DOZIER IS BACK

What is the reason Dakota Dozier was brought back? It has to be something other than his performance. Are we simply going to use his return for a reason not to pick an offensive lineman in the draft? I also think [Offensive Line Coach/Run Game Coordinator Rick] Dennison's performance has been in question for some time now. Does Dozier's return mark some sort of newfound confidence in Dennison? Please give us some renewed confidence in this year's free agency. We were looking so good until someone made this decision on Dozier.

— Lloyd Gossman

Do you think the Vikings front office is aware of how much this move alienates fans who watched Dozier fail for 16 consecutive games last season? I follow the Vikings addictively from 10,000 miles away, but I can't support a team that continues to make the same error. The man has never played to a high standard, is too old to improve, and was sub-NFL standard all last season. Why?

— Rob E. in New Zealand

The Vikings announced that Dozier had re-signed on Wednesday afternoon. And within 24 hours, I received more emails about him than the amount of emails I usually get on average during the week.

So, let's dive into the decision to bring back Dozier, and what it means for the Vikings in 2021.

To start, it's no secret that Dozier struggled at times during the 2020 season. He started all 16 games for the first time in his career, and while he did have some strong moments (go back and watch him on Dalvin Cook's 50-yard touchdown on a screen pass at Lambeau Field), there were also plenty of forgettable moments.

He wasn't graded well by analytics website Pro Football Focus, but even if you take them out of the equation, he simply got beat too many times in pass protection.

So, why bring him back? For one, he knows the Vikings offensive system and is familiar with Vikings Dennison. Remember that the two were together in 2018 with the Jets before they both landed in Minnesota for the past two seasons. Also keep in mind Dennison's impact on the run game that helped the Vikings rank fifth in rushing yards, sixth in rushing scores and fourth in yards per rush last season.

Dozier was serviceable in 2019 in Purple, starting four games (three at right guard) and playing 362 total offensive snaps. Perhaps he is better suited for that role than being a full-time starter like 2020 when he played all 1,082 of Minnesota's offensive snaps.

But the end of Lloyd's email really struck me where he said "we were looking so good until someone made this decision on Dozier."

What guarantee is there that Dozier will be the starter again or on the roster come September? He is among the options at left guard, a group that also includes the newly acquired Mason Cole.

But let's say the Vikings draft a star left guard in the first round of the draft, or even find a steal at that spot in the second or third round (depending on a potential trade)?

If that happens, it's likely that Dozier isn't starting, and is either viewed as a solid backup who can fill in if needed like in 2019, or he isn't on the roster if the Vikings want to go younger and give someone like Kyle Hinton a chance to fill a void as a reserve interior lineman.

To close, Dozier was also signed on the cheap. The Vikings didn't break the bank to bring him back, and I view it as a low-risk move. Just because he is on the roster now doesn't mean he'll be in the starting lineup.

In fact, the only person I would pencil in to a for-sure spot is Garrett Bradbury at center. The other starters from a season ago (Brian O'Neill and Ezra Cleveland) could be looking at potential position changes. The NFL is optimistic about having parts of the offseason program on the field this spring, so that would be our first glimpse at the Vikings plans, but we've still got a while before the pads go on in training camp.