Why 'blocking tight end' Josh Oliver is so valuable to the Vikings

Oliver doesn't play a flashy role, but he is a critical piece of Minnesota's success on offense.

Nov 10, 2024; Jacksonville, Florida, USA; Minnesota Vikings tight end Josh Oliver (84) before the game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at EverBank Stadium. / Morgan Tencza-Imagn Images

There were those who didn't get it when the Vikings' first move of free agency in 2023 was to sign Josh Oliver to a three-year, $21 million deal. There may be those who still didn't get it when the Vikings signed Oliver to a three-year, $23.25 million contract extension on Tuesday. Why so much money for a "blocking tight end?"

Well, because blocking has substantial value when you do it as well as Oliver does. He's a 6'5", 260-pound tight end who moves people in the running game and can hold up in backside pass protection against edge rushers. He's also a very capable pass-catcher, having recorded 22 receptions in each of his two seasons in Minnesota. That makes him a matchup problem when the Vikings are in 12 personnel (two tight ends).

"No disrespect to anyone else, but I think Josh Oliver is the best blocking Y (tight end) with pass game value in the NFL," offensive coordinator Wes Phillips said on Wednesday. "What he brings to us from a physicality standpoint in the run game, from being able to block defensive ends, some really good players as a single blocker. A lot of times, those guys say 'you never let a tight end block you.' Josh is kind of a different human when it comes to that."

Josh Oliver (84) is such a valuable part of the Vikings' offense and it probably doesn't get talked about enough.

9-110-1 receiving line over the last two weeks while also being maybe the best run-blocking tight end in football. A remarkable athlete at 6'5", 260. pic.twitter.com/vDwISoW3OM

— Will Ragatz (@WillRagatz) November 12, 2024

Last year, there were 85 tight ends who had at least 100 blocking snaps in the regular season. Oliver's 74.5 PFF run blocking grade led that group by a wide margin (George Kittle was second at 70.8). In 2023, Oliver was sixth out of 83 in that metric. PFF hasn't graded him quite as highly in pass blocking, but part of that might be because of the difficult assignments the Vikings give him — assignments most teams understandably shy away from giving to their tight ends.

Signing Oliver to an extension is the latest piece of the Vikings' effort to improve their running game, which has mostly been ineffective in the three years of the Kevin O'Connell era. They added three new interior offensive linemen this offseason and traded for Jordan Mason to complement Aaron Jones in their backfield. And make no mistake: Minnesota's struggle to find rushing efficiency hasn't been Oliver's fault. It probably would've looked a lot worse over the past couple seasons if he hadn't been around.

"He's a big part that I feel like doesn't get the recognition that he deserves," Jones said. "Essentially, he's another tackle out there playing. (Defenders) don't necessarily know it until he goes to block them. We know it on our side. I'm excited for him, glad to have him, keep him here and continue to run behind him. He's a vicious guy when it comes to blocking, putting his hand in the dirt. He's the best in the league (at that), if you ask me."

Blocking is what drives Oliver's value to the Vikings' offense. But he wouldn't be as effective if that was all there was to his game. The fact that he can also run routes, pick up chunk gains through the air, and catch touchdown passes (he has five in two seasons) is what makes him the perfect complement to T.J. Hockenson as the No. 2 TE in O'Connell's scheme.

"He's a big body. I even joked about the ball he caught in the seam today, you're a free safety, you don't want that," safety Josh Metellus said after Tuesday's practice. "If he catches that and you've gotta make that tackle, you're gonna feel it more than any other guy would. He brings a lot. For him to be able to lock down a side on the run and in the pass, blocking-wise, and then still be able to run routes ... he has a lot of value, which is why we paid that man."

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