Vikings Can Demolish Free Agency with One Extra Move
As onlookers of the franchise bask in the free-agent signing of Za’Darius Smith from Tuesday, the Minnesota Vikings can demolish free agency with one extra move.
He has a name, and that is JC Tretter, formerly of the Cleveland Browns.
Tretter was shock-released by Cleveland a week ago, casting on the open market one of the best centers in football. Indeed, the Vikings employ Garrett Bradbury — who should still, in theory, possess a high upside due to his 1st-Round draft stock — but obtaining Tretter would be about getting better.
By the numbers, if proof is needed on Tretter’s supremacy, have a look per Pro Football Focus:
- 2014 = 51.6
- 2015 = 76.2
- 2016 = 78.2
- 2017 = 69.1
- 2018 = 76.9
- 2019 = 72.0
- 2020 = 77.1
- 2021 = 78.7
Those numbers are marvelous; those numbers are consistent. And here’s a secret: the Vikings pass protection hasn’t been marvelous or consistent since the departures of Steven Hutchinson and Bryant McKinnie a decade ago.
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The number-one-with-a-bullet football technique in which Tretter specializes is pass protection.
During the Mike Zimmer era in Minnesota, the Vikings run-blocked with efficiency, leaving pass protection an afterthought or perk [if it happened to work out]. Alas, it never worked out, and pocket passer Kirk Cousins is religiously under siege, year in and year out.
Tretter could fix that.
The Vikings can sign Tretter to bolster the offensive line with two elements in the mix. First, Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, the team’s new general manager, was employed the Browns (Tretter’s stomping grounds) two months ago. In theory, Adofo-Mensah should know Tretter. These are the “ties” in football (and sports) VikingsTerritory mentions frequently. The familial pipeline exists. That should make a conversation with Tretter’s representation wildly plausible.
The other element? Money. On Tretter’s latest contract, from 2019, he earned about $11 million per year. The man isn’t cheap. But non-rookie-deal solutions seldom are. Therefore, the Vikings would need creativity in finding the pennies, perhaps targeting the deals of Eric Kendricks or Dalvin Cook for restructuring. A magic financial wand is necessary, and Minnesota has that man in the house with Rob Brzezinski.
The offensive line, with Tretter as the middle anchor, would resemble this:
- LT: Christian Darrisaw
- LG: Ezra Cleveland
- C: JC Tretter
- RG: Wyatt Davis
- RT: Brian O’Neill
Unless injuries ran rampant or Davis and Darrisaw mysteriously stink, the fivesome could actually bring the Vikings up to speed via pass protection.
Tretter is the potential exclamation point to a Vikings offseason that was totally rejuvenated with the addition of Za’Darius Smith.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. His YouTube Channel, VikesNow, debuts in March 2022. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sally from Minneapolis. His Viking fandom dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ and The Doors (the band).
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