Vikings Shock with Surprise Trade Target Suddenly on the Radar

The Minnesota Vikings have finished the first round of the draft and strengthened their offensive line by selecting Ohio State’s lineman. Donovan Jackson He was chosen as the 24th overall pick and ought to join the starting lineup soon, pushing one player currently in the lineup to become a substitute instead.

Suddenly, a Potential Viking Trade Target Emerges

Blake Brandel, who will likely start as the left guard for the 2024 season, appears to be heading towards an early departure.

Previously, the Vikings had moved on from their right guard rotation of Dalton Risner and Ed Ingram, along with center Garrett Bradbury.

Brandel joined the draft as the only leftover player from the defensive line, yet his prospects are uncertain. Maybe some other squad might show interest? Predicting trades can be tricky, but since Ingram brought in a sixth-round pick from the Texans, wouldn't you think a more dependable athlete would also attract offers?

In 2020, Brandel entered the NFL as a sixth-round draft choice. Following his time with the practice squad, he joined the active 53-player roster midway into the 2021 season. Under coach Mike Zimmer’s guidance, the Vikings utilized him primarily as their sixth offensive lineman for bulkier plays.

In 2022, he served as the backup left tackle and filled in for Christian Darrisaw several times during the season. The following offseason, in 2023, the Vikings shifted him to guard, where they kept him as a reserve option. In his most recent year, he secured the starting position after agreeing to a new $9.5 million contract valid for three seasons.

Initially, his performance was strong; however, it deteriorated after losing starting left tackle Christian Darrisaw for the year because of a serious knee injury. According to Pro Football Focus, he received an overall rating of 55.7 for the season, placing him at 62 out of 77 qualifying offensive guards.

The News Pulse’s Kyle Joudry noted On Thursday night, fast-forwarding to 2024 showed Mr. Brandel as the key player at left guard. While he performed satisfactorily, he didn’t quite reach a dominating level; instead, he was steady, competent, and resilient—though not up to the standard set by the legendary Quenton Nelson.

While he may not be considered top-tier, his ability to play both tackle and guard positions adds versatility, along with previous starting experience. It's unclear whether the Vikings plan to keep him for this depth or consider moving on from him. Only time will tell.

Brandel is 28 years old, has participated in 56 Viking matches, and began playing in 22 of those games.

New-Looking Line

The Vikings added ex-Colts linemen Will Fries and Ryan Kelly. Both inked substantial deals. Kelly is seen as a temporary answer at center due to him being close to turning 32 and having injury issues previously. In contrast, Fries is expected to be a lasting presence at right guard after signing for five years.

On the outside, Minnesota employs Christian Darrisaw and Brian O’Neill, two of the better tackles in the league, forming an elite tackle duo.

Jackson completes the interior overhaul once he’s ready to enter the starting lineup. As usual, he has to compete with others first. That’s how teams deal with rookies early on. The Ohio State alumnus is viewed as a pro-ready player with plenty of experience at the spot against premier competition in the Big 10 and the playoffs, and therefore, shouldn’t take too long to be The Guy at LG.

Editor’s Note: Information from PFF , Over The Cap , and Pro Football Reference helped with this article.

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