What the Future Holds for Garrett Bradbury
Since 2019, the Minnesota Vikings’ interior offensive line has seemed to constantly change. However, the man in the center has mostly stayed the same — barring games missed due to injury. The iOL is still a cause for concern in Minnesota, and what the future holds for Garrett Bradbury is once again a point of discussion.
What the Future Holds for Garrett Bradbury
Bradbury is never going to live up to the first-round billing. It wasn’t a great pick by the Vikings back in 2019, drafting him with the 18th overall pick. Five seasons have passed, and Bradbury is on his second contract, so it’s probably time to stop worrying about where he was drafted. Before the 2023 season — and after the Vikings had declined his fifth-year option — Bradbury signed a 3-year, $15.75 million contract that sees him as currently the 12th highest-paid center in the league.
Bradbury came in at 15th on the Pro Football Focus center rankings heading into the 2024 season. That ranking feels about right and suggests the Vikings are just about getting what they are paying for with Bradbury — an average starter. He is undersized but athletic, and the run game will always be his stronger area. There will always be those moments when the more powerful interior pass rushers knock him over. The question the Vikings continue to face is how they improve on him.
The top veteran centers in the game who are clearly better than him are not readily available and would be very expensive should they come on the market. Bradbury’s biggest asset is his familiarity with the system and his ability to call protections. When J.J. McCarthy takes over the offense, pairing the veteran with the rookie quarterback should help McCarthy settle in — so long as Bradbury at least does a decent job keeping his quarterback upright.
2024 and Beyond
Injuries have nagged Bradbury over the past three seasons, leading to him missing 10 games across the three campaigns. Dan Feeney was signed early in free agency as the Vikings backup center. I don’t see him pushing Bradbury for the starting job, and his competition is more with seventh-round rookie Michael Jurgens to keep the backup role.
I was pleased to see the Vikings draft a center and will keep a keen eye on his progression during the preseason. Whether it’s Jurgens or a future draft pick, a rookie is the way I’d like to see the Vikings go when looking for Bradbury’s eventual replacement.
Bradbury keeps doing enough to keep his job while other areas of the roster are prioritized. Jurgens should be the first look at a rookie for a potential replacement, and Minnesota should keep looking until they find one. Until that point, Bradbury stays in his job, with there even being talk of a possible contract extension due to his value in helping McCarthy. With Bradbury contracted to the end of next season, I would be very surprised if there are any talks of an extension before next year.
I expect Bradbury to be Minneosta’s starting center for at least two more seasons. He will see his contract expire, but I wouldn’t extend it, particularly this early.
Former Viking Released by Packers
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