Inside The Vikings

Wes Phillips Thinks Christian Darrisaw Can Continue Ascending in Year 3

Darrisaw had a breakout second season. Can he keep it going in 2023?
Will Ragatz|
Wes Phillips Thinks Christian Darrisaw Can Continue Ascending in Year 3
Wes Phillips Thinks Christian Darrisaw Can Continue Ascending in Year 3

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Minnesota Vikings

Vikings left tackle Christian Darrisaw had a breakout second season in 2022. He was absolutely dominant week in and week out, and it showed up on tape. Darrisaw finished the year as PFF's second-highest-graded OT, behind only Trent Williams.

Despite what he put on tape, it still feels as though Darrisaw remains a bit overlooked nationally heading into 2023. He didn't make the Pro Bowl or an All-Pro team last year, in part because he missed three full games and parts of two others due to concussions. That he plays on the offensive line and isn't in a huge market could also factor into that lack of recognition.

This offseason, Darrisaw has been working relentlessly to try to continue ascending in 2023. Vikings offensive coordinator Wes Phillips has taken notice — and he thinks the country will too.

"I think he's got a real mindset that this is a year where, if anyone hadn't noticed him yet — I know the players who play against him certainly notice him — but I think across the league, we'll be talking about him as one of the elite tackles for years to come," Phillips said.

Williams was one of the people who saw Darrisaw's breakout campaign coming. Last August, when the 49ers came to Minnesota for joint practices, Williams said he sees a lot of his young self in Darrisaw.

One thing Darrisaw has drawn from Williams — who he grew up watching — is the work that it takes to be great.

"Any time you've got a player as talented as Christian, and then to see the work that he put in this offseason — he came in in phenomenal shape, I mean he was in here working out late night," Phillips said. "I think he got that from Trent Williams or something, he'd be here at 11 o'clock at night or something getting a lift in."

For as great of a season as he had in 2022, Darrisaw believes he can improve every aspect of his game while becoming more of a vocal leader for the Vikings.

If he continues his upward trajectory this season, it's safe to say more and more people across the nation are going to know his name.

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Will Ragatz
WILL RAGATZ

Will Ragatz is a senior writer for Vikings On SI, who also covers the Twins, Timberwolves, Gophers, and other Minnesota teams. He is a credentialed Minnesota Vikings beat reporter, covering the team extensively at practices, games and throughout the NFL draft and free agency period. Ragatz attended Northwestern University, where he studied at the prestigious Medill School of Journalism. During his time as a student, he covered Northwestern Wildcats football and basketball for SB Nation’s Inside NU, eventually serving as co-editor-in-chief in his junior year. In the fall of 2018, Will interned in Sports Illustrated’s newsroom in New York City, where he wrote articles on Major League Baseball, college football, and college basketball for SI.com.

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