After signing Christian Darrisaw to a contract extension last season, Kevin O’Connell has his offensive bookends set with him and Brian O’Neill. They upgraded the middle with two former Colts, Will Fries and Ryan Kelly.

Initially, there was some thought toward whether or not last year’s midseason tackle pickup, Cam Robinson, may be of interest to Minnesota, at guard, but moving inside for less money never made sense for the 6’6″ 335 lb giant.

Robinson filled in rather admirably for Darrisaw, after the future Pro Bowler had his season end one a knee injury vs the Detroit Lions, posting a 60.5 PFF grade with the Vikings, which was bolstered by his 67.8 pass block grade. He did allow a noticeably high 52 QB pressures in 2024, easily the highest of his career and second most of any offensive lineman in the league.

He was especially good early, allowing just one sack and zero hits on Sam Darnold through his first seven games in purple (weeks 9-15). Given Cam’s status as a starting left tackle for his entire eight-year NFL career, it was always most likely he would find greener pastures elsewhere.

Cam Robinson leaves Minnesota Vikings for Houston

As of Wednesday morning, Cam Robinson stood as the best available free agent on the market. That was until Wednesday afternoon, when the Houston Texans took him off the market with a one-year, $14 million deal to replace Laremy Tunsil as their starting left tackle in 2025.

The Texans are signing T Cam Robinson to a one-year deal worth between $12 million that can be worth up to $14.5 million, per source. pic.twitter.com/FABKkCmtIL

— Dianna Russini (@DMRussini) March 19, 2025

Between Jacksonville and Minnesota, Robinson started all 17 games last season. 10 of those starts came with the Vikings. Robinson owns a 75.8 pass blocking grade from Pro Football Focus dating back to 2022.

Related: Minnesota Vikings Free Agency Signings – 2025

The upcoming season will be Robinson’s ninth in the NFL. Houston is just his third NFL team after Jacksonville drafted him in the 2nd round of the 2017 NFL Draft. Robinson will turn 30 years old this year.

MN Vikings near-complete O-line overhaul

It was never expected that Robinson would return for Minnesota. He was just filling in for Darrisaw and Brian O’Neill has long cemented the right tackle spot. After Garrett Bradbury was released, and Ed Ingram was traded, the Minnesota Vikings have turned over virtually their entire offensive line.

Only Blake Brandel remains from the starting options last year. He will look to elevate his game learning from Fries and operating next to Kelly. With J.J. McCarthy taking the reigns under center, Minnesota is hoping a strong step forward up front can provide a better avenue towards success.

Related: MN Vikings Insider Names Two Veteran QBs to Watch

Robinson heading to the Texans continues a relative pipeline of Vikings that have Houston connections. Jonathan Greenard and Blake Cashman both joined Minnesota last year while Danielle Hunter went south.

This front office still has plenty of work to do, including the upcoming NFL Draft next month. But that didn’t stop ESPN from crowning them as the winners of free agency, after just a few days of the new league year. But a lot of new talent in, also means a boatload of talent out.

Vikings LT Cam Robinson ranked No. 1 remaining free agent

The MN Vikings were forced to trade for Cam Robinson midseason in 2024, after All-Pro caliber left tackle Christian Darrisaw suffered a season-ending injury against the Detroit Lions. He had no desire to come back in 2025, behind Darrisaw, so Robinson hit the open market last week.

As of Sunday evening, the Alabama Crimson Tide alum has yet to find a new employer. His time should come soon, though, as ESPN’s Matt Bowen has Cam ranked as the No. 1 remaining free agent on the market.

1. Cam Robinson, OT

2024 team: Minnesota Vikings | Age entering 2025 season: 29

At 6-foot-6 and 335 pounds, Robinson has the ideal size, length and traits for the tackle position. Technical lapses have prevented him from playing at a consistent level, and his 88.2% pass block win rate last season was below average. But with the ability to engulf rushers at the point of attack and the foot speed to redirect, Robinson has the desired tools.

