The Vikings' $11 million investment in inconsistent left tackle Matt Kalil last spring was not without risks. Still, coach Mike Zimmer liked the early results from a preseason spent tweaking Kalil's footwork in pass protection.
Then Kalil injured a hip in practice, starting the left tackle who'd never missed a snap down a path leading to surgery and 14 games on injured reserve. The Vikings' hefty bet on Kalil, via last year's expensive fifth-year option on his rookie contract, fell flat in an attempt to make one more evaluation on him.
Now the Vikings have a hole at left tackle with no heir apparent on the 2017 roster. So where does that leave Kalil, a pending free agent with a history of knee issues? And where does it leave the Vikings?
An improved running game and a more explosive passing game top the Vikings' priority list on offense, coordinator Pat Shurmur said last week at the team's WinterFest in Prior Lake. How the Vikings achieve that undoubtedly will start along last year's tattered offensive line. Shurmur declined to get into specifics about Kalil.
"Certainly anything you do on offense starts up front," Shurmur said. "So obviously there will be changes at all the position groups."
What's clear is the Vikings' need at tackle is dire.
They face a draft with little fanfare at the position, and the reality is that proven left tackles don't often become available in free agency.
Cincinnati's Andrew Whitworth, ahead of his age-35 season, looks as if he's the market's top option, should he even reach free agency as the Bengals reportedly sought to discuss a new deal with him recently. Denver's Russell Okung is another veteran under contract who could be made available in March. Miami's Brandon Albert was in that category, but the Dolphins agreed to trade him to Jacksonville on Monday. Trades can't be made official until the new league year begins March 9.
