DAILY CLIPS

WEDNESDAY, JULY 15, 2020

LOCAL NEWS: Wednesday, July 15, 2020

Skor North

As deadline approaches, Harris appears set to play season under franchise tag By Judd Zulgad https://www.skornorth.com/2020/07/as-deadline-approaches-harris-appears-set-to-play-season-under-franchise-tag/

The Athletic

Vikings Training Camp Guide — TEs: Kyle Rudolph, Irv Smith lead the way By Arif Hasan https://theathletic.com/1925569/2020/07/14/vikings-training-camp-guide-tes-kyle-rudolph-irv-smith-lead-the-way/

Purple Insider

The pluses and minuses of keeping Anthony Harris on the franchise tag By Matthew Coller https://purpleinsider.substack.com/p/the-pluses-and-minuses-of-keeping

NATIONAL NEWS: Wednesday, July 15, 2020

CBS Sports

Six NFL rookies most equipped to make an immediate impact despite modified 2020 offseason By Chris Trapasso https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/six-nfl-rookies-most-equipped-to-make-an-immediate-impact-despite-modified- 2020-offseason/

Agent's Take: Sizing up situation for Cowboys' Dak Prescott, other unsigned franchise-tagged players By Joel Corry https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/agents-take-sizing-up-situation-for-dak-prescott-other-unsigned-franchise- tagged-players-as-deadline-nears/

Maven Media

61 Days Until Vikings Football: Could Brett Jones Be an Option at Left Guard? By Will Ragatz https://www.si.com/nfl/vikings/news/61-days-vikings-football-brett-jones-canada-left-guard

Adam Thielen and Kyle Rudolph Competed in a Celebrity Golf Tournament Last Weekend By Will Ragatz https://www.si.com/nfl/vikings/news/adam-thielen-kyle-rudolph-celebrity-golf-tournament

Can Translate Elite College Production into NFL Success? By Will Ragatz https://www.si.com/nfl/vikings/news/blake-brandel-vikings-oregon-state-draft-

MULTIMEDIA NEWS: Wednesday, July 15, 2020

Barr on Preparing For The Season, Safety Concerns, Changes To Team's Defensive Personnel, Impact of No Offseason Program, More By NFL Network https://www.vikings.com/video/barr-on-preparing-for-the-season-safety-concerns-changes-to-team-s-defensive-per

VIKINGS ENTERTAINMENT NETWORK: Wednesday, July 15, 2020

Xs and Os: How Drafted Offensive Linemen Could Impact Vikings By Eric Smith https://www.vikings.com/news/ezra-cleveland-blake-brandel-kyle-hinton-offensive-linemen PUBLICATION: Skor North DATE: 7/15/20

As deadline approaches, Harris appears set to play season under franchise tag

By Judd Zulgad

Anthony Harris signed his franchise tender with the Vikings in May, but there was still two months at that point for the safety and the team to come to an agreement on a multiyear contract.

So far that hasn’t happened and Harris’ opportunity to play under anything but a one-year contract in Minnesota will end at 3 p.m. Wednesday. That’s the date (and time) after which players given the franchise designation are prohibited from signing multiyear contracts until the end of the regular season.

Harris won’t be hurting for money in 2020 — he will be guaranteed a salary of $11.4 million for the season — but the Vikings’ failure to work out an extension with the veteran does raise questions about his future with the team.

Unlike some players who have been given the franchise tag, there doesn’t appear to be any animosity between Harris and the Vikings. The team put the franchise tag on the 28-year-old in mid-March, despite being pressed up against the salary cap. The feeling was that the Vikings might be blocking Harris from becoming a free agent in order to trade him, possibly for a draft pick. The Cleveland Browns and reportedly were among “several serious suitors” interested in Harris, but evidently the Vikings could not get what they wanted.

So what Minnesota has now is two of the top safeties in the NFL and both will be compensated very well. Harrison Smith will make an $8.35 million base salary in 2020 and will count $10.75 million against the salary cap. That means the combined cap hit of the Vikings’ two safeties will be $22.15 million.

Harris, signed by the Vikings as an undrafted free agent out of in 2015, tied for the NFL lead with six last season in 14 games. He also had an in the Vikings’ opening-round playoff victory over the last season. PUBLICATION: The Athletic DATE: 7/15/20

Vikings Training Camp Guide — TEs: Kyle Rudolph, Irv Smith lead the way

By Arif Hasan

(Editor’s note: This is part of a series of position-by-position articles breaking down every non-specialist player on the Vikings roster as we build up to the start of training camp later this month. We’ve already covered the , running backs and wide receivers. Next up, the tight ends. Still to come: Offensive line, defensive line, , cornerbacks and safeties.)

The Vikings’ move away from three-receiver sets last year created opportunities for their tight ends, and as a result, we saw their target share rise from 16.1 percent in 2018 to 23.8 percent in 2019. The fact that Minnesota threw the ball less overall, however, somewhat hid that production: The total number of tight-end targets only increased by 10 over the course of the year, split evenly between Irv Smith and Kyle Rudolph.

The fact that Smith’s targets only came after a few weeks, as his role in the offense grew, is a pretty good indication that he’ll take over sooner rather than later. That said, the Vikings will still see fit to use Rudolph in the red zone and might expand Smith’s usage as a seam threat.

Minnesota was remarkably inefficient with their tight-end usage, ranking 25th in tight-end receiving yards per route run, despite an effective and a tendency to play tight ends more often, receivers less often and seeing one of their top receivers missing most of the year.

With Smith’s development and the absence of the Vikings’ top receiver from 2019, it’s entirely possible that the offense revolves around the more than other receivers.

Kyle Rudolph Though the Vikings didn’t seem intent on keeping Rudolph on the roster as recently as summer of last year, they found ways to use the red-zone threat throughout the year. As has been the case throughout most of Rudolph’s career, he found more utilization as a blocker than might be ideal, with 398 snaps as a run blocker and 90 as a pass blocker, and only 407 as a receiver. In what might be his last year in a Vikings uniform — his guaranteed money runs out this year — he could establish himself as the type of tight end too valuable to leave in free agency, especially for his goal-line play.

Strengths: Third-lowest drop rate of any tight end with at least 100 targets (of 48) since 2016 and second-lowest drop rate of any TE with at least 200 targets (of 17). No drops in 2019. Rudolph’s great hands are a result of excellent technique, great ball tracking and good body control. He does a great job using his body to create exclusive real estate for the ball and adjusts well to balls thrown outside of his frame. Consistently comes down with contested catches. Rarely uses his body to aid in the catch process. He’s stronger than most “receiving” tight ends, evident not just at catch point but throughout the process. Does a good job asserting route path and bullying defenders. He’s demonstrated fairly good route-running for a tight end, with upper-body fakes that consistently create leverage advantages for defenders.

Weaknesses: Does not have the dynamic athleticism to be used as a primary option in the offense, one reason his offensive efficiency as a receiver has consistently placed among the bottom tight ends in the league. He can only either perform as a checkdown option or in the red zone. Willing but not a particularly successful blocker. Has the tools — size, strength and tenacity — but often loses off the snap or looking into the second level. Often has issues with hand placement and shoots blocks wide. Inconsistent leverage, often popping his pads too high on the block. His angles as a blocker could use work, especially in-line. While extremely useful in his narrow role, the specificity of role makes him significantly less valuable than most tight ends, a position that, by its nature, emphasizes versatility.

Irv Smith Jr. (David Berding / USA Today) Irv Smith With a better rookie season than one should expect of any tight end, much less one as young as Smith was entering 2019, the Vikings’ newest matchup weapon is on track to become a defining feature of their offense if he continues to develop, particularly if he can open downfield threats. The former Alabama end surprised the Vikings with his blocking capability out of the gate, and his receiving thus far is meeting lofty expectations. That said, he’ll have to do much more to earn genuine plaudits as a critical cog in the offensive machine.

