Nothing says the Vikings’ quarterback talk is over for now more than some sportswriter suggesting it’s time to discuss the best available grunts at guard.

In need of an NFL-caliber run game and a consistently clean pocket front, the Vikings could use an upgrade at the position, per usual. And the good ones are going quickly.

Seven of the league’s top guards — each younger than 28 — were gobbled up by other teams in the opening two days of the free agency negotiating period.

Carolina, the worst team in the league, targeted guard play as its biggest weakness, best path back to respectability and primary reason No. 1 overall pick Bryce Young looked nothing like No. 2 overall pick and Offensive Rookie of the Year C.J. Stroud as a first-year QB in 2023. With their two biggest free agency swings, the Panthers guaranteed a whopping $89.2 million to former Dolphins guard Robert Hunt, 27, and former Seahawks guard Damien Lewis, 26.

Hunt will get $100 million over five years with $63 million guaranteed. Lewis will get $53 million over four years with $26.2 million guaranteed. Together, they will count $25.6 million against Carolina’s salary cap.

Meanwhile, the Rams also showed they, too, believe guards matter by sinking $66 million guaranteed into the position. After re-signing Kevin Dotson, the Rams looked to Detroit and poached from one of the league’s best lines when it agreed to give Jonah Jackson, 27, a three-year, $51 million deal with $34 million guaranteed.

The Packers also lost a top young guard when Jon Runyan, 26, agreed to move on to the Giants for $30 million over three years with $17 million guaranteed.