With the change at quarterback, the 2024 season marks the beginning of a new era for the Minnesota Vikings. While early signs point to veteran quarterback Sam Darnold beginning the year as the starting quarterback, rookie first-round pick J.J. McCarthy is the Vikings’ future at the position. When McCarthy eventually takes over, he will inherit an offense with strong infrastructure, featuring skill position players like wide receivers Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison, tight end T.J. Hockenson, and running back Aaron Jones. The offensive line boasts two elite tackles in Brain O’Neil and Christian Darrisaw, a serviceable center in Garrett Bradberry, and a decent left guard in Dalton Risner. Heading into the season, third-year right guard Ed Ingram has the most to prove on the offensive line. Due to the pressure on Ingram this season, David Kenyon from Bleacher Report considers him a bust candidate for the Vikings’ offensive line.
Vikings Bust Candidate: Ed Ingram
Ingram’s NFL Career so Far
The Minnesota Vikings selected tackle Ed Ingram with the 59th pick in the second round of the 2022 draft. Since joining the Vikings, Ingram has underperformed. As a rookie, Ingram received a pass-blocking grade of 44.4 from Pro Football Focus while allowing four penalties, 56 quarterback pressures, and 11 sacks. As a run blocker, Ingram received a grade of 63.4, bringing his overall grade for his rookie season to 57.1. Ingram ended the 2022 season as the Vikings’ worst overall lineman by a huge margin, which certainly wasn’t what the team had in mind going into the season.
Ingram put together a baffling second season last year, improving in some areas but regressing in others. As a pass blocker, he received a grade of 60.9 while allowing seven penalties, 42 pressures, and five sacks. Although reducing the number of pressures and sacks he gave up was a step in the right direction, allowing 42 quarterback pressures is still too many. On the other hand, Ingram’s increase in penalties in 2023 is something to monitor, as it could lead to bad habits. His run blocking also worsened, with his grade dropping to 59.1. Although this regression was slight, it is concerning to see a young player struggle. Despite these issues, Ingram finished his second season with a better overall blocking grade of 59.5.
What Ingram needs to do this season
Given Ingram’s play over his first two seasons, Kenyon’s prediction that he could be a bust on the Vikings’ offensive line this season has merit. For Ingram to avoid being considered a bust this season, his running blocking needs to return to what it was as a rookie, and his pass blocking needs to continue to improve from last season. One thing Ingram can do to improve his pass blocking is allow fewer quarterback pressures. Although he did allow fewer in 2023, allowing 42 quarterback pressures is still a problem. If Ingram allows 30 or fewer quarterback pressures in 2024, that would be considered a huge victory.
In addition to lowering his quarterback pressures allowed this season, Ingram needs to allow five sacks or fewer. Last season, Ingram cut his sacks allowed in half to five, which isn’t a terrible number. However, Ingram would show he took a a step forward by only allowing two or three sacks next season. Finally, Ingram needs to commit fewer penalties in 2024. He has shown the capability to play good discipline football as a rookie, and he needs to return to that this year. Ideally, committing zero penalties is the goal, but that is almost impossible, so a positive season for Ingram would be him committing three or fewer penalties.
If Ingram can put together a season like this in this upcoming campaign, then the questions surrounding his suture with the Vikings will be gone.
Main Image: Kirby Lee – USA Today Sports