Strengths: Speed is a clear asset — one of the fastest tight ends in the NFL, at least by 40-time standards. That speed shows up on the field and he can threaten the seam and create matchup issues. NFL defenders already respect his vertical threat, often biting on comebacks and playing further off than normal. He’s great with the ball in his hand, was used in college on end-around runs and tight end screens. His yards-after-catch ability is uncommon for a tight end, a combination of good balance and strength as well as vision. Boasts some advanced receiver skills and can line up anywhere as a result, sometimes lining up out wide for Alabama and the Vikings. Can win against press coverage with release capabilities. Good catch technique allows him to win 50-50 balls, making sure he has exclusive access to the ball on deeper routes. Great ability to adjust in the air and pluck the ball from outside of his frame. Fantastic strength, especially for his size, which translates into contested-catch capability, ability to assert route path and as a blocker. Presents good blocking technique, generally — uncoils hips into block both on the move and on drive-style blocks — a significant improvement over most of his blocking at Alabama. The skill to translate lower-body explosion into blocking ability gives him surprising move power. Good grip strength allows him to sustain blocks, reach block capability unusual for a tight end (hits wide landmark and flips hips quickly). Significant late- season improvement in his final year at Alabama and with his first year in Minnesota.

Weaknesses: Good blocker but has issues here and there, especially if his timing is off; he will lunge into blocks and savvier defensive players use that to send him to the dirt. Good at reach and drive blocks but struggles with cut blocks, a critical block for tight ends to use in the wide-zone scheme. Fairly short for a tight end, meaning that he can’t be used in every role, especially in the red zone. Advanced route-running skills complemented with an extraordinarily raw approach as a receiver, route-running doesn’t contain much in the way of deception or separation at the stem. Footwork at the break is rough — takes too many steps on comeback routes and has issues generating explosion on sharp cuts, sometimes losing his balance. Overall stiff and doesn’t have much agility, reflected in his testing numbers, putting a cap on his route-running capability. In addition to physical limitations, played his rookie year too deliberate in-route, often slowing down too early in his route breaks and obviating his speed advantages. Has significant issues generating separation on sharp-breaking routes as a result. Doesn’t seek space against zone coverage, closing off windows of opportunity for the quarterback.

Tyler Conklin (Brace Hemmelgarn / USA Today) Last year, Conklin entered training camp in a critical situation, forced to prove his value on the roster and showcase significant development as a tight end. He had a wonderful training camp and grew as a blocker, seeing more time on the field during the regular season as a result. Now, with fewer tight ends to compete with in camp and perhaps fewer TEs on the roster come the regular season, the Vikings will go from challenging him to earn a roster spot to relying on him both on offense and special teams.

Strengths: Conklin is a remarkable catch-point receiver, especially in the red zone. Showcased ability to win difficult sideline catches while keeping feet in-bounds as well as the ability to box out defenders. Good catch technique, reaches outside of his frame to secure the ball without trapping it against his body. Can adjust well to inaccurate passes. Good release technique both in-line and split into the slot and can disengage from press coverage and avoid chips from defensive ends. Has solid acceleration after receiving the ball or at the beginning of the route. Some lateral agility, which he uses to win cuts especially on sharp-breaking routes. Economical movement at the top of the route stem. Can turn his hips quickly on comeback routes. Tenacious blocker, willing to finish. Generally boasts good hand placement as a blocker and doesn’t lunge. Plays across the formation and could be split out wide a little more for Minnesota.

Weaknesses: Despite good acceleration, has limited top-end speed — his 4.80-second 40-yard dash at the combine turned out to be an accurate reflection of his overall speed, limiting him to underneath routes and making him a liability on screens. Blocking angles are an issue, both in-line and getting to the second level. Misses second-level defenders as a blocker, often breaking down for the block too early or too late. Despite good placement, has poor punch timing and the strength isn’t always there. Doesn’t uncoil into blocks, robbing him of power and stopping ability. Good footwork in routes doesn’t always mean sharp cuts and he can fall behind if his technique isn’t perfect.

(Rich Barnes / USA Today) Brandon Dillon The Vikings were seemingly right to plumb the depths of free agency and sign a tight end from an NAIA school in Marian. Dillon, a longshot to make the roster or even the when he signed with the team, is now entering his second year with Minnesota and has a real chance to make the 53-man roster outright, especially with a smaller field of competitors and an impressive showing in camp the year prior.

Strengths: Great in contested-catch situations in camp and in college, good to see after questions about the level of competition were immediately resolved in this arena. Has strength throughout his frame, allowing him to win the sideline and stay in-route without getting bullied around. Should have blocking upside, too. Surprisingly advanced receiving techniques, with subtle push-offs and other separation moves in-route. Good body control and ball tracking, can adjust to the ball very well. Shields the ball well throughout the catch process. Made highlight after highlight play in camp against second and third-stringers and it may translate up to working against starters. Can make one- handed catches well, extending an already large catch radius. Plays all across the formation, though largely lined up wide in college. Speed downfield is a big asset, helps him become a matchup weapon. Generally boasts good agility, which can show up in route-running.

Weaknesses: A poor blocker in college at a very low level of competition and those problems showed up again in training camp, where he was consistently bullied at the point of attack. Punch timing is significantly off and he can lose any leverage he gains by losing the hand-fighting battle. Doesn’t always have leverage, either, often coming out of his stance too high as a blocker. Hand placement off as well, and can “hug” rather than punch the chest of defensive linemen and linebackers. Doesn’t bring lower body strength into blocks. Needs more time to learn the passing offense, especially scramble drills and finding holes in zone coverage. Route precision isn’t necessarily there — drifted in routes both in camp and in college.

(Charles LeClaire / USA Today) Nakia Griffin-Stewart With the departure of David Morgan, the Vikings don’t have a dedicated blocking tight end on the roster, something they’ve maintained since Jim Kleinsasser arrived in 1999. The closest thing they have to that right now is the undrafted free agent Griffin-Stewart, who came out of Pitt with 19 total catches in his final season for 185 yards but has an impressive resume as a blocker.

Strengths: Has experience in zone blocking, both as a fullback and tight end — was asked to commit reach blocks, cut blocks and pull. Ability to line up in the backfield is a big plus for a blocking TE. His strength is evident both when hitting blocks and as an after-catch runner, not often going down very easily. Good hand placement as a blocker and solid punch timing. Often jolts opposing defenders. Torques defenders well to maintain blocking position. Good size for a tight end and an easy-to-find target for any QB. Footwork as a blocker is generally very good. More experience as a pass protector than most tight ends. Great tenacity.

Weaknesses: Very limited athletic profile, projected to run in the 4.90 range and looks like it on film. Doesn’t showcase much agility or explosion. Limited catch radius, as a result, doesn’t leap for high throws. Route-running in general is extremely raw and sometimes commits pass interference instead of employing route-running technique. Catch technique could use work; traps ball against body instead of reaching outside of frame to bring the ball in. Blocking good but has some holes, doesn’t bring his strength to bear on drive blocks. Doesn’t unload his hips into the block, making it difficult to maintain at times. Can miss his blocking angles, especially at the second level. Speed issues show up here as well and when asked to block a safety often misses. Grip strength not ideal, might not be able to sustain. Didn’t play a majority of offensive snaps in many games and taken off the field in clear passing situations. PUBLICATION: Purple Insider DATE: 7/15/20

The pluses and minuses of keeping Anthony Harris on the franchise tag

By Matthew Coller

The have until Wednesday to sign franchise-tagged safety Anthony Harris to a long-term contract extension. Otherwise he will play on the tag, which will cost the Vikings $11.4 million on the cap in 2020.

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, teams aren’t exactly jumping to sign tagged players to extensions this year.

