Few weaknesses have affected the Minnesota Vikings en route to their 5-0 start of the 2024 campaign.
Bleacher Report Has Another Free Agent Idea for Vikings
If one felt nitpicky, perhaps suggesting more cornerback depth, another running back just in case, or a splashy defensive tackle trade would make sense.
But according to Bleacher Report, an outfit that recommends a new free agent per week for each NFL team, Minnesota should explore offensive guard Gabe Jackson’s free agency.
For now at right guard, the Vikings employ third-year lineman Ed Ingram, who hasn’t quite taken the leap into stardom in the NFL. Some weeks, Ingram downright struggles, and during others, his performance is passable. BR claims Jackson would fit nicely on the purple offensive line as a solution.
“Ed Ingram has struggled in pass protection to begin the season and Dalton Risner remains on injured reserve,” BR’s collective staff wrote this week. “So, the Vikings might want to consider adding another veteran guard in case Ingram continues to struggle. Jackson would be a good pickup seeing as he has a decade of NFL experience, primarily at right guard, to be a quality insurance policy.”
If Dalton Risner was not on a path back from injury to Minnesota’s roster, adding Jackson or a different free-agent guard would check out. However, the Vikings re-signed Risner for this very reason in May — if a player like Ingram or his teammate, Blake Brandel, played poorly, well, insert Risner.
For context, this is Jackson’s Pro Football Focus resume to date:
- 2023 = 58.1
- 2022 = 55.0
- 2021 = 63.6
- 2020 = 63.7
- 2019 = 61.8
- 2018 = 73.7
- 2017 = 67.3
- 2016 = 74.8
- 2015 = 79.9
- 2014 = 70.0
And his destination list so far in 10 NFL seasons:
- Oakland / Las Vegas Raiders (2014–2020)
- Seattle Seahawks (2021–2022)
- Carolina Panthers (2023)
The Raiders found Jackson in Round 3 of the 2014 NFL Draft — the same day Minnesota drafted running back Jerick McKinnon, for curious minds — and he played wonderfully in his first five seasons, even nibbling at Pro Bowl consideration from 2014 to 2018.
Since, however, Jackson morphed into a backup commodity, only playing five games for the 2023 Panthers. In theory, he could still find a role in Minnesota’s offense, but like any free-agent recommendation or trade, Jackson to Minnesota is unlikely to materialize.
The aforementioned Risner is healing from a back injury, and Minnesota should open his three-week practice window in the next couple of weeks.
The Vikings’ offensive line ranks around 15th to start the season per overall efficiency, according to PFF.
