Breaking : Vikings SHOCKING Move: You Won’t Believe Who They Just Landed for J.J. McCarthy!”

While drafting a guard in the first round might not be the flashiest move, it’s exactly what Minnesota Vikings fans have been clamoring for.

The team’s offensive line has struggled with inconsistent guard play for over a decade, with the last Vikings guard to make a Pro Bowl being Steve Hutchinson back in 2009. Over the past 10 years, the position has been a revolving door, with Minnesota starting 20 different guards since 2016 alone. This instability has been a glaring issue, and it came to a head during the Vikings’ playoff loss to the Los Angeles Rams, where their interior pass protection collapsed, resulting in a franchise-record nine sacks allowed.

Head coach Kevin O’Connell has made it clear that shoring up the offensive interior is a top priority, especially with the potential of rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy taking the reins next season. “There’s no question that we have to find a way to give a quarterback [time],” O’Connell emphasized after the playoff defeat. “We have to solidify the interior of the pocket, starting first and foremost.” This directive hasn’t gone unnoticed, as Pro Football Focus (PFF) analyst Trevor Sikkema projected Alabama guard Tyler Booker to the Vikings with the 24th overall pick in his latest mock draft.

Sikkema highlighted the Vikings’ glaring need for improvement on the interior offensive line, writing, “The Vikings could target a defensive back in this range, but their interior offensive line was also a weak spot in 2024—and a reason they didn’t advance further in the playoffs. Booker is a rock-solid guard prospect who is talked about in high regard for his intangibles and how he approaches the game.” Standing at 6-foot-5 and 325 pounds, the 20-year-old junior has already proven himself against elite competition in the SEC, earning praise for his dominance in both run blocking and pass protection.

According to WalterFootball’s scouting report, Booker is a “true power run blocker who can regularly knock defenders back and push them out of his gap,” while also excelling in pass protection. The report adds that Booker “looks like a plug-and-play starter with the potential to be a Pro Bowl guard at the NFL level early in his pro career.” Over three seasons with Alabama, Booker allowed just two sacks, solidifying his reputation as the top interior offensive line prospect in the 2025 NFL Draft.

While the Vikings have pressing needs at more high-profile positions like cornerback and running back, securing a blue-chip guard like Booker could be one of the most impactful moves to support McCarthy’s development—or whoever ends up under center next season. By addressing a long-standing weakness, the Vikings could finally provide their quarterback with the protection needed to compete at the highest level, potentially ending their cycle of offensive line woes.