Adam Schefter @AdamSchefter There are 15 tagged NFL players – 14 franchised, one transitioned – that have until Wednesday to sign long-term deals and yet there might be “one or two deals, at most,” per a league source. The pandemic, and lack of financial clarity, are crippling hopes for long-term deals. July 13th 2020

133 Retweets868 Likes If the Harris isn’t one of the “one or two” deals signed before Wednesday’s deadline, will the Vikings be making the right call by keeping him on only a one-year contract? Let’s have a look…

The case for signing Harris to a long-term deal Over the last two seasons, Harris has emerged as one of the best safeties in the NFL, leading the league in interceptions in 2019 and ranking among PFF’s top graded at the position in both ‘18 and ‘19. When opposing teams throw in his direction during Harris’s career (including playoffs), they have just a 58.3 quarterback rating.

His growth has given the Vikings the best safety combo in the NFL — which turned out to be especially beneficial last season when the cornerbacks struggled. Harris and Harrison Smith’s chemistry helped keep the Vikings in the top 10 in QB rating against as a team despite cornerback Xavier Rhodes allowing more than 80% of passes in his direction to be completed.

Going forward if the Vikings see even solid growth from young corners like , Cam Dantzler, Mike Hughes and Holton Hill, they’ll be locked into an elite secondary so long as Smith doesn’t see a steep decline and Harris continues to ballhawk at a high level.

There is a sentiment that anyone can play alongside Smith and it’s true that and Harris were both undrafted free agency but the difference between the two is pretty significant. Harris has PFF grades of 87.1 and 92.7 (out of 100) in the last two years and 10 total interceptions. Sendejo has 10 for his career, which began in 2012. He had one season graded over 80 in coverage.

In the short term, the Vikings could lower Harris’s cap hit for 2020 and open up space to either sign to a new deal and/or add a veteran free agent. In the long term, they shouldn’t expect to pay big money to cornerbacks for several years (aside from Hughes’s fifth-year option in 2022 but that’s yet to be determined).

Even with cap uncertainty the Vikings have always found ways to give out deals that lock in players for reasonable deals that have flexibility after two or three years. During that time span, the Vikings’ defense could quickly be revamped into a top unit in the NFL, especially if they don’t have to replace one of their top players.

Additionally, Smith was still elite last season but if his play dips and the Vikings decide to move on after 2020 (as his contract allows with zero dead cap space), they would still have one high-quality safety in his prime.

OverTheCap’s Jason Fitzgerald makes the point that signing him now will probably be cheaper than waiting until next offseason when he’s set to hit free agency.

“If the Vikings do plan on a long term with Harris then not extending him now makes little sense,” Fitzgerald wrote. “They made the same mistake with Anthony Barr a few years ago, ultimately having it cost more in the long run.”

If we all agree the best route toward being an elite defense is to shut down the opposition’s passing game, losing Harris after 2020 would mean having to fill big shoes.

The case for keeping Harris on the franchise tag The cap uncertainty probably isn’t as serious as Schefter’s tweet made it seem — there will likely be ways for the NFL and NFLPA to work around taking a revenue hit this year due to COVID — but there is enough worry about a stagnant cap that it would give the Vikings reasonable pause on Harris.

While he’s been absolutely terrific, his success comes in a small sample size of less than 1,000 career cover snaps since becoming a starter and only a total of 33 targets over the last two seasons per PFF. Is that enough to decide on paying him $13 million as Justin Simmons of Denver was earlier this offseason?

Plus with Smith’s deal leaving him with a $10 million cap hit with no dead money if he’s cut before 2021, the All-Pro safety could want an extension to provide some guarantees for the future. If Smith is elite again this year and shows no signs of slowing down, it would be very hard to justify moving on from him. But if Smith gets a new deal and the Vikings sign Harris long term, that would leave them paying somewhere in the range of $25 million to their two safeties in 2021.

That might not be the most savvy use of their cap dollars when ’s cap hit goes up to $31 million in 2021 and ’s cap hit jumps from $9 million to over $17 million. The team will know much better next March where the cap is going to be.

Playing Harris on the franchise tag kicks the can down the road for the Vikings to find out what they have in their two late-round safeties and Brian Cole. It also gives them an opportunity to assess what next year’s market will look like. This year there were a handful of quality players at the position, including Tre Boston, who signed for a three-year deal with the highest cap hit of just $7.6 million.

By no means is it easy to plug and play any old safety and have them lead the league in picks but playing Harris on the tag allows the Vikings more time to make a decision.

The bottom line

If Harris was the Vikings’ only star safety, this deal would probably be done by now. The presence of Smith combined with unclear nature of the league along with the question of whether Harris can continue to play at this level and the overall positional value make it tough for the Vikings to lock themselves into him. If they end up having to pay more next offseason, that probably means things went really well in 2020, which they’ll take.

PUBLICATION: CBS Sports DATE: 7/15/20

Six NFL rookies most equipped to make an immediate impact despite modified 2020 offseason

By Chris Trapasso

As if making the jump from to the NFL wasn't already difficult enough, the 2020 draft class enters the league with loads of uncertainty by way of a shortened, modified offseason with no minicamps and a preseason already cut by two games due to COVID-19.

All that makes it easy to assume most rookies will struggle acclimating this year more than ever. While generally speaking that might be true, these are the rookies who have the skill sets to overcome the unique offseason and be instant impact in Year 1.

(Let's get one thing out of the way. The first three picks -- Joe Burrow, Chase Young, and Jeff Okudah -- are ready to go from the jump and were not included on this list.)

Andrew Thomas, OT, Giants Despite turning 21 a few months before the draft, Thomas made 41 starts across three seasons at Georgia. The vast SEC experience he got from his true freshman season on will pay major dividends during his rookie year with the Giants. In his debut campaign with the Bulldogs, Thomas logged 15 starts at right tackle, and he could play there to start his NFL career if Nate Solder holds onto his gig on the left side.

Thomas checks the two nonspecific boxes -- he has good traits and he produced in college. Being 6-foot-5 and 315 pounds with lengthy 36 1/8-inch arms is prototype material, and we know from the combine he's a high-level athlete for the offensive tackle position.

And his film was clean at Georgia, particularly in 2019, when he sharpened his footwork, which led to more balance - - and fewer one-on-one losses -- in pass protection. Yes, the Bulldogs were extraordinarily run-heavy during Thomas' tenure at left tackle. Last season, as an offense, Georgia dropped back to pass 429 times and ran on 505 occasions. In 2018, the team ran the ball 548 times to just 376 drop backs. On the surface, that philosophy didn't prepare Thomas well for the pass-happy NFL.

However, he was boringly good in pass pro in his final season in Athens. Per Pro Football Focus' draft guide, he allowed just nine pressures (with one sack) on 410 pass-block snaps. Despite New York's selection of Thomas at No. 4 overall getting pegged as a big reach by many, he's NFL-ready. Along with paving lanes for Saquon Barkley, he'll be effective when Daniel Jones drops back to pass too. Really, it's a just a matter of time before he takes over for Solder at left tackle.

Jerry Jeudy, WR, Broncos As we've all come to realize, recently in the NFL, route running/separation capabilities, yards after the catch, and destroying press at the line are the most vital elements of playing the receiver position.

And Jeudy is the most advanced route runner to enter the league since at least fellow Alabama alum Amari Cooper in 2015. He's explosive too, as evidenced by his 4.45 time in the 40 at the combine. His route-running advancement comes by way of shifting gears during a given play, and using head, shoulder, and hip fakes at the top of his route stem to generate separation. Jeudy routinely keeps cornerbacks guessing, and they have to respect his deep speed.

His polished game and dynamic athleticism will allow him to seamlessly transition into the Broncos' offense even with a modified offseason. Also too, Jeudy joins a team with a recently established No. 1 wideout in Courtland Sutton and secondary weapons like last year's first-round pick Noah Fant at tight end and rookie burner K.J. Hamler.

