Vikings News: Just in Minnesota The Vikings have confirmed the departure of another top star.
The Minnesota Vikings are expected to field their 14th different Week 1 starting guard in the last ten years, naming Blake Brandel as a starter early this summer in the periodic hunt for the position—but that decision has raised concerns about former starting guard Dalton Risner.
On a May 22 edition of the “Access Vikings” podcast, Star Tribune beat reporter Andrew Krammer discussed the Vikings’ subpar interior offensive line, claiming that the choice to lean toward Brandel entering training camp was a financial one.
“The unspoken part is this front office is looking to pinch some pennies, and they’re clearly not spending on the interior [offensive] line,” Krammer said, citing Brandel’s three-year, $9.5 million contract this offseason.
The Vikings were not happy with the prospect of signing Risner three weeks into the 2023 season after allowing him to go without a contract during his visit to training camp. However, their expectations for Ed Ingram and Ezra Cleveland were dashed when Risner was signed and subsequently took over the job from Cleveland, who was sent to the Jacksonville Jaguars at the trade deadline.
Krammer would not rule out the possibility of the Vikings bringing Risner back at some time if Brandel does not take the starting job or if injuries occur.
“The Vikings clearly didn’t love what they had last year even in the guys they were rotating, but what shocks me is that Brandel was one of the guys that was rotating before they signed Risner,” Krammer stated on the May 8 broadcast of the “Access Vikings” radio show. “What has changed?” Clearly, they expect him to make some jump.”
The Vikings chose Blake Brandel over Dalton Risner for one major reason.
