Aireontae Ersery, the former Gophers’ star left tackle, is swinging by the Minnesota Vikings’ facility on Monday, per KSTP’s Darren Wolfson. The reigning Big Ten offensive lineman of the year, Ersery capped a stellar three-year stint as Minnesota’s starting left tackle with a rare blend of size and speed—clocking a 5.01 40-yard dash and a nine-foot broad jump at the NFL combine, all at 6’6” and 330 pounds.
Early in the pre-draft buzz, Ersery was pegged as a potential first-round talent, but lately, analysts have cooled on him, slotting him more as a second- or even third-round pick. Despite a solid Senior Bowl showing and impressive combine numbers, some scouts point to his stiff bend and upright posture as pass-protection red flags, which might explain the dip.
The Vikings, locked in with Christian Darrisaw and Brian O’Neill at tackle for the foreseeable future, don’t exactly need Ersery there. Are they eyeing him as a guard? He’d be a colossal one, and maybe the interior line could mask some of those pass-pro quirks. Or perhaps Minnesota’s just kicking the tires on a local standout from the Gophers. Drafting him would definitely raise eyebrows.
Ersery’s been busy, recently visiting teams like the Jets, Saints, Chiefs, Patriots, and Panthers, with more stops still to come. Where he lands is anyone’s guess—there’s still a slim shot he sneaks into the first round’s tail end, though Day 2 feels more like his landing spot.
The Gophers haven’t had a first-rounder since Rashod Bateman in 2021 and Laurence Maroney in 2006, so Ersery’s draft fate is one to watch.
Leave a Reply