Lunchbreak: PFF Places Darrisaw Among Rookies Poised for 'Immediate Impact'

[Viktor]

It's nearly impossible to predict at this point what teams' full starting rosters will look like Week 1.


It is fun to speculate, though, on which new players will make the biggest differences for their respective teams.


Analytics site Pro Football Focus recently did just that, with PFF's Zach Tantillo weighing in on offensive rookies "in position to make an immediate impact" during the 2021 season. Highlighted on Tantillo's list was Vikings first-round draft pick Christian Darrisaw, whom he listed along with fellow tackles Penei Sewell (Lions) and Rashawn Slater (Chargers). Minnesota will face both Sewell and Slater during the season. Tantillo wrote:


In a loaded tackle class, there are sure to be plenty who get a starting nod in Week 1, but the trio of Penei Sewell, Rashawn Slater and Christian Darrisaw is bound to have the most impact of them all.


Sewell has been labeled as a generational talent at tackle and was a consensus top-five prospect on various big boards. He posted a 95.8 PFF Grade in 2019 — the highest of any offensive player in college football that season.


He fell past both the Bengals and Dolphins — who elected to address the receiver position — to the Lions, and it has already been stated he will play right tackle, which he should adjust to seamlessly.


Los Angeles' main goal this offseason has been to protect quarterback Justin Herbert. Slater is a perfect prospect to jump in and immediately secure Herbert's blindside. In 2019, Slater allowed zero sacks on 355 pass-blocking snaps, even holding his own against 2020 Defensive Rookie of the Year Chase Young.


Lastly, the Vikings selection of Darrisaw earned an "elite" grade after they moved back and still secured the third-best tackle prospect on PFF's Big Board. Darrisaw was the Power Five's highest-graded tackle in 2020 (95.6).