ESPN

Look at Cam Robinson (74) get out in space and block two players on this screen to Justin Jefferson pic.twitter.com/9ApA9RG1jW

— Will Ragatz (@WillRagatz) December 3, 2024

All but two of Cam Robinson’s 999 snaps last season came at left tackle. He lined up at tight end for his only other two snaps. Cam’s next team will be the third of his NFL career, after spending his first 7.5 seasons in Jacksonville.

Related: Vikings Skyrocket Up NFL O-Line Investment Rankings

There are some positions in football that have more demand than supply, and offensive tackle is among those positions. That’s why the 29-year-old Robinson won’t last much longer in free agency.

More free agents with Minnesota Vikings ties remain

There are still plenty of free agents with ties to the MN Vikings that remain available. Not only did the Minnesota Vikings have 29 players leave this offseason, but there are a lot of prominent free agent names remaining who have previously donned the purple. Here is where Bowen has those names ranked among the remaining crop.

Of course there are more pending free agents with MN Vikings ties than just these three. However, they are the most prominent names still available. Despite Minnesota being in the market for a third wideout, it doesn’t seem like Diggs should or could factor into the discussion.

He tore his ACL last season and played in just eight games for Houston. He probably has plenty left in the tank, but that’s not a personality that will accept a third fiddle role. He had just 496 yards and three touchdowns during his lone season with the Texans.

Related: Vikings Swing Deal for Young RB to Pair with Aaron Jones

Smith moved on to the Browns after a successful resurgence in Minnesota during the 2022 season. He then was dealt to Detroit and played in 17 games while making 16 starts. He had 5.5 and 9 sacks respectively over the past two seasons after recording 10 for Minnesota.

This offseason, the Minnesota Vikings has revamped their offensive line. That meant bringing in both Ryan Kelly at center and Will Fries at guard. It left Bradbury out in the cold and he will now be seeking future employment.

As teams scour players in hopes of landing them when the official negotiation window opens on March 12th, they will find plenty of players that wore purple in 2024. What both Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and Kevin O’Connell must do is determine which of their former players they are most interested in, and can afford to retain.

With so many of these former Vikings being amongst the best available options at their position group, there will be plenty of competing interest in their services.

Where do Minnesota Vikings free agents rank?

It doesn’t seem like the Vikings will successfully pull off a tag-and-trade of Sam Darnold before the deadline on March 4. Which means, he’ll be among the most coveted free agents at any position. It’s not just the quarterback, though, as multiple of his former teammates are among them as well.

The Athletic recently broke down the top 10 free agents at each position. Here’s the list of Vikings:

Offensive free agents

Darnold ranking as the top quarterback option shouldn’t shock anyone, but his 8th place highlights the rest of the class’s quality. He finished the 2024 season with a PFF pass grade that ranked him 12th in the NFL. The Minnesota Vikings helped him to earn a sizable payday, but ESPN’s Bill Barnwell called him just a “capable starter” in his tier ranking last week.

Related: Vikings Will be Involved in Bidding War for Top Free Agent Guard

After last season saw Saquon Barkley and Derrick Henry change homes, there isn’t as much meat on the bone for options at running back this year. That could be to the benefit of Aaron Jones. He’s 30 years old, comes off a career-year with 1,138 yards, but frequently suffers injuries. The Vikings would like him back, but not as the lone starter, the way he was last season.

Similarly to Darnold, Barnwell noted Jones as a “capable starter” as well as former Steelers RB Najee Harris. Those are the only two free agent running backs he gave that designation to. If it isn’t Jones for the Minnesota Vikings, it will need to be someone else, as Ty Chandler is the only other current rostered RB. The NFL Draft is astoundingly deep with ball carriers this cycle, so one would expect the Vikings to take their pick.

