The Detroit Lions highlighted the Minnesota Vikings’ interior offensive line issues in Week 18. They applied pressure to Darnold throughout the game, causing overthrows and short-circuiting his timing with his receivers. The Los Angeles Rams also exploited that weakness in the Wild Card round, causing an early exit for the Vikings.
With only four total picks in the seven-round draft, free agency will greatly influence how Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and the Vikings approach each selection. Since each decision in the 2025 draft will be scrutinized, especially their 24th-overall pick in the first round, the front office must draft impact players.
That’s why Minnesota Gophers left tackle Aireontae Ersery feels like a natural pick.
Ersery has a 6’6”, 330 lb. frame and a lot of raw talent. He’s versatile and can block in the run and pass game.
However, he’s still new to the game. Ersery played his first snap of organized football as a junior in high school. He was more into track and field before football and still was a three-star recruit coming out of Ruskin High School in Kansas City, per 247Sports.
Ersery earned second-team All-Big Ten honors at the University of Minnesota in 2023 after being Honorable Mention in 2022. Last year, he had a breakout season, being first-team All-Big Ten. Ersery was also a third-team All-American and the Big Ten Remington-Pace Offensive Lineman of the Year. He earned these accolades while playing left tackle. Watching his highlight reel, it’s easy to see he’s a force to be reckoned with.
Because he’s projected to go anywhere between the 10th pick in the draft to early in the second round, Ersery could start his professional career just over two miles from where he played college ball.
Ersery showed out at the combine. He had a 5.01 40-yard dash (ranked sixth amongst offensive linemen) with a 1.75 10-yard split (10th), 29.5” vertical jump (18th), and a 9’3” broad jump (seventh). Ersery also had a 7.81-second three-cone drill (12th) and a 4.82-second 20-yard shuttle(14th). He also became the fourth offensive tackle since 2003 to run a sub-5.05 40 while weighing at least 330 lbs.
With those measurables, it’s easy to see how many teams that need an offensive lineman would take a chance on the lineman experts are comparing him to Super Bowl-winning left tackle Marcus Cannon.
Playing guard and tackle require slightly different skill sets. However, if the Vikings take Aireontae at 24, offensive line coach Chris Kuper and his new assistant, Keith Carter, can help him improve his footwork and do the little things that make a difference. Ersery could become a good flex option in case of injury or a potential starter alongside Christian Darrisaw or Brian O’Neill, depending on the side of the line he plays.
The Vikings have a lot of work to do this offseason between free agency and the draft. Witnessing which direction the Vikings go as they craft the roster will be exciting. They may not be able to land Ersery. However, it would be fun to see him switch out his maroon jersey for a purple one and continue his career in Minnesota.
