The Vikings drafted three offensive linemen in 2020, and the team released guard Josh Kline this offseason.
That means there could be some new players coming in and starting on Minnesota’s offensive line. The team still returns four starters: left tackle Riley Reiff, left guard Patrick Elflein, center Garrett Bradbury and right tackle Brian O’Neill.
This year, the team drafted Boise State tackle Ezra Cleveland in the second round of the draft. They later took Blake Brandel, who could play either guard or tackle, in the sixth round, and Washburn guard Kyle Hinton, a Division II athlete, in the seventh round.
As reported by the Star Tribune, general manager Rick Spielman said that he expects there will be a “wide-open” race at both guard spots this summer.
“The coaches will figure out who’s our best five,” Spielman told the Star Tribune Saturday. “We’re excited about [Garrett] Bradbury, [Brian] O’Neill and Riley Reiff holding down the fort on the left side until we see what we have, but it’s going to be a wide-open competition at the interior spots — the two guard spots.”
I think that there are some notable reserves, such as Dru Samia and Dakota Dozier, who could also compete for starting spots on the offensive line.
