The Vikings drafted tackle Brian O’Neill in the second round of the 2018 NFL Draft with hopes that one day he could become a consistent force on the offensive line.
That’s happened sooner than the Vikings anticipated.
“I think it helps that he’s athletic and he’s smart,” Vikings coach Mike Zimmer said Friday. “When he came in here initially, I think he had to get used to the physicality and the speed of the NFL. You could see it coming throughout the course of last year in the beginning, and he’s just continued to improve from there.”
Since being drafted, O’Neill has started 12 games, and has been the team’s best offensive lineman since the 2018 season started. Probably not exactly what the Vikings expected, but something that is certainly welcomed.
In the first game against the Falcons, O’Neill finished with a Pro Football Focus grade of 65.6, a mark that ranked 20th among 64 graded tackles throughout the entire NFL.
O’Neill’s next test will come on Sunday against the Packers at Lambeau Field.