Cam Robinson joined the team near the season’s start after Christian Darrisaw’s injury. He was serviceable, but the Vikings already have two stellar tackles. It would be more alluring if he would slide inside and play guard, but a pay downgrade would follow and its unlikely Robinson opts for that. Barnwell listed him as a “capable starter” amidst a gaggle of options.

Just one standout defender for MN Vikings in free agency

Three of the four players designated as top Vikings free agents by The Athletic are on the offensive side of the ball. On the defensive side, Cornerback Byron Murphy Jr. is listed. He is reportedly the guy that Minnesota is most interested in keeping. Murphy Jr. is not ranked at the top of his position, but he is the only departing Viking on defense that makes the list.

Byron Murphy with one hand for the pick!

📺: #ATLvsMIN on FOX
📱: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/14WbgFW1uR

— NFL (@NFL) December 8, 2024

Barnwell called Murphy Jr. a “Pro Bowl-caliber starter” and listed him as the best option at CB alongside Charvarius Ward. It makes sense why the Minnesota Vikings would want him back, but they could pivot to someone like D.J. Reed as well if he gets too expensive. Both Reed and Ward are ahead of Murphy Jr. from The Athletic’s view, and so too is Carlton Davis.

The Vikings are losing Stephon Gilmore and Shaq Griffin in free agency, as well. Neither of them make the top ten for The Athletic, but provide solid value. Despite his age, Barnwell lists Gilmore as a “capable starter” while Griffin is a rung down and could be considered a “borderline starter or high-end backup.”

Related: Vikings Targeting Top Defensive Tackles in Free Agency and Both Get After QBs

Arguably the most surprising omission on the defensive side for Minnesota is that of Cam Bynum. He is set to hit free agency and will likely want more $$ than the Vikings are willing to pay. It seems questionable to consider him outside of the top ten options at the position, but Barnwell listed him as a “capable starter”, and only Jevon Holland checked in at a higher tier.

Brian Flores is back to lead the defense, but he has plenty of holes to fill before Week 1. How the Minnesota Vikings address them should be fascinating this offseason. They certainly have the cap space to be a big time player in free agency, we’ll just have to see how they plan to attack.

It’s pretty likely that not every free agent from Minnesota will hit the open market. The Vikings could opt to bring back talent who they already know, so they’ll need to make those decisions on a case-by-case basis.

MN Vikings free agents generating early buzz

There are far more than just 50 free agents hitting the open market this offseason. The Minnesota Vikings have nearly 30 of them on their own. Still, ESPN Analyst Matt Bowen recently put together a ranking of the top 50. Multiple Vikings players appear and Jeremy Fowler then provided an update on each of them.

6. Sam Darnold, QB

Ranked as the top quarterback available, Darnold is looking for a sizable payday. He earned that much with his great season. It’s possible that the Vikings bring him back on the franchise tag, and they could look to trade him as well.

“Several execs have Darnold in that Baker Mayfield range of contracts, which is around three years and $100 million with strong guarantees. The Raiders and Giants — both picking outside the top two spots in the draft — might need to pay a quarterback.”

Jeremy Fowler on Darnold (ESPN)

Darnold finished with 4,319 yards and 35 touchdowns during his first season in Minnesota. He threw only 12 interceptions and wound up playing much better than the bridge quarterback he was expected to be. However, his performance in the last two games on the season may have hurt his market a bit.

This Sam Darnold throw is the definition of a DIME 🤯 pic.twitter.com/4BegUyBJ60

— NFL (@NFL) December 17, 2024

Minnesota has a potential franchise quarterback in the form of 1st round pick J.J. McCarthy. Darnold isn’t a lock to be back, but he should see a nice raise no matter what.

Related: NFL Pro Bowl Adds Another Minnesota Vikings Player to NFC Roster

14. Cam Robinson, OT

When the season started Robinson was a member of the Jacksonville Jaguars. Had the Vikings been bad, they probably wouldn’t have traded for him, after losing Christian Darrisaw against the Detroit Lions. Now though, he hits the open market and it’s hard to see a fit with him returning to Minnesota.

