MOBILE, Ala. -- The Minnesota Vikings began their evaluation of this year's offensive line class in earnest Tuesday, when new offensive line coach Tony Sparano and assistant offensive line coach Hank Fraley set up in the end zone at Ladd-Peebles Stadium for the first day of practice at the Senior Bowl.

The Vikings have struggled to protect quarterback Teddy Bridgewater for the better part of two seasons, and the second-year quarterback was taken down 44 times after the Vikings lost center John Sullivan and right tackle Phil Loadholt to injuries before the season. The team replaced offensive line coach Jeff Davidson with Sparano after the season. The changes on the offensive line could extend into the offseason, as coach Mike Zimmer said he wants competition across the line.

Kansas State guard Cody Whitehair could be an early target for the Vikings in the draft. Brynn Anderson/AP

"Right now, I think we need to compete at that position. I think guys need to come in and compete whether it’s [John] Sullivan or [Phil] Loadholt or [Matt] Kalil or whoever it is," Zimmer said. "They need to compete, but that’s really what I want this football team to do as well."

Adding Sparano -- who coached with Zimmer in Dallas -- could bring some fire to the staff, but if the Vikings choose to look for reinforcements in the draft, they'll be helped by a deep crop of linemen. They'll get a chance to see several of the top interior line prospects, like Stanford guard Joshua Garnett and Kansas State guard Cody Whitehair, this week at the Senior Bowl.

The Vikings have a big decision to make on Kalil, whose fifth-year option is set to pay him $11.098 million in 2016. The Vikings picked up the option last year. Unless they work out a new deal with Kalil, they'd have to pay him at that salary or cut him by the third day of the league year. With as many other question marks as they have on the line, it stands to reason they'll keep the fourth overall pick in the 2012 draft, who had a better season after dealing with a pair of knee injuries in 2014.

Minnesota will have a decision to make at one guard spot, where Mike Harris is set to become a free agent, and the Vikings will have to decide whether they can go forward with either T.J. Clemmings or Loadholt at right tackle. But there will be options for the Vikings to add a solid lineman with the 23rd overall pick should they choose to do so, and they'll get a chance to put some of those players in the same room with Sparano this week in Mobile.