After the Minnesota Vikings lost to the Los Angeles Rams in Round 1 of the postseason, most onlookers believed that the interior offensive line would undergo fundamental change.
One Vikings Mainstay Might Return After All
That could still occur as free agency is just 11 days away, but thanks to comments from head coach Kevin O’Connell on Tuesday, one long-time Viking may not be on the chopping block after all — center Garrett Bradbury.
Because O’Connell told the press after the Rams defeat that the offensive line’s interior needed improvement, many interpreted the remarks as indicating that Minnesota would find two new guards and a center.
Well, O’Connell dialed back the replacement theories at the NFL Combine. A reporter asked O’Connell if he’d remain committed to replacing iOL players, and he said: “The replace word, I don’t know if I would necessarily use that. It was more just an emphasis on how I believe we need to play, and we need to be able to have a level of execution and a level of physicality that holds up over 17 games.”
“Then, as we learned this year, after playing well in December, which was a goal of ours, we got to find a way to get back in the dance and put our best foot forward in January.”
Bradbury has played six seasons for the Vikings, drafted from Round 1 by former general manager Rick Spielman in 2019. He’s not the best pass-blocking center imaginable, but he’s a decent commodity on the whole.
O’Connell’s comments at the Combine made it sound like he was in no rush to replace a bunch of his incumbent linemen, perhaps increasing Bradbury’s job security.
After losing in the postseason, though, change sounded more imminent. “There’s no question that we got to be able to find a way to give a quarterback time. Especially with players like Jordan Addison, Justin Jefferson, T.J. Hockenson, we got to find a way to solidify the interior of the pocket, starting first and foremost,” O’Connell told reporters on January 13th.
“There can be a thousand excuses made. But, for me, it’s the foundation of the interior of the pocket that we’re going to have to take a long look at.”
Meanwhile, the Vikings may start quarterback J.J. McCarthy in 2025, a 22-year-old, and partnering him with a rookie center or one not quite as experienced as Bradbury may be a non-starter for Minnesota.
On the other hand, if Bradbury is released — the Vikings would save up to $5.25 million if so — free agents like Drew Dalman (Atlanta Falcons) and Ryan Kelly (Indianapolis Colts) are scheduled to hit the open market on March 10th.
Bradbury’s existing contract is due to run out after the 2025 campaign.
He posted a 62.1 Pro Football Focus grade last year.
A Vikings Dream Will Finally Come True
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The show features guests, analysis, and opinion on all things related to the purple team, with 4-7 episodes per week. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band). He follows the NBA as closely as the NFL.
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.