The 2018 NFL season may have forced the Minnesota Vikings’ hand; when the NFL Draft rolls around, they’ll be compelled to draft for need in the first round. Kirk Cousins didn’t respond well to the consistent pressure he faced in 2018, and because the Vikings are tied to him for two more years, they’ll simply have to solidify the unit around him as best they can.
One tackle slot should be held down by Riley Reiff, who had a decent season on his own. But opposite Reiff, the Vikings are very thin, and the search for another bookend extends to the NFL Draft. While the pick itself may be a bit premature, the player, Yodny Cajuste, is ready for the challenge the NFL presents.
For Cajuste, the little things, and the big things, matter. At 6-foot-5, 315, Cajuste has the size to be a starting tackle in the NFL, and while for some, this size would bring concerns surrounding mobility and agility, Cajuste is fairly solid in that area. He’s a great athlete, albeit a bit stiff, and his attention to detail allows him to handle his assignments from snap to snap.
It’s up to the Vikings what they decide to do if they draft Cajuste. They could move Cajuste to right tackle and keep Reiff on the left, or they could switch Reiff to right tackle and keep Cajuste at his natural position. Whatever the case, adding Cajuste gives the Vikings two quality tackles, and most importantly, it gives Kirk Cousins more time and comfort in his offense.