The 2019 Vikings' preliminary class – the largest since the NFL's annual selection meeting was still 12 rounds – will bring a dozen players to the team's facilities later this week for the start of the tournament. Recruit camp.

But if the group does not lack quantity, its immediate productivity could be more important. The Vikings will probably ask several class members to play big roles quickly, especially on the offensive line, where at least one starting point remains open.

With that in mind, take a look at the five most important Vikings issues of 2019 after the project:

QHow will the offensive line meet?

AAlthough the Vikings did not declare where Garrett Bradbury would play, the North Carolina product was turned into a first round pick based on his work at the center after leaving the guard position. Smart money if Bradbury was the center – as long as he showed he was ready – and Pat Elflein was under surveillance. The fourth player, Dru Samia, could also face one of the guard posts, although general manager Rick Spielman said the Oklahoma product "has some technical flaws to clean up" . In any case, it is quite possible that the Vikings' line against Les Falcons on September 7th could include a rookie (Bradbury), an addition of free agents (Josh Kline), a change of position (Elflein), a tackle in his first full year as a starter (O 'Neill) and a try to bounce back after a disappointing season (Riley Reiff). The Vikings have improved their talent base on the line, but the speed with which the group will regroup is another matter.

QHow does Irv Smith integrate?

ACollege selection director, Jamaal Stephenson, said the second-round pick, Irv Smith, was the kind of athletic fit the Vikings had been trying to find for a while. Smith presents himself as an immediate threat that can line up at the end or end of the offensive line. The Vikings could use more than two tight sets in their new offensive, having spent a lot of time in the three-catcher matches under John DeFilippo last year, once their search for a tight athletic shot emptied to White. Smith could add a unique element to the Vikings offense, which would allow them to target linebackers in pass coverage.

QAre the skills positions deep enough?

AThe Vikings are hoping halfback Alexander Mattison will replace some of Latavius ​​Murray's contributions as an intermediate runner, and seventh-rounders Dillon Mitchell and Olabisi Johnson could add more athletic abilities behind Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen. But the Vikings still rely on Dalvin Cook to stay healthy for a full season. They remain without a formidable weapon behind Thielen and Diggs, should something happen to them. Aldrick Robinson – a favorite target of Kirk Cousins ​​- who captured five touchdowns last year – remains a free agent, so the Vikings could seek to bring him back at some point if they can afford it . Which brings us to …

QHow will the Vikings pay their bills?

AThe team took part in the repechage with only $ 1.683 million in space – which is not enough to sign all of their draft picks without exceeding the cap. It has become apparent for some time that they will have to make a move to cap, whether to exchange a veteran player or to restructure the contract of a player like Kyle Rudolph, who is 30 years old in November and who is in the last year of his business. Rudolph remained adamant this spring and is still as productive as ever. He told the Star Tribune Friday night that he welcomed the addition of Smith to the offensive. The Vikings' selection of Smith in the same round in which they took Rudolph in 2011 could, however, give the team a way to pressure Rudolph to reconsider his contract. Rudolph said he would be willing to help the team's situation with a contract that added guaranteed money to his contract. Whatever the case may be, given the speed with which the Vikings love to sign their choice of projects, some gesture seems imminent.

QWhat does all this mean for cousins?

AThe quarterback is in the second year of his fully guaranteed three-year contract, and it is clear that the Vikings did everything in their power during the off-season – adding coaches steeped in the offense that had made his success in Washington line offensive – to help cousins ​​while keeping a kernel of expensive veterans. If everything works, the Cousins ​​could answer one of the careful exams he has done while leading the playoff team. If this is not the case, and the Vikings miss the playoffs again, more significant changes could take place as Cousins ​​enters the final year of his contract in 2020.

Ben Goessling covers the Vikings for Star Tribune. [email protected]