OG Joe Huber

[StickierBuns]

Joe Huber
6-5, 310
23 years old
UDFA out of Wisconsin
Played LG in 2023 and RG in 2024
Allowed only 1 sack during that time
Also has experience at RT
Vikings gave him $210K guaranteed

Long way to go, but he played tough in there. Weighs at least 15 lbs. more than the weight listed. If Minnesota could get some O-line roster backup help like a Huber to guys like Brandel, Jurgens and Rouse, very solid IMO. At the very least, make the practice squad....he might have pretty good potential down the road. Not a bad athlete. 

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p.s. the rumor is Minnesota is 'thrilled' with Donovan Jackson and Will Fries so far. They think that is their OG guard combo moving forward for many years, Fries just turned 27 years old.

[MaroonBells]

Take these preseason PFF grades against Houston with a mountain of salt. PFF is based largely on 1v1 wins and losses. And unlike regular season scores where each player is facing a starter, the opponents in these games might be working at Planet Fitness in a couple weeks. That said, the OL depth had a solid outing. Huber was the highest graded rookie in the NFL. 

Offense
RG Joe Huber — 94.7 (55 snaps)
C Michael Jurgens — 80.0 (43)
WR Jordan Addison — 79.6 (12)
LT/RT Walter Rouse — 78.4 (36)
WR Myles Price — 76.8 (15)

Defense
OLB Gabriel Murphy — 80.2 (30 snaps)
DL Elijah Williams — 79.9 (21)
CB Reddy Steward — 76.5 (11)
S Tavierre Thomas — 76.5 (32)
CB Ambry Thomas — 75.4 (12)

Highest-graded rookies from yesterday’s preseason action

1. OG Joe Huber, Vikings - 94.7
2. OG Willie Lampkin, Rams - 94.1
3. DI Deone Walker, Bills - 92.8
4. S Kitan Crawford, Cardinals - 92.5
5. CB Davon Ross, Titans - 92.3

[hogjowlsjohnny]

They can't pick who they are playing against so the only real positive is that they did their job as expected.

[StickierBuns]

They can't pick who they are playing against so the only real positive is that they did their job as expected.

I agree with you, but I also agree with what MB is insinuating: the level of competition matters. It does. We've seen preseason 'all stars' not even make the roster when it comes to September. Like I said, a ways to go yet for Huber, but he's showing up and getting noticed. That's a start. And he's a better athlete than you think, which is going to help him if he can continue to get better. At least a dude at the end of the roster potentially to keep an eye on and root for. Big fella.

As I mentioned before, I think the O-line depth is some of the best in recent memory. Read Brandel has stepped up his play a level as well so far in camp. Also see that Minnesota got another 3rd string center in Michael Gonzalez yesterday to replace the injured Zeke Correll.

[hogjowlsjohnny]

I agree with you, but I also agree with what MB is insinuating: the level of competition matters. It does. We've seen preseason 'all stars' not even make the roster when it comes to September. Like I said, a ways to go yet for Huber, but he's showing up and getting noticed. That's a start. And he's a better athlete than you think, which is going to help him if he can continue to get better. At least a dude at the end of the roster potentially to keep an eye on and root for. Big fella.

As I mentioned before, I think the O-line depth is some of the best in recent memory. Read Brandel has stepped up his play a level as well so far in camp. Also see that Minnesota got another 3rd string center in Michael Gonzalez yesterday to replace the injured Zeke Correll.

Right. The level of competition matters when evaluating these guys, but the players can do nothing about that except do there job.
Huber did his job well. We will see if that matters!

[MaroonBells]

There are a handful of UDFA offensive linemen starting in the NFL. Obviously a long way to go, but it sure would be nice if we found a gem in Huber. I think we may have with Gabe Murphy.

[Vikesrock]

It would be between Huber and Logan Brown.  While Brown isn't showing up on the PFF list, from everything I have heard in training camp (PD and a couple other Podcasts), Brown is a beast as well.  Can you sneak one of those guys through to the Practice Squad?  Maybe even both.  The 9 right now look like:

Darrisaw
Jackson
Kelly
Fries
O-Neill
Skule
Brandel
Jurgens
Rouse

Do you keep 10?  Where would you cut?  I would say Jurgens so far is the weakest link in the top 9, but you don't have a better option at center if Kelly goes down right now.

[MaroonBells]

It would be between Huber and Logan Brown.  While Brown isn't showing up on the PFF list, from everything I have heard in training camp (PD and a couple other Podcasts), Brown is a beast as well.  Can you sneak one of those guys through to the Practice Squad?  Maybe even both.  The 9 right now look like:

Darrisaw
Jackson
Kelly
Fries
O-Neill
Skule
Brandel
Jurgens
Rouse

Do you keep 10?  Where would you cut?  I would say Jurgens so far is the weakest link in the top 9, but you don't have a better option at center if Kelly goes down right now.

I want to see Huber do it a couple more times before we start talking active roster. But if he does, the Vikings could trade Brandel.

[StickierBuns]

I want to see Huber do it a couple more times before we start talking active roster. But if he does, the Vikings could trade Brandel.

Yeah, my point really wasn't final roster so much as a guy that's showing promise, will continue to improve on the PS and then maybe the final roster in 2026.