Christian Darrisaw's recovery timeline could be the key to unlocking Vikings' free agency plans

Christian Darrisaw's recovery could impact free agency moves

The offensive line on an overall level for the Vikings was solid throughout the year. The final two games exposed how weak it really was. The biggest reason for the stark dropoff? Cam Robinson, who the Vikings traded for to replace Christina Darrisaw at left tackle.

The gravity of Darrisaw was something that we didn't discuss enough, and it manifested negatively during the regular season.

Things looked really good for Brandel to start the season. He was destroying players early and often. He wasn't charted with a single pressure in the first two weeks and six in the first six games when Darrisaw was healthy. Against the Rams, Brandel struggled before and after Darrisaw was injured with four pressures allowed.

In every game without Darrisaw (the last 10), Brandel has been majorly inconsistent. He's allowed 31 pressures over the last 10 games, including a gaudy eight against the Lions. Brandel has struggled in many ways over the last 10 games, especially with stunts and players beating him with inside moves. Those elements are huge in pressuring Darnold.

The idea of having Brandel, who signed a three-year, $9.5 million contract, next to Darrisaw is to Moneyball the position. The Vikings believed they could do that due to the gravity of Darrisaw and they have evidence it worked. The real question about the future is when Darrisaw returns.

He tore his ACL and MCL on October 24th and had surgery shortly thereafter to repair the injury. A nine-month recovery time would get Darrisaw back around August 1st. 10 months would bring him back before week one.

Now, one of the interesting elements of the Vikings' medical staff is that they are notoriously conservative with injuries. If they play it safe with Darrisaw and his recovery, it's not impossible for him to miss some time.

That could impact how the Vikings end up approaching free agency. The Vikings believe they can make a real run at a Super Bowl this year and starting a journeyman at left tackle would be a tough sell. ESPN's Jeremy Fowler opined that Robinson could be an option.

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.

Over the next few weeks, especially coming out of the combine, any news on the rehab of Darrisaw could signal what the Vikings will do on the free agency front. If he's back for week one, the Vikings might just upgrade the right guard spot. If not, they could do a little bit more to fortify a unit that needs it.