The Vikings offense was high-octane in 2020, but the group also had their flaws.
Starting left guard Dakota Dozier earned a PFF grade of 44.6 this past season. Dozier is set to be a free agent this offseason. Even if Minnesota wants to keep Ezra Cleveland at right guard, the Vikings may want to try and sign a guard in free agency.
Recently, the Vikings have struggled to consistently select good offensive linemen through the draft process. A free agency guard could be more of a sure thing.
So what would it take for Minnesota to land one of the top guards in free agency? Washington’s Brandon Scherff and New England’s Joe Thuney are probably the top two guards in this free agency class, by most people’s accounts.
PFF projects that a team will sign Scherff for $15 million a year for four years. Thuney will command $14.25 million over four years, per PFF.
Right now, given the Vikings’ possible cap situation, it seems as though the team will have to alter some of the biggest cap hits to 2021. It might not be doable, because Minnesota would be letting go of important assets in an effort to sign Scherff or Thuney.
Former Minnesota OL Nick Easton seems like more of a possibility from a contract standpoint.
