Minnesota Vikings meet with fascinating NFL Draft prospect who can fill a crucial role on the roster

Offensive line continues to be a area of focus for the Minnesota Vikings.

Tyler Forness — NFL & College Football News Writer

Feb 28, 2026 1:41 PM EST

Oct 4, 2025; Gainesville, Florida, USA; Florida Gators offensive lineman Austin Barber (58) walks on the field during Gator Walk before a game against the Texas Longhorns at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. — Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images

Going into the NFL Draft, the Minnesota Vikings are a fascinating team to look at. We don’t really know what direction they will end up going after firing general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and putting Rob Brzezinski in charge of the roster on an interim basis.

The top needs on the roster are mostly on the defensive side of the football, with defensive tackle, linebacker, cornerback, and safety arguably being the biggest priorities. Even so, the Vikings are meeting with players at multiple positions at the NFL Scouting Combine.

Minnesota Vikings meet with fascinating Florida Gators offensive lineman

Saturday morning was when the media got to speak to the offensive linemen, and one of the more intriguing players is Florida Gators tackle Austin Barber. He played mostly on the left side for the Gators, but his natural position is on the right side.

The Vikings met with Barber at the NFL Scouting Combine, and he spoke highly of the meeting.

“They had the O-line coach, we had the head coach. There was a bunch of guys in there. They sat me right down and got to business. They said I had to shake everybody’s hand. So I got down and got right to the field,” said Barber at the podium.

Austin Barber, OL, Florida on his formal meeting with the Vikings and strength of his game. #NFLCombine @AtoZSportsNFL pic.twitter.com/6NzRQavBDv
— Travis May (@FF_TravisM) February 28, 2026

Him meeting with the Vikings is an important one for many reasons. Not only are the Vikings looking for a swing tackle to replace Justin Skule potentially, but they could be more interested in other Gators like defensive tackle Caleb Banks.

Based on Barber’s comments at the podium, the Vikings were interested in what Barber has to offer.

“Yeah, they said my hard work and toughness and discipline, that’s so much important, always being available, and bust my butt every single day. Been really clean this past season, my hands are something that’s been a thing I improved on from last year to this year. I thought I did a good job with that,” said Barber.

Offensive line likely isn’t going to be a priority for the Vikings early on, but Barber could be a target starting at pick 82, and he fits the offense well. He’s a great fit for head coach Kevin O’Connell‘s offense with his athleticism. With Brian O’Neill’s uncertain future, it could become a reality quickly.