened. Davis has fallen into Zimmer’s rookie abyss behind Dakota Dozier and Oli Udoh but the bigger issue is what’s going on at left tackle.
Darrisaw flew to Pittsburgh this week to have a second surgery on his groin. While Tom Pelissero reported that many in the organization believe he will be ready for Week 1, this is the staff that brought you Danielle Hunter’s season-ending “tweak” last season.
That’s not to say that Darrisaw won’t play in 2021 but it should mean the Vikings should have a contingency plan in case he isn’t ready to go. The Vikings believe they have one in Rashod Hill but his performance during training camp suggests it’s not a good option.
Perhaps if the Vikings were playing the Detroit Lions twice in the first month of the season, Hill would suffice. But even then, Hill gave up four pressures during a Week 17 start against a Lions defense that would have rather been anywhere but Ford Field.
This year’s schedule doesn’t do Hill any favors if he has to start right away. After battling Trey Hendrickson and the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 1, the Vikings offensive line goes up against Chandler Jones, J.J. Watt and the Arizona Cardinals defense in Week 2.
The Vikings get a “breather” in Week 3 against the Seattle Seahawks but turn around to face Jadeveon Clowney and Myles Garrett in the Stefanski Bowl against the Cleveland Browns in Week 4.
At that point, the Vikings are praying that Darrisaw’s injury has healed but that doesn’t mean he’ll walk into the starting lineup. If the Vikings are going to play Bisi Johnson for two games over Justin Jefferson because he didn’t have any preseason games, what makes you think Zimmer will start a cold rookie at left tackle in a season where everything is on the line?
Of course, things would be better if the Vikings had a quarterback that could evade pressure but that’s not the case. Kirk Cousins ranked 16th among qualifying quarterbacks last season with a 72.0 passer rating under pressure last season and with a laundry list of reasons why it’s not his fault, switching out your left tackle doesn’t seem ideal.
Okung isn’t the safest option to solidify the Vikings offensive line but he might be enough to keep Cousins upright in September. Okung ranked 19th among qualifying tackles in pass blocking grades last season and while he only played seven games, the Vikings shouldn’t need him for a full season.
The Vikings have $13.4 million in salary cap space heading into this season. While Okung made $13 million last season, he’s coming off a calf injury which could bring his cost down.
I’m sure the Vikings would love to use that money to extend Harrison Smith or Brian O’Neill but Spielman may not get to reap the benefits of those contracts if the Vikings go 7-10 this season.
If the Vikings are serious about winning, they won’t roll with Rashod Hill in Week 1. While Okung isn’t the perfect option, he’s good enough to help the Vikings avoid a disastrous start. It’s a no brainer.
