Caleb Tiernan ~ OT ~ Northwestern

Fries was still recovering from his own injury. He's going to be better for sure.

MaroonBells wrote:

Oh man I sure hope so. But in 48 starts he's been great in about 10 of them and league average in the rest. I think Tiernan is as much a cover for Fries as he is for O'Neill and Darrisaw.

I saw this selection more as a replacement for Brandel since he is likely penciled in as our starting C and not our swing OT/IOL guy any longer. They certainly needed to continue to try and upgrade the depth along the entire OL and this pick should do that, especially if he can kick inside and back up the OGs as well as flip left/right and play both OT positions.... I dont really care about his arm length, does he have that drive to finish blocks and punish defenders that go arms up and get air to try and knock down passes?

This pick has grown on me. I know that teams have a 'swing' tackle that covers backup OT1, but ideally you'd like backups that are suited individually for both right and left tackle. Van Demark is an upgrade over what Minnesota had last year, zero doubt, and I hope Tiernan can also stick as a backup on the full time roster.

StickierBuns wrote:

This pick has grown on me. I know that teams have a 'swing' tackle that covers backup OT1, but ideally you'd like backups that are suited individually for both right and left tackle. Van Demark is an upgrade over what Minnesota had last year, zero doubt, and I hope Tiernan can also stick as a backup on the full time roster.

I didn't see the wisdom in this pick at the time. Never really thought about a tackle. Our starters are good, we brought in a swing, we're set. What I didn't realize is that we'd be in May and still have no movement on the O'Neill contract. Given the money we're paying Darrisaw, the possibility we may have to pay Murray market in 2027, the ridiculous degree to which we're overpaying Fries, there's a real chance that this is O'Neill's last year in purple.

MaroonBells wrote:

I didn't see the wisdom in this pick at the time. Never really thought about a tackle. Our starters are good, we brought in a swing, we're set. What I didn't realize is that we'd be in May and still have no movement on the O'Neill contract. Given the money we're paying Darrisaw, the possibility we may have to pay Murray market in 2027, the ridiculous degree to which we're overpaying Fries, there's a real chance that this is O'Neill's last year in purple.

I think its 75-25 they keep O'Neill. The Greenard trade was strategic on several levels and I think one was retaining Brian O'Neill. I also think Brian wants to get a deal done with Minnesota so maybe he takes a slight sweetheart contract. I think he will.

StickierBuns wrote:

I think its 75-25 they keep O'Neill. The Greenard trade was strategic on several levels and I think one was retaining Brian O'Neill. I also think Brian wants to get a deal done with Minnesota so maybe he takes a slight sweetheart contract. I think he will.

Thats my hope too...Wouldnt surprise me if O'Neill had a desire to end the career here with one team.

Fries is a prime candidate for re-structure.

purplefaithful wrote:

Thats my hope too...Wouldnt surprise me if O'Neill had a desire to end the career here with one team.
Fries is a prime candidate for re-structure.

I think people are forgetting Fries was recovering from a broken right leg still coming into being a Viking. This is the year to judge him on.

StickierBuns wrote:

I think people are forgetting Fries was recovering from a broken right leg still coming into being a Viking. This is the year to judge him on.

I get that for sure...He and Darrisaw hopefully round back into top shape!

New #Vikings Offensive Tackle Caleb Tiernan is a stud in pass protection. Over his 4 seasons as a starter, Tiernan allowed a 3.85% pressure rate - only allowing 63 total pressures across 1,637 pass blocking snaps.

Caleb accomplished this among the nations best in the… pic.twitter.com/X4Bn6e1E4A

— Vikes\/erified (@VikesVV) May 5, 2026

StickierBuns wrote:

https://x.com/VikesVV/status/2051690453217468753

Like they always say, put him at tackle until he proves he can't play there. But I'd also like to see him compete with Fries for the starting RG position.

MaroonBells wrote:

Like they always say, put him at tackle until he proves he can't play there. But I'd also like to see him compete with Fries for the starting RG position.

Not that saying that can't happen, but it won't be this year. He'll be the starter unequivocally this year and if he plays average, then I can see the competition for 2027. There'll be no dead cap hit next season....not sure you want to bench a guy coming off an injury so quickly.