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What to Expect From the Vikings’ Offensive Line in 2026
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- What to Expect From the Vikings’ Offensive Line in 2026
The Vikings ' offensive line was ravaged by an incredible amount of injuries last year . The intended starting five only played 83 total snaps together, and the team was forced to implement 26 different starting line combinations throughout the season, a franchise record. With the offensive line now healthy and parts of it freshly paid , the Vikings are hoping for much more consistency out of the group that is set to protect whichever quarterback wins the contentious quarterback contest between Kyler Murray and J.J. McCarthy . They have solid talent throughout the line and can be a top-ten unit in the league when healthy; the 2026 Vikings' O-line performance is going to depend almost entirely on avoiding the injury bug.
Their tackles are some of the best in the league
Sep 19, 2022; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Minnesota Vikings offensive tackle Christian Darrisaw (71) prepares to block against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
After the Vikings' contract extension of Brian O'Neill, the team now has the second-highest starting offensive tackle payroll in the league behind the Tampa Bay Buccaneers . Despite that fact, the Brian O'Neill signing continues to look impressive as other recently signed players get more money. The cash the Vikings have dolled out to their bookend tackles might be high, but it is a fair amount given their great talent and potential to be one of the best tackle units in the league. Christian Darrisaw has been one of the best left tackles in the league since entering it in 2021, posting the best PFF grade for his position in 2022 and earning an 80.0+ grade in three consecutive years from 2022 to 2024 before posting a record-low 65.6 grade last year in what the Vikings hope is a fluke season.
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Right tackle Brian O'Neill has been one of the most consistent offensive tackles in the NFL and has graded out as a top 20 to top ten type tackle in the league for the past five seasons and is a particularly great run blocker as the Vikings look to rely more on their running backs this season given the uncertainty around their passing game.
The interior of the Vikings' offensive line is their biggest question mark
Jul 29, 2025; Eagan, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings guard Donovan Jackson (74) and Minnesota Vikings guard Will Fries (76) takes part in drills during the teams training camp at the Minnesota Vikings Training Facility. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images
The Vikings signed two Colts veterans in Ryan Kelly and Will Fries to solidify their offensive interior last, but it hardly worked as Kelly struggled to stay on the field and Fries put up just a 61.8 PFF grade, a number that doesn't even come close to justifying his five-year $87 million contract. Now with Kelly gone and 2025 first-round pick Donovan Jackson set to be the full-time starter at the guard spot opposite Will Fries, it might come down to the play of Blake Brandel to bring the unit together. The sixth-year veteran, Brandel is entering training camp on solid footing as the team's presumptive starting center, a position he is still getting used to after filling in for Kelly at times last season. Brandel has fairly low expectations coming in as the team's center, but a better-than-expected performance this season could give the O-line the boost and cohesiveness it needs to live up to its potential.
This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Aug 10, 2026, where it first appeared in the NFL section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