“Robinson quite possibly played his way above the $20-million-per-year threshold, with the recent precedent of Garett Bolles‘ four-year, $82 million deal in Denver as a comp. The Rams and Chiefs are among teams that could be looking for left tackle help. And a return to Minnesota isn’t totally off the table, after the Vikings traded for Robinson at midseason.”

Fowler on Robinson (ESPN)

It’s odd to think of Robinson being a fit for Minnesota, but Fowler isn’t ready to rule that out. That could be a reflection of where Darrisaw is at after suffering a season-ending injury. The Vikings aren’t going to pay tackle money for Robinson and play him at guard. He also probably isn’t taking a discount to move inside.

The Vikings certainly need to shore up the interior of their offensive line this offseason. That will be a focus whether Robinson is an answer or not.

20. Byron Murphy Jr., CB

Minnesota is facing complete turnover at the cornerback position. Stephon Gilmore, Shaq Griffin, and Murphy Jr. are all free agents. It seems Murphy Jr. is the most likely to return, but it won’t happen on the type of deal he signed two years ago.

“Sources say Murphy will be looking for a rather large raise from the two-year, $17.5 million deal he just played out in Minnesota. He has played his way into bigger money.”

Fowler on Murphy Jr. (ESPN)

The past two seasons Murphy Jr. has started 31 games for the MN Vikings. This year he picked off six passes, which nearly passed his eight total career interceptions to that point.

Byron Murphy Jr. picks off Flacco! @Vikings ball!

📺: #INDvsMIN on NBC/Peacock
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/7TApKh6Mzo

— NFL (@NFL) November 4, 2024

Related: Vikings Defensive Assistant Lands New Job Interview

It would be great to see the Vikings bring Murphy Jr. back, but he’s going to eat a sizable chunk out of their available cap space if that happens.

29. Camryn Bynum, S

Similar to the cornerback situation, the Vikings safety room could see real turnover as well. Harrison Smith is likely to retire, and Bynum hitting the open market would leave only Josh Metellus among starters. Minnesota appears motivated to keep their safety around, though.

“The Vikings and Bynum have had discussions about an extension. While nothing has materialized, both sides are open to it, and this could get done before mid-March.”

Fowler on Bynum (ESPN)

It would be a big boost for the Vikings to get a deal done with Bynum before he hits the open market. Not needing to negotiate against other teams would be helpful, and the continuity he provides in the secondary is a big deal.

Bynum has become a fan favorite in Minnesota and has spent his whole career with the Vikings. His three interceptions this season were a career-best, and he contributed 96 tackles as well.

Cam Bynum told me on Friday he and Josh Metellus had cooked up their best celebration yet. It was … the dance battle from “White Chicks”.

pic.twitter.com/ySkRqrZLT5

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) December 8, 2024

If the Vikings are going to move on, it’s a near certainty that their celebration excellence would take a significant hit.

33. Aaron Jones, RB

Another position that Minnesota will need to address this season is running back. Jones and Cam Akers are both free agents. That leaves just Ty Chandler as tested options. The former Green Bay Packer is probably open to a return, but he’ll also be 31 years old.

“Expect Denver to look for a versatile back to bolster Sean Payton’s offense. Could Jones fit the mold despite his age? He’s the kind of runner/pass catcher who just might.”

Fowler on Jones (ESPN)

Despite it being his eighth season in the league, Jones posted a career-best 1,138 yards this season. He was healthy for all 17 games as well. Both of those things are good. That doesn’t mean they predict future success though.

The Vikings have to decide if they think he replicates that success next season, they want to pay a higher price, and they believe he’ll remain healthy. Those are all questionable circumstances and drafting in a deep running back class might make more sense.

Minnesota landed five players among Bowen’s top 50, and that speaks to the quality that Kevin O’Connell had on his roster this year.

