Minnesota Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah did a great job fortifying the trenches this offseason, especially the offensive line. Center Ryan Kelly and right guard Will Fries have elevated the interior of the offensive line with the fanbase really wanting left guard fortified.

There are some interesting players who could compete with Blake Brandel, but is that a player you want to take at 24th overall? That's the big question.

The latest installment of our SKOL Search series focuses on a fan favorite in North Dakota State offensive lineman Grey Zabel.

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Grey Zabel

• North Dakota State
• Height: 6057
• Weight: 312
• Class: Fifth-Year Senior
• Recruiting info: 0-star recruit in 2020 class per 247 Sports
• Stats: 2024 PFF Grades: 90.4 overall, 86.4 run blocking, 93.1 pass blocking
• Games watched: Colorado 2024, Illinois State 2024, South Dakota State 2024

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Strengths

• Athleticism: You can see how good of an athlete Zabel is. He moves really well and can thrive in a wide zone scheme. He climbs to the second level with ease and doesn't have issues with any running scheme.
• Versatility: Zabel has played all five positions in his career, with starts at four of them. The majority of his time was spent at either left or right tackle, but he did play over 500 total snaps at guard.
• Experience: Zabel has played extensively across all five seasons across multiple positions, and it shows on the field. He knows where to go every time and adjusts his line of sight when necessary.

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Weaknesses

• Hands: Zabel doesn't do a lot when it comes to getting his hands in the right spot. While he is patient with them, Zabel doesn't put them in the right spot nor does he pack power in them to knock defenders off their spot.
• Length: Zabel is an excellent athlete for the position, but his length creates problems. His 32" arms leave him bending too much when trying to engage with defenders, getting him out of position far too often.
• Play Strength: One of the biggest issues for Zabel is with his play strength. He doesn't do a good job displacing defenders and has a late anchor, which will cause issues with better defensive linemen.

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Overview

Trait	Grade
Pass Protection	8.0/10
Punch	7.3/10
Balance	8.1/10
Power	7.1/10
Anchor	8.2/10
Physicality	7.8/10
Athleticism	9.0/10
Size/Frame	8.3/10
Bend/Leverage	7.7/10
Recovery	8.0/10
Grade	79.5 Third Round Grade

Zabel is an interesting prospect because he's played all five positions across the offensive line. He projects to play inside at guard, possibly center, but there are issues that make him tough to select in the first round.

If the Vikings were to take Zabel, it would be a forced selection. He can play on the inside with some upside, but there are some real play strength concerns that could manifest itself in a poor way. Is that worth it in round one or early round two? I have my doubts.