Jeudy forced a solid 15 missed tackles on 77 receptions in 2019. He has the initial shake ability blended with crafty hand work to deal with and dispatch press man coverage. But above all, Jeudy's sudden, veteran-like routes will allow him to become an instant impact star alongside Sutton in 2020.

Damon Arnette, CB, Raiders Unlike most Ohio State cornerbacks of late, Arnette played four years in Columbus, making 38 starts and appearing in 53 games. Those facts alone prepared him tremendously for the NFL.

Beyond his vast experience compared to the plethora of early-entry top picks from Ohio State's secondary, Arnette is also different because he's not a freaky, high-level athlete. His 4.56 in the 40 ranks in the 24th percentile at the position among cornerbacks who've participated in the combine since 1999.

Still, he's ready to produce in Year 1 for the Raiders because of the diverse coverages he experienced in college. Initially, under previous defensive coordinator Greg Schiano, Arnette and his cornerback group almost strictly played press man. Over the past two seasons, when Arnette's playing time increased after departures to the NFL from the likes of Denzel Ward and Kendall Sheffield, the Buckeyes used less aggressive versions of man and even mixed in zone.

Encouragingly for Las Vegas, Arnette demonstrated consistent production regardless of scheme thanks to his physical prowess and quick feet at the line for press man and instincts and large catch radius in zone. In 2017 he had eight pass breakups and two picks. In 2018, six pass breakups and an interception, and in his final season with the Buckeyes, eight more pass breakups and another pick.

While the 23-year-old Arnette -- old for a rookie -- may never be a superstar in the NFL, the Raiders won't have to worry about a steep learning curve for him regardless of how often they want to mix coverages.

Jeff Gladney, CB, Vikings Gladney is another grizzled veteran , having started 42 games at TCU. And he looked the part from his freshman season on. Over the past two seasons with the Horned Frogs, Gladney knocked away 26 passes and had three picks.

He's a springy, click-and-close playmaker with man-coverage chops because of his light feet and relatively loose hips. And too, his film shows outstanding explosiveness and concentration when tested down the field. In the wide open, Air Raid-happy Big 12, he had to track the deep ball often.

While his lack of size might hurt him in the NFL -- 5-10 and 191 pounds with short arms -- Gladney has 4.48 speed and his vertical was in the 71st percentile at the combine.

Landing in Minnesota with defensive back guru is exquisite for Gladney, and the Vikings' hybrid coverage scheme that features plenty of blitzes which lead to hurried throws should have the rookie licking his chops in his debut NFL season.

A.J. Epenesa, EDGE/DL, Bills Epenesa enters a loaded Bills defensive line group, one of the deepest in the entire league, which, right out of the gate, won't place him in a high-pressure situation as a rookie.

But, as an individual, Epenesa has the game to immediately acclimate to the NFL. Despite not being a great athlete for the defensive end spot, the former Iowa standout is a studly athlete if he's moved inside. Seriously, check those links for the differences on MockDraftable when I switched his position from "defensive end" to "defensive tackle."

And at 6-5 and 275 pounds with 34 1/2-inch arms on a defense with Jerry Hughes, Mario Addison and Trent Murphy in front of him at the end spot, Epenesa is bound to see time on the interior in Buffalo as a rookie.

According to PFF, Epenesa registered 138 quarterback pressures in 39 games at Iowa. His film showed quality play around the corner but stellar pass- push from the inside. He doesn't have the lightning quick first step to threaten the edge with speed, but Epenesa can routinely win with powerful hand work. Rarely does he get complacent in his rush, and he's close to being legitimately "NFL strong" today.

In Sean McDermott's defense, a unit that had six defensive linemen who played between 40% and 65% of the snaps in 2019, expect Epenesa to stay fresh throughout each game and play efficiently from a variety of positions but particularly thrive inside.

Josh Uche, LB/EDGE, Patriots Discounting Isaiah Simmons, Uche was the most truly versatile front seven defender in the 2020 class. One play he'd be aligned off the ball and smoothly range toward the sideline to make a tackle outside the numbers, beating a block in the process. The next play, he'd be in a stand-up position on the line and win with either pure burst/bend around the corner, a serious speed-to-power bull rush, or a devastating inside counter.

And the 6-1, 245-pound /edge hybrid couldn't have been picked by a better team. Bill Belichick is, of course, a legendary defensive schemer, and he's long loved and fully accentuated the skills of positionless defenders at the second level, Kyle Van Noy and Jamie Collins the most recent examples.

Finally in somewhat of a full-time role in 2019, Uche made 33 tackles with 10.5 tackles for loss and had 7.5 sacks for the Wolverines. Check this pressure-generation stat from the PFF draft guide: "Uche generated pressure at on 23.3% of his pass-rushes and won on 28.2%, both of which ranked second among all FBS edge rushers."

Yes, the Patriots lost some key components of their phenomenal 2019 defense but the lockdown secondary, starring reigning Defensive Player of the Year , is still intact, which should actually help New England's front seven defenders get home when rushing the passer.

And Uche is ready to take on a legitimately hybrid role in Belichick's constantly evolving defense because he played that role during his long career in Ann Arbor.

PUBLICATION: CBS Sports DATE: 7/15/20

Agent's Take: Sizing up situation for Cowboys' Dak Prescott, other unsigned franchise-tagged players

By Joel Corry

Use of the franchise player designation increased dramatically this year. More players were franchise tagged this offseason than over the last two years combined. In total, 14 players received franchise tags while 11 designations were used collectively in 2018 and 2019. Usage hasn't been this high since a record 21 teams placed the designation on players in 2012 when there was almost a 20 percent drop in the franchise tender amounts from 2011 as the method of calculating these figures changed. The clock is ticking with the players who were given franchise designations. The deadline for franchise players to sign long-term deals is 4 p.m. ET on July 15. Chris Jones and the Chiefs reportedly just beat the deadline, agreeing to a four-year extension Tuesday.

After the deadline passes, players with franchise tags are prohibited from signing multi-year contracts until the end of the regular season on Jan. 3, 2021. So far, Jones is the only one of this year's franchise players who has signed a long-term deal. The only times no tagged players signed extensions since the change with the calculations in 2012 has been 2013 and 2015.

COVID-19 is certainly complicating matters this year. Teams are being more cautious generally in signing core players to new contracts with league revenues expected to drop because of the pandemic and have an impact on the 2021 salary cap due to games potentially being played in empty stadiums or in front of limited fans.

Which players will sign multi-year deals by Wednesday's deadline? Joel Corry joins Will Brinson on the Pick Six Podcast to size it all up; listen below and be sure to subscribe for daily NFL goodness.

Here's a look at the situations of the 14 players given franchise tags.

Dak Prescott, QB, Cowboys The Cowboys don't have to worry about a Prescott training camp absence if a long term deal can't be worked out because he signed his $31.409 million franchise tag several weeks ago. The Cowboys have reportedly offered Prescott a contract averaging $35 million per year for five years with guarantees in $106 million range.

A major sticking point in the negotiations is the length of contract. Prescott wants a four-year deal. The recent trend with high-end quarterback contracts has been a shorter term than what Dallas would prefer. There are seven passers with contracts averaging $30 million or more per year. Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan is the only one whose deal contains more than four new contract years. He signed a five-year contract extension. The average length for these seven quarterback deals is 3.57 new years. Since all seven deals were extensions (had at least one year remaining on their existing deals when signed), the quarterbacks are under contract for an average of five total years.

The longer the Cowboys wait to lock up Prescott, the more costly it's probably going to be. By next offseason, there could be two $40 million per year quarterbacks. An extension for 2018 NFL MVP and Super Bowl LIV MVP Patrick Mahomes is a priority for the Chiefs. The Texans have had preliminary discussions with 2017 12th overall pick Deshaun Watson, who is also under contract through the 2021 season, for a new deal. Watson is reportedly seeking a three-year extension. Barring a major regression with Prescott this season, the Cowboys would be forced to top their most recent offer by a considerable margin with one of both of these contracts in the market place. Dallas and Prescott have reportedly not negotiated since March.