Related: Four Pending Free Agents the Vikings Need to Bring Back

The Vikings had some tough luck with injuries during the game. Early on, newly-acquired tackle Cam Robinson and standout linebacker Ivan Pace both went down and didn’t make it back to the field. Later in the game, QB Sam Darnold also got banged up but eventually returned.

Kevin O’Connell gives update on injured Minnesota Vikings

After the game, head coach Kevin O’Connell spoke to the media about the win and the team’s injuries. He didn’t share much about Cam Robinson or Ivan Pace Jr., saying updates would come after Monday’s evaluations.

On Monday, O’Connell didn’t have much more to offer, though he did say that Cam Robinson has had this type of injury before, and played through it. Unfortunately, things may not be as optimistic for Ivan Pace Jr, though we will all cross our fingers and hope that is incorrect.

Kevin O’Connell said the Vikings are still evaluating Ivan Pace, Cam Robinson and Jay Ward after injuries yesterday. It’s the same foot for Robinson, O’Connell said. “I’m confident it’s pretty similar, and he was able to work through it, so we’ll see how it responds.”

— Ben Goessling (@BenGoessling) November 25, 2024

Darnold, Pace, and Robinson are key players for the Vikings. Losing any of them would hurt. Given Sam returned to the game, after needing two plays off, you’d have to think he suits up on Sunday. We should know more in the next few days to see if there’s real cause for concern.

Related: Early Vikings vs Cardinals Betting Odds – Minnesota Opens as Slight Favorite

A few weeks ago, Darnold picked up a minor hand injury during the Jaguars game, but it didn’t cost him any playing time. Now it’s his foot that’s in question. Worried? Not after you see the interaction he had with KOC, when he came back into the game on Sunday.

When Sam Darnold came out of the game with his foot injury, Kevin O’Connell didn’t have much time to check in with him in the middle of the drive.

When Darnold went back in, O’Connell said he asked Darnold if he was above a 6 on a scale of 1-10. Darnold gave a thumbs up.…

— Ben Goessling (@BenGoessling) November 24, 2024

Cam Robinson gives Vikings a path forward

You always would prefer that good teams add talent throughout the season. Cam Robinson’s acquisition was the result of another starter going down. That’s not unlike what happened when Minnesota traded for T.J. Hockenson in the wake of Irv Smith Jr.’s injury. Still, supplementing a roster can come in multiple forms and a new left tackle was a better outcome than shuffling internal pieces. The national sources seem to agree.

“The Cam Robinson trade might be my favorite deal. It shows that Kevin O’Connell and Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, who’ve been meticulous in flipping the Minnesota Vikings’ roster the past three years, are willing to do something to help give the current group a chance in the aftermath of the Christian Darrisaw injury. That kind of move resonates with players.”

Albert Breer on the Vikings trade for Cam Robinson (Sports Illustrated)

As Breer notes, a move to replace Darrisaw does much more than trying to piece things together. Blake Brandel sticks at a position that he has thrived in. Dalton Risner remains a candidate to supplant a struggling Ed Ingram. The message sent says we know this roster is capable of making noise. He’s not alone either.

Related: Vikings Nearly Traded Overshadowed Linebacker at Trade Deadline

“Cam Robinson to the Vikings. Minnesota’s ready-made offense had a major hole to fill when left tackle Christian Darrisaw — who was well on his way to the Pro Bowl — suffered a season-ending knee injury. This left the Vikings in a precarious spot, since quality left tackles are scarce and coveted. One of the only teams with three quality tackles was Jacksonville, which had just fallen to 2-6 at the time Minnesota consummated the deal with a fourth-round pick. Robinson is an eight-year starter with pedigree. Now, the Vikings keep their playoff plan intact with capable play on the left side at a reasonable price.”

Jeremy Fowler on the Robinson trade (ESPN)

“I like that pick a lot. Robinson is certainly not Darrisaw, but given how difficult it is to find starting-caliber offensive linemen at any time of the season, you have to admire the Vikings for getting out there and trying to plug a hole they absolutely had to plug.”

