Quality offensive linemen can be tough to find, especially in the heat of the preseason after practice has already begun. But that won’t stop teams from trying to get better.
The Minnesota Vikings were back at the drawing board Monday, claiming guard Michael Gonzalez off waivers. In a corresponding move, offensive tackle Matt Nelson was placed on injured reserve.
Gonzalez had signed with the Atlanta Falcons as an undrafted free agent but did not play in the team’s preseason opener against the Detroit Lions. The Falcons placed Gonzalez on waivers Sunday.
Michael Gonzalez Was a Standout Lineman in College
The 6-foot-4, 305-pound Gonzalez spent his entire college career at Louisville, appearing in 51 games and starting 32. He garnered All-ACC honorable mention as a senior in 2024, allowing zero sacks and just 17 pressures across 457 pass block snaps and 815 blocking snaps overall. Louisville went 9-4 and made the Sun Bowl, beating Washington 35-34.
Gonzalez was not selected in April’s draft but received an invitation to rookie minicamp with the Falcons, where he practiced at both center and guard. Shortly thereafter, Gonzalez signed a UDFA deal.
The move reunited him, ever so briefly, with offensive line coach Dwayne Ledford, who recruited Gonzalez to Louisville out of high school in North Carolina.
The 6-7, 315-pound Nelson signed with Minnesota last month but sustained an undisclosed injury in practice on Aug. 4. He appeared in 43 games, including 14 starts, with the Lions from 2020-23 before signing with the New York Giants in March of 2024. Nelson was then waived before final roster cutdowns that August.
How Good is the Vikings’ Offensive Line?
The Vikings have invested heavily in their offensive line this offseason, adding Pro Bowl center Ryan Kelly (two years, $18 million) and guard Will Fries (five years, $88 million) in free agency. They also used their first-round pick, No. 24 overall, on Ohio State’s Donovan Jackson, a three-time All-Big Ten guard. Couple those moves with Christian Darrisaw’s return from injury and the Vikings’ offensive line has the potential to be one of the NFL’s best.
“When you then add in that Christian Darrisaw should be back to start the year, this is a potential top-five offensive line in 2025,” Ben Rolfe of Pro Football Network wrote.
