Nobody expected the Vikings to sit at the top of the NFC three weeks into the season after two victories against Houston and San Francisco, who are viewed as Super Bowl contenders. However, Kevin O’Connell had his group believe in themselves, and nothing was more powerful than that. Now that the team is looking like a playoff team, the weaknesses come into focus.
Vikings Urged to Sign Veteran
Franchises with realistic Super Bowl chances (ESPN gives the Vikings a 6% chance to hold a parade in February) evaluate their rosters and try to improve to increase their chances.
Through three weeks, there isn’t much to complain about in the Twin Cities. Perhaps the most significant flaw is on the offensive line ‒ at least according to Bleacher Report.
They say, Mark Glowinski, an experienced interior lineman, should be on the wishlist.
Ed Ingram has continued to struggle this year, and while Dalton Risner could be coming off injured reserve soon to provide some help, there’s no guarantee Risner will be ready to go by the time he’s eligible to return or that he’ll be the same player post-injury. So it’d be a smart move to add another veteran guard like Glowinski just in case.
The Vikings named last year’s backup guard, Blake Brandel, the starter for the 2024 season, which was quite strange considering the lack of starting experience or even high-end fill-in games. Despite re-signing Dalton Risner, he remained entrenched in the starting unit.
Fast forward three games, and not only has Brandel not been a problem, but he has also been the top interior lineman, playing nearly flawless football. A different story is the two guys on his right, as Garrett Bradbury and Ed Ingram have struggled at times.
Ingram has gotten the second-worst pass-blocking grade among offensive guards by Pro Football Focus. He and Bradbury have allowed ten QB pressures each, according to PFF. It should be noted that they have gone against excellent defensive lines.
Still, an upgrade could be an option. It’s unknown when Risner can return. He suffered a back injury in training camp and was placed on IR to start the season, forcing him to sit out the first four games.
Back to Glowinski. The 32-year-old was a fourth-round pick in 2015 by the Seattle Seahawks, where he spent three seasons. His next stints were with the Indianapolis Colts for four seasons and two seasons with the New York Giants.
He has started 96 of his 124 career games, and the Giants released him in March to save some cap space. Glowinski annually returns slightly above-average grades from PFF and has played the majority of his games at right guard.
The Vikings probably could get him for cheap, as he is still unsigned in September. However, they will surely give Ingram a few more chances to take the next step in his development, but the leash can’t be endless.