Dan Graziano on the Robinson trade (ESPN)

There are few positions more important on a football field than the left tackle. Minnesota has an average quarterback in Sam Darnold, but he can be propped up with good protection. They understood his effectiveness was at stake and went to do something about it.

I love seeing dudes like Cam Robinson react to the culture on this team for the first time. Special group in that locker room.pic.twitter.com/ch4MUMOP8T

— Jason Harmon (@_jason_777) November 4, 2024

Related: ESPN Analytics Guy Trashes Vikings Trade for Cam Robinson

Minnesota added Cam Robinson while giving up very little in return. With a strong start to the season there was no reason to let the record fall into a hollow territory down the stretch. The future remains bright, and so too does the present.

Vikings offensive line needed Cam Robinson

There were multiple avenues for the Minnesota Vikings to explore as left tackle replacements. Blake Brandel could have slid back to the position he previously supported. All of the internal options would have resulted in a lesser group as a whole. The Vikings opted to acquire outside help, but ESPN’s Seth Walder thinks it was a bad decision.

“In general, I don’t love Robinson as a Darrisaw replacement… Ultimately, I don’t love giving up draft capital for a player who hasn’t performed and was recently benched, but I also understand there weren’t incredible alternatives elsewhere. The internal options and a late-round pick swap for a depth lineman might have been preferable. The conditions offer some downside protection for Minnesota here, though.”

Seth Walder on Vikings trading for Cam Robinson (ESPN)

The reality is that the Minnesota Vikings have set themselves up too well to punt on this season. Darrisaw’s injury could have been a crushing blow, but Robinson keeps them moving forward. The line has opportunity to improve going forward, and Minnesota isn’t on the hook for the vast majority of his deal. It’s a positive situation almost any way you cut it, and Walder seems like he is on the outs here.

Related: Jaguars Paid Minnesota Vikings to Take Cam Robinson. Here’s Why…

Sunday night saw Robinson step in with only a couple of practices under his belt. He received a game ball and did his job blocking the man in front of him. The Vikings aren’t expecting the former Jacksonville tackle to play at Darrisaw’s All-Pro level. They need average-or-better play for Sam Darnold’s blindside and everything will fall into place from there.

I love seeing dudes like Cam Robinson react to the culture on this team for the first time. Special group in that locker room.pic.twitter.com/ch4MUMOP8T

— Jason Harmon (@_jason_777) November 4, 2024

Related: Minnesota Vikings Sign Familiar Kicker to Replace Will Reichard

It’s pretty hard to be up in arms about moving a fifth round pick for a significant starting talent. Walder found a way to do it though, and he may look silly as the year goes on.

That’s why general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah quickly addressed loss, via trade, to soften the blow, trading future draft capital for Jacksonville Jaguars tackle Cam Robinson.

Cam Robinson makes debut for Minnesota Minnesota

He couldn’t get into TCO Performance Center in Eagan, until Wednesday, and didn’t make it onto a Vikings practice field until Thursday. For a veteran with 91 career starts though, the runway to be ready isn’t long. Cam is going to try and prove that to be true. This morning, Adam Schefter (ESPN) reported that Robinson is expected to make his Minnesota debut on Sunday Night Football vs the Indianapolis Colts.

Despite practicing with Minnesota for the first time Thursday, left tackle Cam Robinson is expected to make his Vikings debut tonight vs. the Colts.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) November 3, 2024

When Darrisaw went down against the Rams, it was David Quessenberry that took over. He wasn’t the answer, though. That became clear very quickly. So this week, Minnesota could have opted to shift Blake Brandel back to the tackle spot, but that would have meant a downgrade at left guard.

Related: NFL Insider Expects Another Minnesota Vikings Trade Soon

With the Robinson acquisition, they’ve added another quality lineman, instead of taking away from one position, to help another. Robinson’s performance on Sunday should still be viewed through a understanding lens. Robinson might be the best option, but he won’t be Christian Darrisaw, especially during his first game ever, in purple.

