The Minnesota Vikings’ offensive line constantly changed personnel in 2025, largely due to injuries. The main storylines from training camp focused on the Vikings’ quarterback situation, but neither J.J McCarthy nor Kyler Murray will succeed if the line protecting them doesn’t hold up.
So, what did the team do in the offseason to better prepare for 2026? Is the initial plan along the offensive line? And what would a successful 2026 look like for a front that was woefully inconsistent in 2025?
2026 offseason pickups
The Vikings didn’t make many moves along the offensive line in the offseason, signing only one free agent and drafting two linemen. They signed tackle Ryan Van Demark in mid-March, a 28-year-old with experience on both the left and right sides of the line.
Since joining the league in 2022, Van Demark has played in 43 games with six starts. All of them were over three years with the Buffalo Bills, during which he was flagged only three times, all for holding penalties.
In the draft, the Vikings also grabbed Caleb Tiernan out of Northwestern in the third round and Gavin Gerhardt out of Cincinnati in the seventh.
Tiernan offers the Vikings some flexibility, with experience at tackle and the measurables of a guard. He finished 2025 with Second-Team All-Big 10 honors after allowing only three sacks and 13 pressures throughout the 2025 season.
Even though some new names will need to make a crucial impact, the overall initial structure should feature many familiar faces.
Current construction
Going into the 2026 season, the current depth chart is plenty familiar:
- LT Christian Darrisaw
- LG Donovan Jackson
- C Blake Brandel
- RG Will Fries
- RT Brian O’Neill
All five starters have been in the system for at least one year, and they know what the team expects of them each week. Injury troubles have been prevalent, especially in 2025. Still, fans need to understand who else they may see if the injury bug becomes a pest in 2026.
Tiernan looks poised to be a great candidate for a swing lineman. He would have to outperform other veterans seeking opportunities. Van Demark would more likely be the first to come off the bench if there are any offensive line troubles, given his experience.
With Joe Huber, Michael Jurgens, and Walter Rouse the next in line after Van Demark, it might not be a bad idea to look and see if there are quality free agents still looking for a home. Mekhi Becton, Taylor Decker, and Will Hernandez are still big names with experience who are either approaching their prime or currently in it.
If the Vikings take initiative and get more depth, what would it take for the offensive line to be considered successful in 2026?
The O-line is vital to Minnesota’s success this year
Success on the line looks different for every team but could play a vital role for the 2026 Vikings.
With a lack of experience across the depth chart, staying healthy will be critical. The inexperience and lack of continuity in 2025 led to the Vikings’ quarterbacks getting sacked 60 times. They were the second-most-sacked team behind the Las Vegas Raiders, who led this dubious statistical category with 64 sacks.
Sometimes sacks result from receivers not getting open and quarterbacks holding the ball too long. Still, they can show how solid an offensive front can be throughout the season.
Minnesota’s quiet offseason, combined with inexperience along the line, could create a less-than-ideal scenario in 2026. If the team can focus on making some adjustments and adding experience, they could be poised for a huge run in January because they have the talent.
However, if the front five fail, fans can expect another season without their favorite team playing meaningful football at the end of it.
