This is the fifth in a series of 13 previews leading up to the Minnesota Vikings' July 26 start of camp.
Rating (1-to-10 scale): 7
Projected starters: Left tackle Matt Kalil (second year), left guard Charlie Johnson (eighth year), center John Sullivan (sixth year), right guard Brandon Fusco (third year), right tackle Phil Loadholt (fifth year)
Backups (asterisks indicate players expected to make the roster): *Jeff Baca, *Joe Berger, *Travis Bond, Tyler Holmes, *Brandon Keith, Troy Kropog, DeMarcus Love, Kevin Murphy, Seth Olsen, Camden Wentz
The breakdown: Minnesota's entire starting offensive line returns in 2013 after significant changes last season, but all might not be settled. The Vikings believe Johnson and Fusco have the skills to be quality starting guards, but both struggled at times last year. Minnesota made additions at guard, but none likely with the thought of displacing Johnson or Fusco. Geoff Schwartz, who had split time in the middle of the season with Fusco, left in free agency. The Vikings signed the Olsen, who's a four-year pro and drafted Baca and Bond. Baca and Bond are expected to have versatility in backup roles, but probably aren't ready for starting roles. So, Johnson and Fusco get another chance to prove themselves and if they turn into strong starters, Minnesota might have one of the league's top offensive lines. Berger is a quality reserve with the ability to play center or guard. The middle and outsides are considered strong for the Vikings with Kalil, Sullivan and Loadholt. Sullivan might be one of the league's best centers, but hasn't yet received the recognition. He missed the offseason program while rehabbing from knee surgery, but coach Leslie Frazier believes Sullivan will be ready when training camp starts. He's effective in run and pass blocking and takes charge in the middle of the line as the veteran leader. Kalil earned a Pro Bowl invitation as a rookie, but has the chance to get even better. He was better in pass blocking than run blocking in his first NFL season, but showed well in both areas and will continue to improve, as he did throughout last season. Minnesota focused on re-signing Loadholt this offseason and stepped up, making him one of the league's highest paid right tackles in the league. He's struggled with consistency issues and penalties at times in his career, but is coming off perhaps his best year in the NFL and is a key part of the team's running game.
Best position battle: The Vikings will have decisions to make on who it keeps as reserves. Berger's slot as a veteran and capable backup at center and guard likely cinches his roster spot. Baca and Bond likely will stick as rookies, unless Minnesota tried to pass one to the practice squad while unlikely. That leaves maybe one roster spot left for a reserve and maybe one or two additions to the practice squad. Baca and Bond are both considered guards first, though Baca can play center and Bond has played tackle. So, Minnesota might look outside for its final roster spot, coming down to Love, Keith or Murphy. Love was a 2011 sixth-round pick that has stuck around despite not having played an NFL game yet. He spent his rookie season as a game-day inactive and missed last year because of injury. He probably has the upper hand on Keith or Murphy for the last spot. Holmes and Kropog were each with the team most of last year -- Holmes on the practice squad, Kropog on the active roster for the second half of the season – but are considered more guards with the possibility of moving to tackle. With Berger, Baca and Bond likely set, Love would appear the favorite for what might be the final roster spot.
Ranking against the rest of the NFC North: 1. Vikings; 2. Bears; 3. Packers; 4. Lions. Minnesota's strengths are where it counts -- the outside and middle -- and gives them a true advantage in the NFC North, where the other offensive lines have struggled in recent seasons, in particular in protecting the quarterback in pass-happy offenses. Give Chicago credit, it at least tried to shore up the offensive line in the offseason. The Bears signed Jermon Bushrod from New Orleans to play left tackle and Matt Slauson from the New York Giants to play left guard. Chicago also drafted Kyle Long in the first round and he's expected to start right away at right guard. Adding Bushrod moves J'Marcus Webb to right tackle, which should help Webb. The Bears also traded disappointing 2011 first-rounder Gabe Carimi. Roberto Garza has been a longtime anchor at center. Green Bay is hoping a bit of shifting pays off in a better overall line. The Packers moved their right side (tackle Bryan Bulaga and guard Josh Sitton) to the left and countered with T.J. Lang (guard) Marshall Newhouse (tackle) to the right side. Evan Dietrich-Smith returns at center. Green Bay also has 2011 first-rounder Derek Sherrod and used fourth-round draft picks on David Bakhtiari and JC Tretter. They have to hope for improvement after the line allowed the second most sacks in the league last year. Detroit lost left tackle Jeff Backus to retirement and hopes to fill the void with 2012 first-rounder Riley Rieff, but questions remain whether Rieff can survive at the position. Rieff started eight games last season, but most of those came as an extra tight end. Right tackle Gosder Cherilus left as a free agent and journeymen Corey Hilliard and Jason Fox will compete to replace him. Third-rounder Larry Warford is expected to start at right guard. Only left guard Rob Sims and center Dominic Raiola return in their usual spots. Both are steady players. Frazier says: "We've tried to, throughout this offseason, talk about creating more competition at the guard spot. We think that will help our football team. We drafted Travis and Jeff to help us in that area but also to provide us with some depth as well. Hopefully between DeMarcus Love, Travis, Jeff and Seth, who we signed as well, we'll create some competition and really push the guys who are starters to improve and if for some reason they stumble, we have some other guys who can step up."
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