Vikings could shake up line, beyond left tackle

Dalton Risner will be active for the first time this season, and that could be bad news for Ed Ingram. The right guard has been nothing short of a disaster this year, and Risner may be coming for his starting role. We’ll see what the o-line looks like in 10 hours.

The #Vikings have activated G Dalton Risner from IR. He will enter #INDvsMIN with no game designation.

DL Taki Taimani has been plaed on IR and DL Jalen Redmond has been elevated to the active roster for tomorrow's game. pic.twitter.com/Hca783KAD5

— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) November 2, 2024

Risner certainly has his deficiencies, namely in run blocking, but you’d think he’s an upgrade, overall. The Minnesota offensive line will need to gel quickly as they could be looking at 40% of the group being turned over before a primetime game.

Related: Colts Loss at Left Tackle Could Hurt Worse Than Minnesota Vikings’

Between T.J. Hockenson being back, and the Colts turning to Joe Flacco, there are plenty of narratives coming into the big contest. If Minnesota is going to stop the losing streak, a strong performance up front is where it begins.

Cam is a good, not great 29-year-old offensive tackle, who pretty consistently gotten better, as his career has gone on, according to PFF. In fact, the Vikings reportedly plan to start Robinson on Sunday vs the Indianapolis Colts, just days after he landed at MSP.

Normally, starting caliber offensive tackles do not come cheap in the NFL. But in the Vikings’ case, it wasn’t expensive either. All Minnesota had to commit in draft capital was on conditional 5th round pick.

Jacksonville Jaguars paid Minnesota Vikings to take Cam Robinson

Even crazier was how much the Jaguars paid to get the deal done. Jacksonville ate $7 million of Robinson’s remaining base salary this season. Per Field Yates (ESPN), the Vikings will pay Cam $2 million in base salary + $58,824 for each game he’s active.

Related: Minnesota Vikings Injury Report: More Bad News on Blake Cashman

So why did Jacksonville pay the Minnesota vikings to take their former Alabama big man? Well, reports are coming out on Thursday that shedding more light on the situation. Apparently, things were not good behind the scenes for the Jaguars.

Cam Robinson suffered a concussion in Jacksonville’s week 7 game, and he was not cleared to play until Saturday. But even after being ruled ready by independent doctors, Cam was notified by Jacksonville coaches that he wouldn’t get the start anyway. And according to Darren “Doogie” Wolfson (KSTP, SKOR North) that news did not go over very well.

“You talk to people down in Jacksonville, I don’t think [Cam Robinson] handled the situation last Sunday particularly well. Cleared, then doesn’t play, told he’s not starting and didn’t handle that real well. So he is absolutely itching to get in there. I think he would like to get some action before the game back in Jacksonville the following Sunday. So yes, I will be surprised if we don’t see Cam Robinson out there a good amount.”

Darren Wolfson – Mackey & Judd Show

Robinson not happy with Jaguars

But according to another report from Mike Dempsey (SB Nation), Robinson wasn’t just upset on Saturday, when informed that he wouldn’t be starting. He straight up refused to play vs the Green Bay Packers. The Jacksonville Jaguars have their preferred left tackle in 25-year-old Walker Little.

Least shocking thing ever after I was told by multiple people that Cam refused to play vs the Packers after being told he would not be starting. https://t.co/oufEZQkehc

— Mike Dempsey (@md_1010xl) October 29, 2024

Related: Ed Ingram’s Poor Play Pushed Vikings to Trade for Left Tackle?

Thus, with Cam as a threat to cause problems behind the scenes in Jacksonville, the Jags wanted him out ASAP. So, they pretty much paid the Minnesota Vikings to take him. Robinson will be a free agent after this season, and he is the obvious starter here, for the rest of the season.

I expect zero problems off the field, with his new team. On the field… we’ll see how Sam Darnold’s new blindside protector can hold up. Sounds like we will find out on Sunday night, just days after the Vikings traded for Robinson.