Derrick Henry, RB, Titans Titans general manager Jon Robinson is hoping to find common ground with Henry, who has already signed his $10.278 million franchise tender, on a long term deal. It wouldn't be surprising for Henry's camp to view the recording setting four-year extension Christian McCaffrey signed with the Panthers averaging $16,015,053 per year right around April's draft as an indicator of the market after a stellar 2019 season.

Henry led the NFL in rushing (1,540 yards) and tied for the league's most rushing with 16 despite missing a game late in the season because of a hamstring injury. He earned his first Pro Bowl berth and was named to the Pro Football Writers of America's All-NFL team. Since the middle of the 2018 season, Henry has been the NFL's most productive ball carrier. He has league bests of 2,299 rushing yards and 26 rushing touchdowns with 5.4 yards per carry.

Henry really made his mark in the playoffs during the Titans' run to the AFC Championship Game. He became the first player to ever have two games of at least 180 rushing yards in the same postseason. Henry also set an NFL record for the most rushing yards during a playoff run (not including the Super Bowl) with 446. His 148.7 rushing yards per game this postseason is the fourth-best mark ever in any single playoffs.

A common denominator with the running backs who have commanded top dollar in recent years is their dual-threat capabilities. The bottom of the top tier is the $13 million per year the Cardinals gave David Johnson in 2018.

Henry may become the exception. He doesn't add much in the passing game. Henry is more of a traditional ball carrier from the previous era. Nonetheless, Henry is Tennessee's best offensive player. On Tuesday, it was reported that Henry is expected to play under the franchise tag.

A.J. Green, WR, Bengals Green wasn't thrilled the Bengals designated him as a franchise player for $18.171 million. Choosing to have Green play on the franchise tag may make the most sense for the Bengals given his injury history. Green has been one of the NFL's best wide receivers when healthy, which he hasn't been in recent years. He didn't play at all last season because of an ankle injury suffered in training camp that required surgery. Green, who turns 32 at the end of July, also missed six games in 2016 because of a hamstring tear and was limited to nine games in 2018 due to a toe injury also requiring surgery. He had career lows of 46 receptions and 694 receiving yards in 2018.

Brandon Scherff, OG, Redskins Initial contract talks had reportedly gone well after the Redskins made Scherff the first offensive guard to be given a franchise tag since the Patriots used one on Logan Mankins in 2011. Retaining Scherff, who earned his third Pro Bowl berth in 2019, takes on additional importance after trading disgruntled left tackle Trent Williams to the 49ers. Scherff's franchise tag is $15.03 million, which is 120 percent of his $12.525 million 2019 fifth-year option salary. Ensuring that Scherff remains in Washington for many years will likely require a long-term contract averaging more than $16 million per year because a second franchise tag in 2021 at a NFL Collective Bargaining Agreement mandated 20 percent increase would be $18.036 million.

Leonard Williams, IDL, Giants Curiously, the Giants gave up a 2020 third-round pick and a 2021 fifth-round pick for Williams as last season's trading deadline was approaching when there was a better shot at the first overall pick in 2020 NFL Draft than securing a playoff berth. Giants general manager Dave Gettleman doubled down on Williams with the franchise tag. Williams may not have been a hot commodity in free agency since he has yet to live up to the potential that made him 2015's sixth overall pick. In the eight games Williams played with the Giants in 2019, he had half a sack, which was also his season total, but 31 quarterback pressures (combined sacks, quarterback hurries and quarterback hits). Placing the $16.126 million franchise tag on Williams only raised his salary expectations for a long term deal. In many instances, an agent will use the number as the starting point for negotiations, if not the average of two franchise tags as a barometer with a long term deal. In Williams' case, this would be approximately $17.75 million per year. On Tuesday, it was reported that the Giants don't plan to extend Williams.

Shaquil Barrett, EDGE, Buccaneers Nobody could have foreseen Barrett having a league-leading 19.5 sacks in 2019. The 2014 undrafted free agent produced a total of 14 sacks in his previous four seasons with the Broncos. A long-term deal for Barrett might be comparable to the $18 million per year with the $40 million fully guaranteed at signing Trey Flowers got from the Lions in free agency last March. COVID-19 aside, any reluctance on making a long term commitment to Barrett would be understandable because of his limited track record for producing at the highest level. Barrett reportedly signed his $15.828 million franchise tender Friday and filed a grievance over his position listing.

Yannick Ngakoue, EDGE, Jaguars Ngakoue wants to be traded. He has no interest in signing long term to stay in Jacksonville. Ngakoue's relationship with the Jaguars soured during acrimonious negotiations for a contract extension last offseason. Ngakoue had a brief training camp holdout, which primarily came to an end because of the need to earn another accrued season (i.e.; a year of service towards free agency). Under the CBA rules in existence at the time, Ngakoue wouldn't have earned a fourth one if he had waited until there were less than 30 days before the NFL's first 2019 regular season game to report to the Jaguars. Four accrued seasons are necessary to achieve unrestricted free agent status when a player's contract expires. Whether Ngakoue eventually signs his $17.788 million franchise tag, sits out some portion or the entire season remains to be seen.

Hunter Henry, TE, Chargers Henry will make $10.607 million for the 2020 season absent a long term deal. The most relevant data point for Henry is the four year, $42 million deal with $23 million in guarantees Austin Hooper received from the Browns in this year's free agency to become the first tight end in league history to sign a contract averaging more than $10 million per year. Henry is unlikely to be franchised again in 2021 because Keenan Allen and defensive end Joey Bosa's contracts will expire after the season. Henry having a true breakout season while putting the injury bug that's plagued him in the past could lead to deal significantly more than Hooper's in 2021, especially if 49ers tight end George Kittle has dramatically re-set the market.

Bud Dupree, EDGE, Steelers Dupree rewarded Pittsburgh's faith in him by keeping his $9.232 million fifth-year option intact for 2019. He had a career-high 11.5 sacks, which matched his combined 2017 and 2018 sack total. T.J. Watt, Dupree's edge-rushing counterpart, seems destined to join the $20 million per year pass rusher club, as soon as next year, after posting 27.5 sacks in the last two seasons. The Steelers must decide their comfort level with having two outside pass rushers on big money long term contracts.

Joe Thuney, OG, Patriots The Patriots putting a $14.781 million franchise tag on offensive guard Joe Thuney wasn't expected. Thuney could potentially have become the NFL's highest-paid interior offensive lineman on the open market if recent history is any indication A Pro Bowl-caliber guard in his prime has been re-setting the market in free agency (Andrew Norwell, Kelechi Osemele, Kevin Zeitler). The current standard is the four-year, $56.55 million extension averaging $14,137,500 per year received from the Eagles during the middle of last season.

Mike McCartney, Thuney's agent, has demonstrated a willingness to embrace the franchise tag through his representation of Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins. Thuney quickly signed his franchise tender. McCartney surely recognizes that a second franchise tag for Thuney in 2021 at a CBA-mandated 20 percent increase would be $17,737,200.

A long term deal must be attractive enough for Thuney to forego the possibility of hitting the open market next year since a second franchise tag might be too cost-prohibitive. The Patriots haven't been afraid to let offensive linemen go during free agency (Trent Brown and Nate Solder) in recent years rather than set the market.

Matthew Judon, EDGE, Ravens The Ravens learned from letting Za'Darius Smith hit the open market in 2019. Judon didn't get the chance to test free agency after earning his first Pro Bowl berth last season while setting a career-high with 9.5 sacks. He isn't stressing about his franchise player status because he and the Ravens agreed to a compromise tag of $16.808 million, which is the midpoint between the linebacker and defensive end numbers. Judon won't get tagged again in 2021 if both he and All-Pro left tackle Ronnie Stanley aren't under long term contracts by next March. The salary floor for a long term deal with Judon is probably the deal Smith got from the Packers in free agency last year. Smith signed a four-year deal averaging $16.5 million per year.

