Nov 24, 2022; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings offensive sort out Brian O’Neill (75) celebrates the win after the sport towards the New England Patriots at U.S. Financial institution Stadium. Obligatory Credit score: Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports activities.
Again within the 2018 NFL Draft, the Minnesota Vikings did tremendously effectively when choosing Pittsburgh’s Brian O’Neill within the late 2nd. He has since been a implausible participant who’s rightly considered a cornerstone participant.
Is that quickly to vary?
Current seasons have seen the Vikings investing within the offensive line. Final yr, the transfer was to launch a complete renovation of the inside offensive line. Welcoming all of LG1 Donovan Jackson (1st Spherical), C1 Ryan Kelly (FA), and RG1 Will Fries (FA) meant that the entrance 5 was going to be formidable. The problem? Some mixture of damage, underperformance, and a poor strategy to the offense’s play calling.
The crew is now largely related shifting into 2026. Mr. Kelly has been subtracted, stepping away from soccer altogether resulting from retirement. Blake Brandel is the chief within the clubhouse for the beginning middle job as continuity reigns.
Any probability, although, that the upcoming season is the ultimate one for Mr. O’Neill within the Twin Cities?
The Vikings, Brian O’Neill, & The Evolving OL
The veteran can nonetheless play. Nevertheless, Minnesota has made an effort to bolster the sort out depth.
Again in March, the choice was to go for Buffalo’s Ryan Van Demark. Doing so signalled the tip of Justin Skule as the principle backup at offensive sort out. Taken in isolation, the Van Demark deal is in regards to the OT3 spot and little else. Good probability, of us, that that perspective nonetheless has loads of benefit.
Nov 23, 2025; Inexperienced Bay, Wisconsin, USA; Minnesota Vikings linebacker Blake Cashman (51) and offensive sort out Brian O’Neill (75) take the sphere previous to a recreation towards the Inexperienced Bay Packers at Lambeau Area. Obligatory Credit score: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Photographs.
However then there was the choice to decide on OT Caleb Tiernan within the 2026 NFL Draft. Doing so has some significance each now and sooner or later.
Many draft nerds felt as if Tiernan ought to have gone a lot greater than No. 97. Think about what Lance Zierlein needed to say in his scouting report: “Highly experienced college tackle who is likely to kick inside due to a lack of length that affects his protection projection. Tiernan is tall but carries the denseness of frame and core strength of a guard. Feet feature good initial quickness and he takes excellent angles on the move. He often finds early positioning advantages as a base blocker but lacks the anchor and play strength to consistently fortify/sustain. Leaky edges in pass pro will be less concerning with smaller spaces to patrol, while his punch timing and lateral quickness provide advantages. ‘Solid’ feels like the ceiling for Tiernan as a guard/swing tackle who can eventually elevate into a starting role.”
Loads of optimism inside that evaluation even when there’s some skepticism about how excessive the rookie’s upside is. Mr. Zierlein is aware of way more about draft prospects than yours actually, but it surely’s not arduous to see why Minnesota holds the newcomer in excessive regard.
Tiernan is a 6’8″ monster with spectacular athleticism and compete. So, too, is he defiant in his insistence that he can play regardless of criticisms about his arm size (or lack thereof). Equally notable is that he has spent loads of time watching Brian O’Neill as somebody who grew up watching NFC North soccer. Fairly presumably, Tiernan might be O’Neill’s alternative sooner or later.
Northwestern Wildcats operating again Joseph Himon II (6) celebrates with Northwestern Wildcats quarterback Jack Lausch (12) and Northwestern Wildcats offensive lineman Caleb Tiernan (72) after scoring Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, throughout the NCAA soccer recreation towards the Purdue Boilermakers at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Ind. © Alex Martin/Journal and Courier / USA TODAY NETWORK through Imagn Photographs
Rolling into 2026, Brian O’Neill is the locked-in starter at proper sort out. His cap cost sits at a beefy $23,115,657 (OTC). Chopping him (not going to occur) means releasing north of $19 million whereas an extension can free past $14 million.
Is that extension nonetheless going to occur? Many thought the Vikings would do a deal already (myself included), however Brian O’Neill is shifting into his remaining season underneath contract.
Little or no drop off, if any in any respect, has been evident in O’Neill’s recreation. What’s price noting, although, is that he’s going to show 31 in September and has had some accidents in current seasons. Partnering these fundamental concepts with being costly not less than opens the opportunity of the Vikings shifting on, particularly for the reason that roster boasts doable replacements.
The NFL actually is a spot the place actions converse louder than phrases. Extending O’Neill would silence lots of the exterior chatter. Certainly, that may be a tangible motion that clarifies Minnesota’s intention to proceed working with the veteran proper sort out.
On the opposite finish of issues has been the tangible selections which were taken. Minnesota made it a precedence to usher in Ryan Van Demark, made evident within the aggressive RFA contract. There was then the actual determination to draft a younger, large offensive sort out who can sit for a season behind Minnesota’s well-established starters.
Dec 5, 2021; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Minnesota Vikings offensive sort out Brian O’Neill (75) leads his crew to the sphere to play the Detroit Lions at Ford Area. Obligatory Credit score: David Reginek-USA TODAY Sports activities
One other sneaky element: Walter Rouse remains to be on the town. He seems to be fairly far down the depth chart after getting scooped up within the sixth of the 2024 NFL Draft, however he’s on the roster competing.
Mixed, that’s a trio of OT choices who’re all urgent on O’Neill.
In fact, there’s the chance that a type of OTs begins pushing Christian Darrisaw for work, however that’s more durable to foresee given the LT1’s youth, upside, and contract that extends for a lot of extra years. Certainly, Darrisaw simply noticed his deal restructured, pushing cap costs into the longer term. Does it make sense to push cash into the longer term earlier than then slicing him?
Brian O’Neill, 30, stands at 6’7″ and weighs 310 kilos. He stays a rugged, athletic participant who is much better than given credit score for inside league-wide assessments of prime tackles. There’s zero debate about his beginning job for the upcoming season however there’s loads of in-house competitors thereafter.
Senior Editor for Vikings Territory & PurplePTSD . Twitter & Bluesky: @VikingsGazette. E-mail: ok.joudry[at]vikingsterritory[dot]com. Canadian. Jude 1:24-25.
