2019 NFL Draft: Implications of Kyler Murray going No. 1 overall

Upgrades on the offensive line will be arguably Minnesota’s biggest priority this offseason.

The Vikings hoped that Kirk Cousins would be the missing piece to get them over the Super Bowl hump, but he faced constant harassment all season long. To compound the issue, they struggled to open up holes in the running game to alleviate the weight on Cousins’s shoulders. Despite boasting a talented young running back in Dalvin Cook, Minnesota ranked 30th in the NFL in rushing offense.

Oklahoma’s Cody Ford could help change that. Ford was the headliner for a Sooners offensive line that won the Joe Moore award as the top unit in the country. Ford and company blocked for Heisman Trophy winner Kyler Murray, giving him plenty of time to carve up defenses. They were also dominant on the ground, leading a rushing offense that was one of the best in the whole country.

Ford is a road grater in the running game, and he’s versatile enough to play either or guard or tackle. He’s an impressive athlete, and has technique far beyond what you would expect from a player with only one season of starting experience in college.

It’s hard to imagine the Vikings passing on an offensive linemen with quality players like Ford and NC State’s Garrett Bradbury available, but they will also likely consider a defensive tackle here with a pair of Clemson products, Christian Wilkins and Dexter Lawrence, offering intrigue.