The Minnesota Vikings completed Free Agency Day No. 4 on Thursday, with the first wave almost unofficially complete.
Day 4: The 3 Main Moves from Vikings Free Agency
The Vikings have not disappointed in the last few days, fortifying the trenches, as fans have asked for years stacked upon years.
Overall, these were the three big moves from Vikings Free Agency Day No. 4, ranked in ascending order (No. 1 = most important).
3. Justin Skule (OT) Signs with Vikings
The Vikings main social media account tweeted Thursday, “The Vikings have agreed to terms with OT Justin Skule.”
Skule was a 6th-Round draft pick from 2019 with the San Francisco 49ers — general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah worked there then — and has played 66 career games, starting 17. He logged a 69.2 Pro Football Focus grade in 2024 while playing 361 snaps. Not bad.
Implication for Minnesota:
If Christian Darrisaw isn’t ready by Week 1 — he tore his ACL last October — this man is your Week 1 starter in the meantime.
2. Garrett Bradbury to Be Released or Traded
ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweeted Thursday, “Minnesota is planning to release its 2019 first-round pick Garrett Bradbury unless a trade can be worked out, per sources. Bradbury’s standing was altered after the Vikings signed former Colts Pro-Bowl center Ryan Kelly.”
Cutting Bradbury would save Minnesota up to $5.2 million. Bradbury has played in Minnesota since 2019, drafted from Round 1 by former general manager Rick Spielman. He’s not the best pass-blocking center imaginable, but he’s a decent commodity on the whole.
A trade, generally speaking, is unlikely. Most tweets phrased like Schefter’s result in the guy being released a few days later.
Implication for Minnesota:
It’s four-time Pro Bowler Ryan Kelly in at center for Minnesota, and Bradbury out. End of an era after six seasons.
1. Ed Ingram Traded to Texans
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport tweeted, “Trade: Vikings guard Ed Ingram is being traded to the Texans, sources say, as Houston continued to rework their offensive line. The former 2nd rounder from LSU is on the move, thanks in part to Minnesota spending big on OL in free agency.”
The Vikings will get a 6th-Round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Ingram started for 2.5 seasons at right guard before being benched in favor of Dalton Risner in 2024. Minnesota gave Ingram 48 games to develop, but to date, he’s a below-average offensive lineman.
Implication for Minnesota:
Like Kelly and Bradbury mentioned above, Ingram is out as Minnesota’s right guard, and Kelly’s teammate, Will Fries, will take his job.
For the first time in years — maybe decades — the Vikings will showcase a sweet offensive line, with dependable players from head to toe, assuming Blake Brandel improves next to his new teammates.
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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 MIN 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.