The Minnesota Vikings cut ties with incumbent center Garrett Bradbury on Monday.
Garrett Bradbury Chooses New Team
The move saved just over $5 million on this year’s salary cap for the purple team and fully paved the way for free-agent newcomer Ryan Kelly to fill the starting center job.
But Bradbury’s free agency didn’t last long. He’s a New England Patriot.
It’s the Patriots for Garrett Bradbury
ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweeted Tuesday, “Sources: Former Vikings’ 2019 first-round pick Garrett Bradbury has reached agreement on a two-year deal worth up to $12 million, including $3.8 million guaranteed, with the New England Patriots. Bradbury started all 88 games he played for the Vikings.”
“The Patriots recently released 10-year veteran and team captain David Andrews, and Bradbury now is expected to replace him.”
So, it’s Bradbury as Andrews’ replacement, large shoes to fill as Andrews was quite beloved in Foxborough.
Bradbury played in Minnesota for the last six seasons, drafted from Round 1 in 2019 by former general manager Rick Spielman. He’s not the best pass-blocking center imaginable, but he’s a decent commodity on the whole.
Here’s Bradbury’s Pro Football Focus resume since 2019:
2024: 62.8
2023: 60.9
2022: 67.5
2021: 60.2
2020: 61.4
2019: 57.8
Patriots Offensive Line
New England’s offensive line ranked 30th last year per Pro Football Network, also known as third-worst in the NFL.
PFN wrote after the 2024 campaign concluded, “New England ranked last in RBWR and second from last in PBWR. They were 31st in pressure rate (39.5%) and 29th in sack rate (9.0%) despite being just 12th in time to throw (2.91 seconds). The Patriots’ OL struggled regardless of the number of pass rushers being sent their way and wasn’t much better at opening holes in the run game (0.58 RBYBC/rush; 32nd).”
Before the 2025 NFL Draft, here are the Patriots’ new-look offensive trenches:
LT: Vederian Lowe
LG: Cole Strange
C: Garrett Bradbury
RG: Mike Onwenu
RT: Demontrey Jacobs
To put it bluntly, the franchise desperately needs offensive tackle assistance.
Bradbury in Minnesota
General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah unexpectedly signed Ryan Kelly from the Indianapolis Colts one week ago, and the move represented the Vikings’ most meaningful acquisition for the offensive line’s interior in over a decade. For weeks, fans hoped the purple team would take the plunge with Drew Dalman in free agency, but the Chicago Bears wiped Dalman off the board right away eight days ago. Kelly, a four-time Pro Bowler, got the nod instead.
Some believed Bradbury could be traded when Kelly signed on the Vikings’ dotted line. But with no trade partner, apparently, he hit the open market for a few hours before New England swooped.
Kelly didn’t hit many fans’ radar this offseason because of his age. He’s 32, and Adofo-Mensah usually doesn’t sign free agents that “old.” But this time was different. Kelly will hold down the middle of the offensive line for at least two seasons.
Here’s the fresh offensive line for Minnesota before free agency’s second wave or the 2025 NFL Draft:
LT: Christian Darrisaw
LG: Blake Brandel
C: Ryan Kelly
RG: Will Fries
RT: Brian O’Neill
Other Unsigned Vikes
Most unsigned players from Kevin O’Connell’s 2025 roster will find new destinations before too long.
These players are unsigned as of March 18th:
- Cam Akers (RB)
- Jihad Ward (OLB)
- Dan Feeney (G/C)
- Dalton Risner (OG)
- Cam Robinson (LT)
- Fabian Moreau (CB)
- Shaquill Griffin (CB)
- Brandon Powell (WR)
- Stephon Gilmore (CB)
- Jonathan Bullard (DT)
- Kamu Grugier-Hill (LB)
- David Quessenberry (OT)
New England now employs nine former Vikings players: Bradbury, Joshua Dobbs (QB), Christian Elliss (LB), Marcus Epps (S), Vederian Lowe (OT), Tyrese Robinson (OG), Khyiris Tonga (DT), Jaquelin Roy (DT), and Parker Romo (K).
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.