Justin Simmons, S, Broncos Simmons picked the right time to play his best football, his contract year. He thrived in first-year head coach Vic Fangio's defense. Eddie Jackson raised the salary bar for safeties when he signed a four-year extension averaging $14,604,250 with the Bears in January. There is a unique dynamic in Simmons' negotiations. Rich Hurtado left CAA Sports, who represents Simmons, to become Denver's chief contract negotiator as vice president of football administration.

Anthony Harris, S, Vikings There had been some talk that the Vikings could trade Harris to break up arguably the league's best safety tandem he forms with Harrison Smith earlier in the offseason. The chatter has cooled considerably but Harris would be virtually powerless to stop a trade because he signed his $11.441 million franchise tender in May. Any long term deal Harris, who tied for the NFL lead with six interceptions last season, signs would likely make him the highest-paid defensive back in Vikings history. That distinction belongs to cornerback Xavier Rhodes, who was released in March, at $14.02 million per year.

Chris Jones, IDL, Chiefs - (Signed extension) (Editor's note: On Tuesday, Chris Jones and the Chiefs reportedly agreed to a four-year extension.)

The Chiefs should have anticipated that making a major investment in a pass rusher last offseason that had never done anything for the franchise, defensive end Frank Clark, wasn't going to sit too well with Jones after the type of 2018 season he had. Clark, who had been franchised, was signed to a five year, $104 million contract with $62.305 million in guarantees ($43.805 million fully guaranteed at signing) in connection with his trade from the Seahawks shortly before the 2019 Draft.

Jones set a NFL record by posting a sack in 11 straight games and was third in the league with 15.5 sacks during the 2018 season. An encore performance in 2019 was always going to be a difficult task. Despite missing three games with a groin injury, Jones still had nine sacks.

Clark's deal was always going to be an important data point to Jones. The Colts giving defensive tackle DeForest Buckner a four year, $84 million extension averaging $21 million per year after acquiring him from the 49ers in March only confirmed Jones' contract demands.

Jones invoked running back Le'Veon Bell's name by suggesting he wouldn't pay this season unless signed to a long- term deal. Bell sat out the 2018 season rather than play for the Steelers under a $14.544 million franchise tag. One big difference between Jones and Bell's situations is Bell gained a level of financial security that Jones doesn't have by waiting until he was franchised for a second time before taking such an extreme stance. Jones made just over $6.125 million during the four years of his rookie contract. His $16.126 million franchise tender is close to three times as much as he made on his rookie deal. PUBLICATION: Maven Media DATE: 7/15/20

61 Days Until Vikings Football: Could Brett Jones Be an Option at Left Guard?

By Will Ragatz

As we count down the days until the Vikings' opener against the Packers on September 13th, InsideTheVikings will be previewing every single player on the roster. The amount of days remaining corresponds with the jersey number of the player being examined on that day. Today is July 14th, and there are 61 days until kickoff for the 2020 regular season. That means our next preview looks at an interior lineman from Canada.

Countdown to Vikings-Packers on September 13th: 61 Days

Player Preview: Brett Jones (No. 61, Center) BJ College: Regina (Canada) Drafted: 2013 UDFA NFL experience: Five seasons (2020 will be his sixth) Age: 29 (Birthday was in July) Size: 6'2", 315 2019 PFF grade: N/A

Of the 87 players currently on the Vikings' roster, just two were born outside of the United States. One of those is superstar defensive end Danielle Hunter, who was born in Jamaica. But Hunter moved to Texas at eight years old and spent all of his formative years there. In that sense, the most traditional international player on the roster is backup center Brett Jones.

Jones was born in Saskatchewan, Canada. Specifically, in a city called Weyburn, which has a population of just over 10,000 and is roughly 50 miles north of the Canada-North Dakota border. He grew up there, and attended the nearby University of Regina for his college years. Jones started 30 games on the offensive line for the Regina Rams between 2009 and 2012, and became a dominant force as an upperclassman.

In the 2013 Canadian Football League draft, Jones was a second-round pick of the Calgary Stampeders. He won the league's Most Outstanding Rookie Award in 2013, and then the Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman Award in 2014. Following that season, Jones was signed by the New York Giants in February 2015.

Jones' first season in the NFL came to a premature end due to an injury. He played in roughly 80 snaps as the Giants' backup center in 2016, and then finally got his chance to become an NFL starter the following season. Jones started 13 of the Giants' 16 games in 2017, playing nearly 1,000 snaps. Pro Football Focus gave him a good 70.2 grade, which ranked 15th out of 35 qualifying centers.

In August 2018, the Vikings traded a seventh-round pick to the Giants to acquire Jones. He started the first three games of the season while Pat Elflein was recovering from multiple offseason surgeries. In retrospect, the Vikings would've benefited from keeping Jones as the starter instead of handing the job back to Elflein, who graded out as PFF's worst center in the league that year.

In 2019, the Vikings re-signed Jones, but also drafted in the first round to be their starting center. Jones was outstanding in the preseason and made the initial 53-man roster as the team's backup center. He then was cut, but was brought back a week later. Ultimately, he ended up getting hurt and not playing at all during the season. Still, the Vikings decided to bring him back once again on a one-year, veteran minimum deal this offseason.

Where does that leave Jones heading into 2020? The most likely outcome is that he'll once again back up Bradbury at center, though he could get some competition from rookie seventh-rounder . However, it's also possible that Jones could factor into the competition to potentially replace Elflein at left guard. He has experience playing guard throughout his career, so it wouldn't be a difficult transition.

Jones has some pretty clear strengths and weaknesses. His biggest strength is that he's a fantastic pass protector on the interior; Jones received an 82.1 pass blocking grade from PFF during the 2017 season where he was a full- time starter, and has never had a pass blocking grade below 70. He also received incredibly high marks in that area during last year's preseason. Jones simply doesn't allow many pressures. He has great technique, power, and balance in 1-on-1 matchups with defensive tackles.

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However, his main weakness might be a reason why he's unlikely to ever be a starter in Minnesota. Jones isn't particularly athletic, and struggles to get to the second level and make an impact there. Those limitations make him a decent-to-poor run blocker, which isn't ideal for the Vikings' run-heavy, zone-blocking scheme. This thread from Nick Olson has some great examples of Jones' strengths and weaknesses on tape:

Jones is essentially the polar opposite of Elflein, who is a good run-blocker but is a sieve in pass protection. The Vikings may want to find someone who can succeed in both areas to be their starting left guard; that person could potentially be a converted tackle like , Aviante Collins, or Riley Reiff. But Jones is the best interior pass blocker on the Vikings' roster, and that ability should – at the very least – help him make the roster as the backup center in 2020.

Previous Interior OL player previews:

No. 78: No. 76: Aviante Collins No. 74: Oli Udoh No. 73: No. 68: Kyle Hinton No. 67: Brady Aiello No. 65: Pat Elflein No. 63: Jake Lacina You can find every single player preview to date – plus other offseason content – in this handy spreadsheet.

PUBLICATION: Maven Media DATE: 7/15/20

Adam Thielen and Kyle Rudolph Competed in a Celebrity Golf Tournament Last Weekend

By Will Ragatz

Vikings stars Adam Thielen and Kyle Rudolph competed in the American Century Championship this past weekend, a celebrity golf tournament in Lake Tahoe that benefits charitable causes.

Long story short: we know which of the two players is a better golfer. Thielen, who was paired with former teammate Case Keenum and Rams receiver Cooper Kupp, finished 12th out of 70 participants with 46 points. He got better in each round on the par-72 course, shooting a 79, then a 75, and finishing with a two-over 74 on Sunday.

