Blake Brandel, starting center for your Minnesota Vikings

Hope springs eternal. He wasn't bad last season, grading 16th of 40 centers on PFF, and with a full training camp at center, he has a chance to improve considering he had never played there before.

I was hoping we'd draft one a little sooner than we did, but there are plenty of starting centers who were drafted late, or even after the draft.

Here's the kid we drafted at the end: Gavin Gerhardt, 6'4", 310 lbs. Not sure if he has a shot down the road, but he'll need time in the incubator and probably add 7-10 lbs. For a positional blocker, seems to have more natural heft than some. If he can make the practice squad, it'll be a decent move for him. I think Minnesota wanted to draft a center, but the board didn't come to them for that position and it wasn't worth maneuvering for one. I like Brandel fine....if he can be average, it'll be good.

Overview

Gerhardt is a 49-game starter with outstanding leadership qualities to go with adequate size and length. He’s going to be more of a positional blocker than a people-mover, with the ability to find landmarks and fight for positioning. He’s aware of protection and makes the most of his length to keep rushers out of his frame. He’s a center-only prospect, which hurts his roster chances, but the tape is good enough to give him a chance.

Strengths

• Four-year starter with three seasons as team captain.

• Adequate length and play strength at the point of attack.

• Good initial quickness to hit his reach and seal landmarks.

• Maintains proper level in playing through twists.

• Throws hands quickly into extension to pester pass rushers.

Weaknesses

• Below-average athleticism by positional standard.

• Loses track of proper pad level.

• Average redirect strength on his edges.

• Inconsistent reacting and landing on moving targets.

Can’t have studs at every position.  Not super worried about Brandel.

I like him best as an all purpose backup, but as the one non-premium (money or draft pick) player on the Oline, I’m ok with it.

If healthy I don’t think I have questions on offense. I think QB will work itself out.

I really don’t have any questions except the DB room as a whole.

I think with decent QB play we’re a playoff team.

I actually liked Brandel at C. I was not a fan of his game in other positions, but he settled in immediately at C fairly well. A little bigger than I'd prefer at C, especially for a guy with Murray's height, but he has been solid and should only get better with more playing time and consistency with the o line playing as a full unit.