Amid an offseason of transition in multiple areas, the Minnesota Vikings ensured that they kept one vital component stabilized with Brian O’Neill.
O’Neill is a success story for the Vikings: a former second-round pick who made good on the team’s initial investment in him and cashed in as a result. The 30-year-old right tackle (31 in September) inked a four-year, $96 million extension.
That decision has the Vikings under the microscope.
Vikings Deal for Brian O’Neill Tops List
GettyBrian O’Neill’s contract extension with the Vikings drew a strong review.
ESPN’s Seth Walder ranked the Vikings’ deal with O’Neill as the No. 1 “most interesting” extension of the 2026 offseason.
“O’Neill has always performed very well and been consistent in pass block win rate. In fact, he finished in the 95th percentile or better for three straight seasons from 2022 to 2024 before dropping back to the 79th percentile in 2025. Conversely, his run block win rates weren’t as strong until last season, when he popped into the 87th percentile among tackles,” Walder wrote on August 7.
“Extending O’Neill made a ton of sense. That’s true for two reasons: (A) offensive tackles can continue to play at a high level well into their 30s, and (B) right now contract costs for good tackles are relatively cheap. Losing O’Neill would really hurt the offense, replacing him would be difficult, and his extension costs only $24 million per year.”
Walder lauded the deal having a “favorable” structure, noting that it was “salary-heavy” with $11.2 million guaranteed in 2027 and no full guarantees the following season. Walder believes the Vikings “bought themselves years of team control with limited downside.”
“That’s well worth it,” Walder wrote.
Brian O’Neill Earned Honorable Mention
GettyBrian O’Neill was voted among the best RTs in the NFL.
O’Neill’s ability has been recognized, with the eight-year veteran landing in the “others receiving votes” category in ESPN’s poll of NFL officials for the top offensive tackles in the league heading into the 2026 season.
He essentially checked in 18th on the list, but he ranked fifth among right tackles.
O’Neill has been steady for the Vikings. He has played in 124 out of 133 possible games, starting 120 of them.
The Vikings selected O’Neill with the 62nd overall pick of the 2018 draft. O’Neill was a Pro Bowler in 2024, the second selection of his career. He earned an even better grade from Pro Football Focus in 2025.
He gives the Broncos a fine complement to Christian Darrisaw.
Darrisaw has yet to earn his first Pro Bowl nod, and he has battled injuries during his career. But he earned an “honorable mention” among the list of the top OTs.
Vikings Hoping to Keep Bookend OTs on Field
GettyThe Vikings need to keep their bookend OTs healthy this season.
The Athletic’s Alec Lewis noted how highly Vikings head coach thinks of O’Neill, specifically regarding his “influence in the locker room.”
Lewis also noted that the Vikings are hoping for better durability from their standout OTs.
“He vouched for Kirk Cousins, rallied around Sam Darnold and embraced the young J.J. McCarthy. O’Neill’s steadiness gives the Vikings conviction for an offensive line that must take a step forward, regardless of who is playing quarterback in 2026,” Lewis wrote in July.
“Minnesota used 17 different combinations of offensive linemen during the 2025 season for at least 10 snaps. O’Neill missed three games with injuries to both knees. This season, the Vikings hope they can pair O’Neill’s steady presence with a consistently available Christian Darrisaw at left tackle. That type of health, paired with altered coaching after the hiring of Keith Carter, sets up for one of the best offensive lines since [Kevin] O’Connell took over in 2022.”
The Vikings’ talent up front will only matter if O’Neill and Co. can stay healthy, which is always a risk in the NFL.
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