Keenum – Thielen's quarterback during the Vikings' 2017 season – finished fifth with 54 points. The winner of the event was tennis star Mardy Fish, who happens to be a huge Vikings fan. Also in the top five were Kyle Williams, John Smoltz, and Stephen Curry.

Rudolph, meanwhile, didn't have quite the same success as Thielen – who is an avid golfer – did. Paired with and DeMarcus Ware, Rudolph finished 66th with minus-47 points. At least the big tight end was consistent, shooting 98-95-96 over his three rounds. I gotta say, I think wearing the sweater wasn't the right choice for Rudy.

Other notable finishes included at 16th, Larry Fitzgerald at 25th, and Patrick Mahomes tying for 38th.

Two-time defending champion Tony Romo withdrew on Saturday with a wrist injury.

Check out all of our Vikings 2020 season preview content right here.

PUBLICATION: Maven Media DATE: 7/15/20

Can Blake Brandel Translate Elite College Production into NFL Success?

By Will Ragatz

As we count down the days until the Vikings' opener against the Packers on September 13th, InsideTheVikings will be previewing every single player on the roster. The amount of days remaining corresponds with the jersey number of the player being examined on that day. Today is July 14th, and there are 61 days until kickoff for the 2020 regular season. But since I'm still one day behind right now, let's look at No. 62, a late-round rookie who dominated the Pac- 12 last year.

Countdown to Vikings-Packers on September 13th: 61 Days

Player Preview: Blake Brandel (No. 62, Offensive Tackle) USATSI_10984492_168388404_lowres College: Oregon State Drafted: 2020 sixth round (203rd overall) NFL experience: N/A Age: 23 (Birthday was in January) Size: 6'7", 307

To kick off the sixth round of this year's draft, the Vikings doubled down on the offensive tackle position by selecting Oregon State's Blake Brandel. They had already landed in the second round, but went back to the well at an important position with their tenth of 15 picks. Brandel is a tall, reliable tackle who was an iron man for the Beavers over the past four years.

Because he was the 203rd overall pick and not the 58th, Brandel has gotten a lot less fanfare than Cleveland. The reason for the five-round difference in where they were taken is that he doesn't have anything close to the upside of the Boise State product, mostly due to a lack of top-tier athleticism. But Brandel had a more productive season than Cleveland in 2019, and arguably has fewer concerns on his tape from a technique standpoint.

The entire comparison between Cleveland and Brandel gets at something I touched on when discussing James Lynch and D.J. Wonnum, the Vikings' two fourth-round picks:

The balance between how NFL teams view potential and production is a fascinating one. The most important thing when it comes to prospects is projecting how their game will translate to the NFL level. But it does sometimes feel like teams get overly caught up in prioritizing measurables and testing numbers over actual college performance. Lynch was an elite college player, and the Vikings are hoping that the skills that allowed him to thrive in the Big 12 will help him become a star in the NFL.

While Lynch and Wonnum are two very different defensive linemen who were drafted 13 picks apart, Cleveland and Brandel are very far apart as left tackle prospects. I understand why; Cleveland has an incredibly high ceiling due to his athletic profile and all-around skillset. But it's entirely possible that the Vikings view Brandel as a steal at No. 203 overall because of what he brings to the table in terms of production, consistency, and pass protection technique.

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There are, of course, many examples of hyper-athletic players like Danielle Hunter turning into stars after unproductive college careers. But there are also examples of teams overvaluing traits instead of production. It happens frequently with quarterbacks ( being taken over Deshaun Watson, Brock Osweiler going ahead of , etc.), and it can happen at any position on the field.

Brandel grew up in the Portland area, and was a three-star recruit out of Central Catholic High School. He redshirted during his first year at Oregon State, and then made 48 consecutive starts from 2016 to 2019. Nine of those came at right tackle during his redshirt freshman season, but the other 39 were at left tackle. As a senior, Pro Football Focus graded Brandel as the best pass-protecting tackle in the country. He gave up just four pressures and a single sack on the season, and PFF gave him a 93.1 pass blocking grade (90 grade overall).

Following his outstanding senior season, Brandel was named second team All-Pac 12. Despite that success, he wasn't invited to the 2020 combine. At Oregon State's pro day on March 11th, he posted strong numbers in the bench press (29 reps) as well as the vertical and broad jumps. He's not a ridiculous athlete like Cleveland, Brian O'Neill, or even 2019 sixth-rounder Oli Udoh, but Brandel's overall testing numbers are quite solid for the tackle position.

The main things Brandel has going for him are his advanced technique and experience. He's able to anchor effectively against bull rushers, uses his hands well to combat other moves, and has the strength to finish blocks. While he's not a perfect fit for a zone-blocking running scheme, he does have the short-burst explosiveness to get off of the line of scrimmage and have success in that type of offense.

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Heading into 2020 training camp, Brandel is probably sixth – at best – on the depth chart at tackle, behind O'Neill, Cleveland, Riley Reiff, , and Udoh. I would guess that his most likely landing spot is the practice squad, where he could essentially take a redshirt year like Udoh and Dru Samia did in 2019. If he impresses and develops during that time, he could wind up with a good chance to make the team in 2021.

It's also possible that Brandel – who has fairly short arms (33.25") for an NFL – could transition to guard at this level. His lack of length and agility could be hidden better on the interior as opposed to being exposed on the outside. Either way, it certainly looks like the Vikings got good value and upside by taking Brandel in the sixth round.

Previous OT player previews:

No. 76: Aviante Collins No. 75: Brian O'Neill No. 74: Oli Udoh No. 72: Ezra Cleveland No. 71: Riley Reiff No. 69: Rashod Hill No. 67: Brady Aiello You can find every single player preview to date – plus other offseason content – in this handy spreadsheet. PUBLICATION: Vikings Entertainment Network DATE: 7/15/20

Xs and Os: How Drafted Offensive Linemen Could Impact Vikings

By Eric Smith

EAGAN, Minn. — Addressing the offensive line might not have been the Vikings clear-cut No. 1 priority in the 2020 NFL Draft, but the often-scrutinized position group was helped out three times over the final two days of the draft.

Minnesota used its second-round pick on Boise State tackle Ezra Cleveland, who was taken with the 58th overall pick.

The Vikings later took two more offensive linemen on Day 3, adding Oregon State tackle Blake Brandel in the sixth round (203rd overall pick) and Washburn (Division II) guard Kyle Hinton in the seventh round (253rd overall pick).

The selection of Hinton put a bow on the trio of offensive linemen taken, and also rounded out a 15-man draft class that set a seven-round record.

Vikings 2020 Roster in Photos View photos of the Vikings 2020 roster as of July 5, 2020.

RELATED LINKS Xs and Os: How 3 Draftees Could Impact Vikings Defensive Line Xs and Os: Draft LB Brings Instincts, Determination to Vikings Xs & Os: Has ‘Enough of the Enoughs’ to Compete at Backup QB Xs and Os: How Drafted Receivers Could Make Biggest 1st Splash for Vikings Here's a deep on how each of the drafted offensive linemen could figure into Minnesota's future plans:

Player Profile: Ezra Cleveland, Boise State, redshirt junior

There was some pre-draft chatter that Cleveland would go in the first round. But the Vikings were more than happy he fell to them near the end of the second.

Cleveland started all 13 games at left tackle for Boise State in 2019 and was named a First-Team All-Mountain West selection for the second consecutive year. He started all 40 games in three seasons with the Broncos.

Cleveland's selection meant a Minnesota reunion was on the horizon, as he was teammates at Boise State in 2017- 18 with running back . Cleveland helped Mattison rush for 2,501 yards and 29 scores in those two seasons.

"Alex was the first person I texted when I got the call from the Vikings, and me and him celebrated together because this has been a dream of ours since he left here," Cleveland said. "I remember, I was one of his big reasons [why he was] teetering on either leaving or coming back. Being with him again is definitely a really cool experience."

