Due to a combination of circumstances, from preseason injury (J.J. McCarthy) to a lack of clear opportunity (Dallas Turner) to tragedy (Khyree Jackson), the Minnesota Vikings simply did not get much from their 2024 draft class. Kicker Will Reichard was literally the biggest contributor.
Offensive tackle Walter Rouse, a sixth-round pick last year like Reichard, played six special snaps in one regular-season game as a rookie last season. Brian O'Neill is, of course, entrenched at right tackle, and the last update we had on left tackle Christian Darrisaw's recovery from a torn left ACL and MCL was positive.
Having depth in case of injury is always important, and Rouse did not allow a sack during his final college season playing for Oklahoma, as PFF gave him the highest pass blocking efficiency (99.3) among FBS offensive tackles (minimum 317 pass blocking snaps).
Last preseason for the Vikings, Rouse played 137 snaps across three positions (left tackle, right tackle and right guard) with a solid overall PFF grade (69.4). Before the season opener, head coach Kevin O'Connell touted the versatility Rouse displayed.
"The growth we’ve already seen, both at the right tackle position ‒ I do believe he’s gonna have the ability to play some guard also. It’s not something you start him out in his NFL journey, bouncing around different spots on the line. I just feel like he's very smart, very physical, strong, stout player."
Walter Rouse might be in competition for starting job on Minnesota Vikings offensive line
As he offered up some Vikings scoops on SKOR North on Tuesday, Darren Wolfson of KSTP-TV had some insight about Rouse.
"Walter Rouse, I’m told, his camp feels like there’s more of a pathway to playing time at some point at guard versus tackle. If you’re thinking Walter Rouse, draft pick last year, is more a tackle, just saying, don’t sleep on the possibility of him playing guard, getting guard reps, working more so at the guard position, not the tackle position.”
Minnesota strengthened its interior offensive line with the signings of center Ryan Kelly and guard Will Fries, while releasing center Garrett Bradbury. So fourth-fifths of their starting Week 1 offensive line, assuming Darrisaw is good to go, is locked in.
The spot that should be open to competition is left guard. The Vikings gave Blake Brandel a multi-year contract last offseason, and handed him the starting gig there. He played every snap of every game last season, albeit at a below-average level (55.7 overall PFF grade; 62nd out of 77 qualified guards).
At the league meetings last week, O'Connell hinted that 2024 seventh-round pick Michael Jurgens is a candidate to compete with Brandel for the starting job at left guard. Wolfson's insight about Rouse points to him entering that looming competition, too.
If Minnesota takes a guard early in this month's draft, the idea of other competitors for Brandel will be rendered moot. But at least for now, Rouse is an interesting candidate to make a position switch and push for a starting job in one fell swoop.
