Vikings Roster Countdown: No. 75 Brian O'Neill

Ahead of the Vikings' 2023 training camp beginning in late July, we'll be taking a look at every player on the 90-man roster, counting down from 99 to 0 (excluding the UDFAs, who we've already profiled). For every player, we'll look at the best and worst-case scenarios and their realistic outlook for the upcoming season.

No. 75: Brian O'Neill, RT

Age: 28 | Size: 6'7", 310

Rick Spielman and the Vikings may have missed on first-round pick Mike Hughes in 2018, but they hit on Brian O'Neill in a big way when they picked him late in the second round. The former Pitt OT was a solid starting right tackle right away as a rookie and has gradually gotten better and better, making his first Pro Bowl in 2021. O'Neill earned a career-best 82.7 PFF grade, which ranked 8th among qualified OTs (4th among RTs).

O'Neill isn't one of the most physically dominant tackles in the league like his teammate Christian Darrisaw. He isn't going to end up in the Hall of Fame. He's just a great right tackle, a locker room leader, and a model of consistency and reliability. O'Neill's athleticism makes him a major weapon in the running game and he's been steadily excellent in pass protection throughout his career as well. There are no major issues or weaknesses in his game.

It was a big blow for the Vikings when O'Neill suffered an Achilles injury in Week 17 last season, keeping him out for the playoffs. He's expected to be ready to go for training camp.

Best-case scenario: O'Neill shows no lingering issues from last year's injury and continues his gradual ascent. In his age-28 season, he earns a PFF grade in the 83-85 range and makes his second Pro Bowl.

Worst-case scenario: Outside of another injury, the worst-case scenario is O'Neill takes a slight step back from his 2022 level of play.

Outlook for 2023: There really isn't a wide range of outcomes here, assuming O'Neill stays healthy. He's a proven commodity as one of the top six right tackles in the NFL. If anything, he might even get better in his second season playing for Kevin O'Connell.

Previous Vikings player profiles

UDFAs

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