Vikings and Brian O'Neill have to figured out what is next for them ahead of 2025
The Vikings prioritized their offensive line this offseason as they prepared to get J.J. McCarthy back from injury after he tore his meniscus last preseason. They know how important that group is to his success which is why they have been so proud of their work in maintaining it over the years.
That brings us to a recent piece by Bleacher Report, in which analyst Moe Moton discussed one candidate from every team who needs a new contract before the new season kicks off. For the Vikings, that was right tackle Brian O'Neill.
O'Neill is set to be a free agent in 2027 after his rookie extension expires. However, the language in his extension makes getting a new contract done sooner rather than later a priority for him and the team.
Moton writes, "O'Neill has been one of the league's best right tackles. According to Pro Football Focus, he allowed two sacks while on the field for 664 pass-blocking snaps. The eighth-year veteran tackle is coming off his second Pro Bowl season, and he has no guaranteed money left on his contract. He signed an extension in 2021 and is overdue for another."
O'Neill was drafted in the second round of the 2018 NFL Draft out of Pittsburgh and immediately proved his importance to the team. He started immediately, and success followed him in the form of two Pro Bowl selections.
At the end of his next deal, O'Neill will be 32 years old, which is still young enough for an offensive lineman to have some tread left on the tires. I wouldn't expect this to lead to a divorce, but perhaps a nice anniversary present in the form of a reworked contract that is friendly to both him and the team.
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