Blake Brandel
Minnesota VikingsModel Score
How good he is at what he is supposed to be doing, out of 100. Not a projection of what he will do next, and not a read on his contract. Median is about 70, and a 95 is rare. How it is built →
Season Stats · 15 games
Draft & College
He went about where consensus had him.
STM Take
Tier 8 (#108) to tier 7 (#56) one-year jump is a 52-spot improvement but still inside the tier 7 floor of usable starter or depth. The Oregon State technical foundation plus six years of Vikings system experience gives him basic developmental floor. The 2026 question is whether Brandel crosses into tier 6 or whether the role compresses back to swing depth as Minnesota's broader offensive line investment continues.
Brandel came out of Oregon State as the Minnesota Vikings' 6th-round pick (203rd overall) in 2020 and has been a Vikings depth and swing piece for five seasons before emerging into a starter role in 2024. His STTM career runs tier 8 (#108) in 2024 to tier 7 (#56) in 2025, a 52-spot improvement that reflects the position-stability gain rather than a structural ceiling jump.
Strengths
- 52-spot year-over-year jump from tier 8 (#108) to tier 7 (#56) shows the move into a sustained starter role produced real improvement.
- Six years of Vikings system experience plus positional flexibility at tackle and guard gives him roster value as veteran depth.
Concerns
- Career STTM range mostly in tier 7-8 caps the realistic 2026 ceiling at low-end starter or swing depth.
- Minnesota's broader offensive line investment pattern signals the front office may still draft an upgrade ahead of the next Brandel decision.
What to watch: Whether Brandel holds 10 or more starts in 2026 or whether Minnesota's draft moves compress his role back to swing depth.