Not only did the Minnesota Vikings lose on Thursday, they lost one of their best players, Christian Darrisaw, to a season-ending ACL injury. With the Vikings still in a strong position to claim a playoff spot, Darrisaw’s absence will likely lead to GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah making some roster changes at the left tackle position.
The Vikings could stick with David Quessenberry, but he’s 34 years old and hasn’t made more than four starts since 2021. Chances are, the Vikings will look to add another left tackle, but who?
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Vikings could sign former first-round pick LT D.J. Humphries
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Another potential free agent option the Vikings could turn to is D.J. Humphries. While he’s not a big name, he is proven. Humphries is still relatively young, at 30 years old, unlike a few others on this list. His best days are behind him, but it was just two years ago when he became a first-time Pro Bowl tackle.
Yet, once the Cardinals selected young left tackle Paris Johnson Jr. with the sixth pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, Humphries’ future in Arizona became in question. One year later, he remains unsigned. Yet, Humphries is a serviceable player who graded 67th among tackles last season. Yet, replacing Darrisaw, who graded as the 10th-best tackle prior to his injury, with one who ranked 67th would be a significant drop-off, and there are likely better options available.
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Former Pro Bowl LT Charles Leno could sign with Vikings
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There are many different avenues the Vikings could take to replace Darrisaw in the starting lineup. With just three 2025 draft picks to trade, the first option the front office could evaluate is signing a free agent. One of the top remaining linemen available, is one-time Pro Bowl left tackle Charles Leno.
He’s started 141 of the 149 games he’s appeared in since becoming a seventh-round pick back in 2014, but the 33-year-old has yet to find a team for this season. It’s hard to understand why, considering he graded as the 32nd-best tackle in football last season, per Pro Football Focus.
Leno especially excelled in pass protection, where he earned a strong 77.8 pass block grade, good for 24th among tackles. The only team Leno has been linked to since becoming a free agent this past offseason is the Patriots, to which he wasn’t interested. It’s easy to see why the veteran doesn’t want to play for a 1-6 team, but starting for a 5-2 Vikings squad could be a different story.
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Jaguars could trade left tackle Cam Robinson to Vikings
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If the Vikings are willing to eat some of his $16.2 million salary, Jacksonville’s Cam Robinson could become an intriguing option. He is currently the Jaguars’ starting left tackle, but they’re 2-5, and they have 2021 second-round pick Walker Little waiting in the wings.
Robinson is earning respectable grades per PFF, ranking 32nd among tackles this season. Many linemen are good at either run blocking or pass protection, but Robinson is effective in both areas.
Cam Robinson PFF grades: 32nd-best tackle, 38th-best pass-blocking tackle, 48th-best run-blocking tackle
Since he’s a free agent at the end of the season, Jacksonville would likely be open to trading their starting left tackle, especially if the Vikings pony up and pay most of his remaining salary. In fact, some are already encouraging the Vikings to swing a trade with Jacksonville.
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Vikings could buy low on Carolina’s Brady Christensen
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One trade candidate who’s flying a bit under the radar is Carolina’s Brady Christensen. Stuck on a losing Panthers team that’s currently 1-6, Christensen has been relegated to a backup role across the last two seasons, drawing just three starts, and appearing in eight games.
However, Christensen’s appeal comes as a versatile lineman who has NFL experience at all five starting positions along the line. Though, it’s pretty obvious where the Vikings need him most. Trading for Christensen now could accomplish two goals at once.
The 28-year-old would not only become the team’s starting left tackle, it would also give the Vikings a chance to see if they want the former third-round pick to be a part of their long-term future. Christensen is an upcoming free agent, and some local birdies are already linking him to Minnesota.
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David Bakhtiari may be the best option for Minnesota Vikings
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You knew we had to save the best for last. Easily the biggest name out there is two-time All-Pro left tackle David Bakhtiari. Sure, he’s played every snap of his career as a member of the Green Bay Packers, but if he’s still looking to get back out there, why not join a top contender again?
Green Bay doesn’t currently need a starting left tackle, and the same is true in New York, where his former QB Aaron Rodgers now calls home. So, if the 33-year-old, oft-injured Pro Bowl tackle is simply biding his time, waiting for the perfect opportunity, he may not find a better chance to join a contender than teaming up with the Vikings.
Of course, Bakhtiari comes with injury concerns. Two of his past three seasons ended before he could even play two games. Yet, if the Vikings’ doctors can give him a clean bill of health after taking training camp off, Bakhtiari just might be the perfect person to help replace Darrisaw for the rest of this season.
Mentioned in this article: Brady Christensen Cam Robinson Charles Leno Christian Darrisaw D.J. Humphries David Bakhtiari