If the NFL Draft is a high-stakes chess match, offensive linemen are the unsung heroes—the knights, rooks, and bishops protecting the king. And every team dreams of landing a piece that can move in any direction, filling gaps whenever and wherever needed. That’s where North Dakota State’s Grey Zabel comes in. He’s not just versatile—he’s the Swiss Army knife of offensive linemen, drawing comparisons to one of the greatest to ever do it: Jason Kelce.

NFL Draft analyst Drew Boylhart sees the resemblance and isn’t shy about it. “Grey reminds me a lot of former Eagles center Jason Kelce,” he said. But here’s the twist—Zabel is a bigger version. Standing at 6’6”, 312 pounds compared to Kelce’s 6’3”, 280-pound frame, Zabel brings a level of size and power Kelce never had. Yet, despite his towering presence, he moves like a smaller man, showcasing agility and footwork. Boylhart pointed out, “Grey can play all five positions on the offensive line compared to Jason, who was a center/guard and obviously undersized.” Finding a lineman who can play both left tackle and center at a high level? That’s basically a cheat code.

And Grey Zabel isn’t just some small-school mystery pick—he proved he belongs at the highest level. At the Senior Bowl, he held his own against elite talent. Moving so smoothly that Boylhart couldn’t help but compare him to… John Travolta? “When he plays left tackle, Grey can mirror his opponent’s movements as if he were John Travolta using those smooth dancing moves in the movie ‘Michael,’ so he doesn’t need long arms.” So yeah, apparently, Zabel’s pass protection is less “brick wall” and more “ballroom finesse,” but hey, if it works, it works.

The explosiveness is there too. Zabel launches out of his stance like a missile, getting to the second level before defenders even know what hit them. Boylhart got real poetic about it, saying, “He explodes out of his stance getting to the second level with the suddenness and quickness of a sidewinder rattlesnake, and he doesn’t miss his blocks.” A rattlesnake comparison? That’s elite-level praise.

Of course, some teams might hesitate because Grey Zabel played in the FCS instead of a Power Five conference. But Boylhart isn’t buying that excuse. “Some teams will not be as high on him as I am because he played in the FCS, but that is a smoke screen because he proved in one-on-ones at the Senior Bowl practices that he could have easily played in the SEC.” Translation: The dude is built for the NFL, and anyone sleeping on him is making a mistake.

And if there’s any team that desperately needs a guy like Zabel, it’s the Minnesota Vikings. Year after year, their offensive line has been a game of musical chairs, and not in a fun way. Injuries have been a recurring nightmare. Even though they’ve spent premium draft picks on linemen like Garrett Bradbury, Ezra Cleveland, and Christian Darrisaw. In 2023, both Darrisaw and Bradbury missed time, and, the O-line looked like a patchwork quilt with holes everywhere.

Then, just when the Vikings thought they were getting things together, they lost offensive tackle Cam Robinson to the Houston Texans, who threw a one-year, $14.5 million deal his way. Now, their depth chart is looking shaky.

That’s why Grey Zabel could be a massive pickup. He’s not just a fill-in guy—he’s someone who can immediately provide stability across multiple positions. He’s already logged snaps at four different spots at North Dakota State, showing he can handle whatever is thrown his way. Oh, and let’s not forget the athleticism. A 36.5-inch vertical jump and a 9-foot-3 broad jump? For an offensive lineman? That’s absurd.

Boylhart even doubled down on his belief that Zabel is a top-ten talent, saying, “If I needed a Left Tackle or a Center, I would think selecting the top offensive lineman in this draft might be a smart move—but once again…that’s just me.”

Grey Zabel would be a massive W for the Vikings, especially if they wanna keep J.J. McCarthy from getting cooked in the next season. Zabel can line up anywhere on the O-line—LT, guard, RT, you name it. That’s the kinda versatility you need when you’ve got a young QB who’s still figuring things out. Plus, he has experience in a zone-based offense, so he’d slide right into the Vikings’ system effortlessly. According to Steelers Depot, Zabel has “great athletic ability” and is “explosive out of his stance,” meaning he’s quick, strong, and can keep defenders in check. Major for a QB like McCarthy, who loves to move around. Throw in his insane grip strength and balance, and you’ve got a dude who can lock down the trenches. Bottom line? If the Vikings want McCarthy to thrive, locking in Zabel is a no-brainer.

So as draft night creeps closer, all eyes should be on Zabel. Will the Vikings pull the trigger and secure their offensive line of the future? If Boylhart is right, any team that lands him won’t just be getting a versatile lineman—they’ll be getting a franchise cornerstone. As Boylhart put it, “Grey is a player who can legitimately play all five positions on the offensive line. Let’s see where he gets selected.”

No pressure, Minnesota. Just don’t let this slip away.

Vikings’ QB carousel takes a wild turn with Kirk Cousins twist

Just when you thought the Vikings were done with Kirk Cousins, the football gods said, ‘Plot twist!‘ A new trade proposal floating around suggests that Cousins could actually return to Minnesota—but this time, as J.J. McCarthy’s backup. Yeah, you read that right. The same guy the Vikings let walk in free agency might be coming back, just in a very different role.

According to Sportsnaut’s Jason Burgos, Cousins is open to being a backup, especially if it means returning to familiar territory. “Unlike Aaron Rodgers—who is interested in joining the Vikes—Cousins is open to the idea of being a backup. And doing it to return to Minny would certainly interest him,” Burgos wrote. Considering the Vikings chose to move on from Cousins in the offseason, this is basically like breaking up with someone, only for them to show up at your door asking if they can crash on your couch.

From a football standpoint, though? This could actually be a solid move. McCarthy is the future, but he’s also coming off a serious knee injury and has zero NFL snaps under his belt. Having a veteran like Cousins around could be a huge help in easing him into the starting role while also giving the Vikings a safety net if things go sideways. Plus, Cousins already knows Kevin O’Connell’s system, so if he ever had to step in, he wouldn’t miss a beat.

But let’s be real—does Cousins really see himself as a backup, or is he just saying what teams want to hear? The dude spent six years as the face of the franchise. And watching someone else run his offense from the sidelines might not sit right with him for long. If McCarthy struggles early, the calls for Cousins to start would get loud. And suddenly, the Vikings would be dealing with a full-blown QB controversy.