Where He Could Play: It remains to be seen if Cleveland will earn the starting left tackle job, which could push veteran Riley Reiff inside to guard. Vikings General Manager also noted that Cleveland could also begin his career at guard before moving to the outside.

But no matter where the 6-foot-6, 311-pound lineman fits in, it's clear he has the athleticism to succeed. Cleveland clocked in at 4.93 seconds in the 40-yard dash at the combine, which was the third-fastest among all offensive linemen in Indianapolis.

"You watch the tape, first of all, and you see with your own eyes what you think he can do in our type of offense," said Vikings Director of College Scouting Jamaal Stephenson. "But definitely when you get to the combine and he blows it out like he did, it just kind of re-emphasizes what you saw on tape, and you feel good about it."

Cleveland said he's already familiar with Minnesota's scheme that the Vikings will run under Vikings Offensive Coordinator Gary Kubiak, which could help his transition in a year when all teams' offseason programs were canceled because of COVID-19.

"Oh, a hundred percent. At Boise, we're a big zone offense, as well," Cleveland said. "We do inside zone first, then power, then mid-zone. A bunch of our plays are the zone scheme that you're talking [about]. … I think it's a huge benefit for me to be coming from a zone-type scheme and going right back into one."

Coachspeak: "He's a really good athlete, and he's very bright. That's the type of guys we've had a lot of success with in our scheme. With Ezra, we're going to work with him doing a lot of things – working at tackle, he's going to move inside and work at guard. We're going to play our best five guys, so he makes us very competitive the minute he walks in the building. But his brain, his football brain, gives us the ability to do a lot of things with him and then settle him down where we feel best. A three-year starter, done it with some very good offensive football teams. We're going to ask you to run and get to the second level, do all those types of things, and naturally you've got to be able to pass- protect in our league. But Ezra will catch up very quickly. We've spent a few days with him, just kind of talking to him, and it's very clear to us that this kid could be a quick study for us moving forward."

— Vikings Offensive Coordinator Gary Kubiak

Film Breakdown: Former Vikings player and coach Pete Bercich, now a Vikings Radio Network analyst, looked at some of Cleveland's tape from Boise State.

"A lot to like about this young man … he reminds me a lot of Brian O'Neill," Bercich said. "He's tough … a former high school wrestler … and coaches love linemen who used to wrestle because they understand the importance of leverage.

"You see his great footwork, and he has the athletic ability to get up on the defensive back in space [at the next level]," Bercich added. "Overall, he has a lot of athleticism and size. He's going to have to work a little bit, like Brian O'Neill did, to add strength. A very, very good pick. You can make a guy bigger and stronger, but you can't make him faster."

Film Room: Breaking Down Ezra Cleveland's Athleticism and Long-Term Potential Player Profile: Blake Brandel, Oregon State, senior

Brandel might have been a sixth-round pick, but he is perhaps the most durable of any of Minnesota's 15 draft picks as he started all 48 games at Oregon State.

Brandel redshirted in 2015, then started all 12 games in 2016, with the first three games at left tackle before the final nine came at right tackle. He played his final 36 games as a Beaver at left tackle. Brandel's 48 starts are tied for the third-most in school history.

"It's awesome to be able to say that I've done that before. I think part of it is general luck because football is a physical game, contact sport. Guys are going to get hurt, but I'd also like to thank my strength and conditioning staff that's helped me out at Oregon State, because without those guys, I'm sure there'd be a lot more injuries. They've helped me out a ton, too."

An All-Pac-12 Second Team selection by numerous outlets in 2019, Brandel was also praised by Pro Football Focus. The analytics site issued a grade of 93.1 for Brandel's pass blocking last season, which was the best in the nation after he was judged to have allowed just one sack and four quarterback hurries. PFF graded Brandel at 90 overall and 82.5 in run blocking.

Where He Could Play: Well, if a guy plays every game in college at tackle, you likely don't move him from there.

Brandel likely won't be in the mix to start right away, but he could have a shot to make the roster as a depth swing tackle, similar to Rashod Hill's role in recent years.

Brandel could compete with the likes of Hill, Aviante Collins and Oli Udoh for depth behind the trio of Reiff, Cleveland and Brian O'Neill.

"He's very bright, just like Ezra, test score great, football brain very good when we visited with him, so we get a guy who's got all of the ability, all of the brain to come in here and be a part of our competition up front," Kubiak said. "He's done it against some good people, so we'll see what happens, but Blake is a nice addition to our football team, and we were very fortunate to get a player of that caliber that late in the draft."

Brandel is listed at 6-foot-7 and 307 pounds, as he has great size for his position.

Coachspeak: "The first thing that jumps at you, he starts four years at left tackle. I want to say [39] were at left tackle, obviously in a great conference in college football, so he's blocking great people on a week-in and week-out basis. He's got the size you need to play in our league."

— Vikings Offensive Coordinator Gary Kubiak

Film Breakdown: Bercich analyzed Brandel's play and abilities on film.

"When you're talking about offensive linemen that are 6-foot-7, you want to see how they bend and how they move their feet," Bercich said. "He can move his feet … and he keeps his shoulders square and drives the defender to the ground. He's a good finisher.

"He also has the speed to get up to the second level," Bercich added. "And as a pass protector, he has good feet. He is going to be a little bit of a project, but he does have that athletic ability. Give him a year or two, and Blake Brandel might have an opportunity to start and play a little bit."

Film Room: Blake Brandel's Experience and Size Provide Long-Term Upside

Player Profile: Kyle Hinton, Washburn (D-II), senior

Hinton, who is listed at 6-foot-3 and 310 pounds, primarily played tackle in college. But he said he also can play on the interior at guard or center, and feels he fits in well with Minnesota's zone-blocking scheme.

Hinton played 40 games for the Ichabods, including 34 starts on the offensive line. He was a four-time All-MIAA selection and was a three-time All-American selection.

"I see myself wherever they want me," Hinton said. "But yeah, they mostly talked to me about playing guard and center, mostly center, at the next level.''

Hinton got the attention of NFL teams with an impressive pro day performance in early March.

Since Washburn doesn't hold a pro day, Hinton instead showed up at Kansas State and turned heads there.

According to Tony Pauline of Pro Football Network, Hinton completed 34 reps on the bench press at 225 pounds and recorded a vertical jump of 34.5 inches. He was also clocked at 4.86 seconds in his first 40-yard dash, and 4.70 in his second, although there were some timing concerns with his final run.

Where He Could Play: As Hinton mentioned above, he will slide from tackle to the interior in the pros.

He has been compared to former guard Brian Waters, who played 11 of his 13 seasons with the Chiefs and is in the team's ring of honor. Waters was not drafted, but he made six Pro Bowls and was a two-time All-Pro while making 170 career starts.

"He played tackle at his school, but undersized at that position for our league, but for him to move inside, that's going to be easy," Kubiak said. "We believe a lot in moving outside players from outside in when we think they have the athletic ability to do that.

"We're actually going to start him off at center," Kubiak added. "He's going to get to get behind Garrett [Bradbury] and Jonesie (Brett Jones) and learn a lot of good football from them."

Coachspeak: "We'll take it slow here because we know we're asking a lot of him, but we know we've got a very good athlete who was successful at his level, and we're going to try to make him fit at our level."

— Vikings Offensive Coordinator Gary Kubiak

Film Breakdown: Bercich also commented on Hinton's tape from his time at Washburn.

"Although he may be the last of the Vikings picks, he may have the best upside of anyone the Vikings selected," Bercich said. "He has quick feet and hips … he keeps his pads low, and you can see the athleticism.

"He's going to have work to do fundamentally," Bercich added, "but I think he's athletic enough to do it. In this zone scheme where linemen have to run, he's going to fit in just fine with the group."