• A) Keep David Quessenberry at LT
• B) Shift LG Blake Brandel over to LT; insert Dalton Risner at LG

With either of these two options, the right guard situation remains static, with Ed Ingram. Prior to Darrisaw’s season ending injury, there was mass speculation that Ingram’s days were numbered at right guard. That still appears to be the case, a reality that appears to have played a major role in the Vikings’ decision to acquire Robinson from the Jaguars, earlier this week.

Local beat writer says Ed Ingram’s poor performance factored into the trade

In the latest Access Vikings podcast, Ben Goessling (Star Tribune) stated that Ed Ingram’s poor performance was a large component in the decision to trade for Cam Robinson. They aren’t directly correlated, of course, since Ingram is a guard on the right side. Robinson will play left tackle.

Nonetheless, Tuesday’s trade allows the Minnesota Vikings to keep Blake Brandel at left guard. Then, with Dalton Risner now healthy, he will compete with and have an opportunity to usurp Ingram at right guard.

“Not being locked into Ed Ingram is not a small component of this deal, [it’s a large component]” regarding why the @Vikings traded for #Jaguars LT Cam Robinson, per @BenGoessling via @AccessVikings.

Goessling also says he’s heard Ingram is on a “short leash” and that Dalton… pic.twitter.com/avwqbV06hJ

— The Purple Persuasion (@TPPSkol) October 31, 2024

“I think the not being locked into Ed Ingram is not a small component of this deal. I think it allows you to keep Blake Brandel at left guard and possibly you put Dalton Risner at right, whereas if you were gonna put Brandel at left tackle, Risner becomes your left guard. Ingram is still your right guard, which I don’t think would be the option they would prefer given some of the things we’ve heard about the short leash Ingram is on.

So yeah, I think it makes a lot of sense in that regard. And O’Connell said today about Reisner, we’ll probably see him in uniform, I think is what he said, sooner than later. So does that mean on the field?

Does that mean on the sideline? We’ll have to see. I tend to think, I mean, we’ve heard it, I think the chance of Risner being in the line up is strong at some point here, strong to quite strong.“

Ben Goessling (Star Tribune) via Access Vikings

This isn’t the first time Goessling has floated this idea out there either. Just the other week Goessling stated that Ingram was on a “short leash“. What is even more interesting is how he said the chances of Risner being in the starting line up is “quite strong” still at this point.

Looking ahead to who will be the Minnesota Vikings’ starting five offensive line players

In the short term, especially for Sunday night’s game against the Indianapolis Colts, it remains to be seen whether or not Robinson will make his debut. Kevin O’Connell stated in his Wednesday pressor that he was optimistic that he’ll have logged enough practice to make his debut Sunday. If that’s not the case, expect him to start the following Sunday.

Per @DaneMizutani, "the assumption is that [Cam] Robinson will be able to play when the @Vikings host the Indianapolis @Colts on Sunday night at U.S. Bank Stadium." pic.twitter.com/uz2GoqOWS6

— The Purple Persuasion (@TPPSkol) October 30, 2024

Regardless of when Robinson will make his debut in purple and gold, he’s your new starting left tackle this season. Brandel and Garret Bradbury will remain at left guard and center, respectively. Goessling seems tocontinue banging the drum that Ingram’s time is coming to an end. It’s likely Risner will be the starting right guard here soon rather than later.

Rounding out the offensive line will be long-time right tackle Brian O’Neill. Overall, the Minnesota Vikings’ are likely to have two new faces on the offensive line here soon. There’s obviously a significant downgrade at left tackle.

Related: NFL Trade Rumors: Another 2022 Minnesota Vikings Draft Pick May be Exiled by Deadline

Darrisaw is one of the best in the NFL at his position. However, there is a possibility that the Vikings’ offensive line upgrades at right guard, given Ingram’s struggles all season. In the end, we’ll see how this new offensive line will look like over the coming weeks.