Oct 20, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; A detailed view of Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson’s (18) helmet before the game against the Detroit Lions at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images
An awful lot of folks are writing off Blake Brandel, dismissing the Vikings starter from the 2024 season. Can you blame them?
Pretty stunningly, Kevin O’Connell basically confirmed that Donovan Jackson is expected to be the LG1 in Week 1. No coach chatter about earning a starting role. Rather, an acknowledgement that Jackson will soon ascend into a the top spot. Where does that leave Brandel, a rock-solid player who offers unique versatility?
Vikings Starter Blake Brandel is Being Written Off
Since the draft concluded, O’Connell has said a lot to make one believe that Brandel is now being considered a depth option.
Consider, for instance, what the top coach had to say to Kay Adams. Part of the rationale for selecting Jackson at No. 24 was due to an early climb up the depth chart: “Yeah, I think that draft pick was really — ultimate teams in this league, as they build their offseason plan, the teams that can pair free agency and the draft together, so that when the draft comes around, you can take the best player available. Take the player that can have a clean path to a significant role with your team.”
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Ohio State Buckeyes offensive lineman Donovan Jackson (74) celebrates a touchdown by TreVeyon Henderson during the NCAA football game against the Indiana Hoosiers at Ohio Stadium in Columbus on Monday, Nov. 25, 2024. Ohio State won 38-15.
Unpack that statement a little bit.
Per O’Connell, Jackson is staring down “a clean path to a significant role with [the Vikings]” (emphasis added). Folks, remember that we’re talking about the left guard position. We’re not considering a spot like corner or edge rusher, positions that can accommodate multiple starters at the same spot. There is only a single left guard who will soak up huge snaps (as long as injuries don’t run amok on the plan).
Crucially, the idea is coming from the team’s head coach, not an analyst who is doing some purple dot connecting. O’Connell’s words carry a ton of weight.
Doesn’t sound like Brandel is being looked as much of a hindrance to Jackson. Or, at least, the expectation is that Brandel will quickly fall behind in the offseason competition.
Sensibly enough, the question then shifts to what the future holds for Blake Brandel, who is being looked at as a trade candidate. The veteran lineman signed a three-year contract last offseason, a deal that came in at a total compensation of $9.5 million. A bargain for a starter but a notable cap commitment for someone who isn’t going to earn major snaps without there being an injury.
Teams can sometimes look foolish when they move on from a strong lineman, but one wonders if Brandel himself would be open to an opportunity elsewhere.
Sep 12, 2021; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Minnesota Vikings offensive tackle Blake Brandel (64) warms up before the game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports
As things stand, the Vikings have roughly $14.2 million in cap space. Move a year into the future — the 2026 offseason — and things look considerably worse. The ledger shows $53.7 million in debt.
One way of helping is to move Brandel out. Doing so via post-June 1 trade would create $3,250,000 in cap space for the present moment, open room that could get rolled over if it goes unused in 2025. Plus, the scheduled $4,166,668 cap charge for 2026 would disappear, leaving behind some dead money but still doing some important work toward restoring the Vikings to financial health (there would be a step, not a complete solution).
Now, it’s worth noting that every baseball team wants a great utility player. So, too, does a coaching staff want reliable, versatile depth. Blake Brandel can literally jump into any of the five offensive line positions. He even has a bit of experience as a 6th lineman/jumbo tight end.
One wonders, then, if the Brandel decision will come down to Walter Rouse and Michael Jurgens. If those two can prove to be strong depth pieces — alongside, perhaps, recent UDFA add Logan Brown — then perhaps the Vikings would feel comfortable moving on. Justin Skule is another critical depth player as the top swing tackle.
Oct 2, 2022; London, United Kingdom; Minnesota Vikings offensive tackle Blake Brandel (64) during the NFL International Series game at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter van den Berg-USA TODAY Sports
Left up to GM Joudry, Blake Brandel would be on the final roster. He’s tough, hard-working, and supremely versatile. Walking away from a quality lineman seems foolish, especially for a Vikings team that knows a thing or two about getting walloped at the line of scrimmage.
The Donovan Jackson add alongside Kevin O’Connell’s words, however, make things look pretty murky for the (likely) former Vikings starter.