The Vikings used the 4^th overall selection on Matt Kalil in the 2012 NFL Draft and will plug him in at left tackle, where he will be a major upgrade. However, that doesn’t solve all of their offensive line problems. Guard is still a major position of weakness for them. The Vikings started Steve Hutchinson and Anthony Herrera there last offseason and now both are gone. Hutchinson signed in Tennessee, while Herrera remains available on the open market, which shows just how much he struggled last season.

At one guard spot, the Vikings have moved Charlie Johnson, who struggled mightily at left tackle last season, inside to play left guard. We’ll see how that works out. At the other guard spot, the Vikings signed Geoff Schwartz, who was once a solid starter, but missed all of last season with injuries. According to ESPN Twin Cities, however, Schwartz is not a lock to start there as Brandon Fusco will be given “every opportunity” to win the job. Fusco, a 6^th round pick in the 2011 NFL Draft, was a collegiate center and played just 26 snaps last season.

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