BRISTOL, Conn. -- We're continuing our look at several key positions for the Minnesota Vikings leading up to the start of the NFL draft on Thursday night. Next, we'll look at a spot that the Vikings addressed throughout the offseason but could revisit in the draft.
Position: Offensive line
Current personnel: John Sullivan (signed through 2017), Brandon Fusco (2019), Alex Boone (2019,) Phil Loadholt (2016), Matt Kalil (2016), Andre Smith (2016), T.J. Clemmings (2018), Mike Harris (2016), Joe Berger (2016), Carter Bykowski (2016), Jeremiah Sirles (2016), Austin Shepherd (2018), Nick Easton (2017), Zac Kerin (2016).
Projected starters: Kalil (LT), Boone (LG), Sullivan (C), Fusco (RG), Smith (RT).
Departures: None
Total cap charge: $29.5 million (third)
Scouting report: With nearly $30 million of cap room invested on the line already, would the Vikings really look for another lineman in the first round? They could, depending on how they feel about their options beyond this season. Kalil -- who'll make $11.1 million this season on his fifth-year option -- is a free agent after the year, and the Vikings could be looking to replace him if he has a subpar season. Smith, Loadholt, Berger and Harris are also free agents after 2016, and Sullivan -- who's returning from two back operations -- has no guaranteed money left in his deal. The Vikings can revamp their line after this season if they choose to do so, and finding a young player who could slide into the group could make sense in the early rounds of the draft. And as much as general manager Rick Spielman has talked about stockpiling offensive linemen -- both to create competition and to give young players time to develop -- it wouldn't be surprising to see the Vikings look that way.
The last offensive lineman drafted: The Vikings took three a year ago, when they selected Clemmings in the first round, drafted tackle Tyrus Thompson in the sixth round and took Shepherd in the seventh. Thompson was cut after a disappointing camp, Shepherd became the extra lineman in the Vikings' heavy package and Clemmings started all 16 games at right tackle, going through an uneven rookie season after Loadholt tore his Achilles in the Vikings' second preseason game.
Potential targets: Ohio State's Taylor Decker has been linked to the Vikings in several mock drafts, and could be a solid pick for them at No. 23. He's projected as a right tackle, and the 6-foot-7 senior has the athleticism, toughness and strength to be a good one. Kansas State's Cody Whitehair received some attention from the Vikings before the draft; he probably fits best as a guard, though the 6-foot-4, 301-pound senior played left tackle last season. In addition to being versatile, he's got big hands, the ability to run and good balance. Texas A&M tackle Germain Ifedi attended the Vikings' top-30 prospects event earlier this month; he's a hulking lineman (6-foot-6, 324 pounds with 36-inch arms and 10 3/4-inch hands) that has played both right guard and right tackle. The Aggies didn't try Ifedi at left tackle, and he'd have to work on his technique in the NFL, but he could be an enticing prospect for new offensive line coach Tony Sparano.
Need rating (scale of 1 to 10): 6
