The Minnesota Vikings made another attempt to lock down the most important spot on their offensive line when they took left tackle Christian Darrisaw No. 21 overall in the 2021 draft.
So far, so good, despite some missed time due to injuries, as PFF has graded out Darrisaw as a top-10 offensive tackle in the league in each of the last two seasons.
A torn left ACL, fueled by inexplicable play-calling decisions, ended Darrisaw's 2024 season in Week 7. He was able to participate in minicamp earlier this year, but his availability for Week 1 is still a natural question until shown otherwise.
The Vikings did not drag their feet on keeping Darrisaw around for a while. A four-year contract extension worth up to $113 million was agreed to almost exactly a year ago, keeping him under contract through 2029.
He is clearly seen as a core player, in the same category as one of his linemates, along with some others, now and for the foreseeable future.
Minnesota Vikings LT Christian Darrisaw easily projected for future accolade
Josh Edwards of CBS Sports recently did a deep dive, using the last six years of data, to create a prototypical All-Pro player at each offensive position. Also, for each position, a current NFL player and a current college player were projected as a potential future All-Pro.
The average All-Pro offensive tackle over the last six years stands 6-foot-5 and 1/8-inch tall, weighs 315 pounds, and has 10.3-inch hands with 34.5-inch arms. 12 of those 14 All-Pro offensive tackles were also drafted in the top-40 overall.
That certainly sounds like someone on the Vikings, practically to a 'T', so Edwards' ultimate choice for the current NFL offensive tackle who will be an All-Pro was easy.
“Christian Darrisaw would be the clear choice if he were not returning from ligament strains. One would think that is a complicated recovery that would render him below peak performance for part or all of the upcoming season. It is also worth noting that this is one of the most difficult position groups to crack when considering Williams, Sewell, Johnson, Wirfs and Slater are almost annually in contention.
Darrisaw should benefit from having improved guard play next to him. The 26-year-old is in the neighborhood of the physical prototype at 6-foot-5 and 315 pounds. He has not been selected to a Pro Bowl yet, either.”
As Edwards noted, Darrisaw has yet to earn a Pro Bowl nod in his career. But that seems to be coming, possibly multiple times, with an All-Pro selection or two at some point also, as long as he stays healthy.
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