PurplePTSD: The Minnesota Vikings' Main Breakout Candidate

Press release from the PurplePTSD:

K. Joudry

2022-01-30

For the Vikings to get back into the playoffs in the 2022 season, a lot of things will need to go right. There’s an awful lot of optimism surrounding the recent hire of Kwesi Odofo-Mensah, and for good reason. The youthful general manager (he’s only 40) will likely be bringing a different approach and vision to the team, so the hope is that the team gets back to relevance soon. An overlooked way Minnesota can improve rests in internal growth from talent already on the roster, and the Vikings are surely hoping for a breakout candidate or two.

PFF suggests that main breakout candidate for the Minnesota Vikings is Christian Darrisaw:

I’m among those who are a believer in Darrisaw. The kid gave us very little reason to believe he won’t develop into a legit LT. Injuries made his rookie campaign challenging, and yet he handled these obstacles with aplomb.

By the end of the season, Darrisaw had gotten in on 12 games, starting 10 of them. The borderline elite run blocking makes sense for a team with the personnel Minnesota has. Of course, the incoming HC may shift the team’s offensive philosophy to a certain extent, which is likely a good thing. Even still, it’s not like the run game will be entirely phased out.

I’ve never played LT in the NFL, but I imagine one of the hardest parts of the transition from college rests in the challenge presented by the league’s best DEs. Darrisaw is a work in progress in this regard, and that’s fine. A full offseason where he can stay healthy and receive guidance from his team should help.

Darrisaw had a strong rookie season. Taking the next step will mean Minnesota has a top-tier tackle tandem moving forward.

This press release was produced by the PurplePTSD. The views expressed here are the author’s own.