Vikings Attempt to Lure Free Agent from Bills
The Minnesota Vikings used the first week of free agency to sign a new quarterback in Kyler Murray and a veteran cornerback in James Pierre. Fast forward to free agency’s second wave, and in addition to adding two-time Pro Bowl punter Johnny Hekker on Tuesday evening, Minnesota also tentatively signed a depth offensive tackle: Ryan Van Demark, formerly of the Buffalo Bills.
Minnesota is still hunting for offensive line oomph.
The Vikings need OT insurance for Christian Darrisaw’s hot-and-cold ACL recovery in addition to standard depth.
Van Demark Makes Sense as a Depth Swing Tackle in MIN
The free agency signings are trickling in, alas.
Van Demark Signs with Vikings
Van Demark is a restricted free agent, meaning the Bills have five days to match the Vikings’ offer.
Star Tribune‘s Ben Goessling wrote Tuesday, “The Vikings made an effort to add depth to their offensive line on Tuesday evening, March 17, signing Bills tackle Ryan Van Demark to an offer sheet, according to a source with knowledge of the situation. Van Demark played all 17 games for Buffalo last season, starting a career-high four in his third NFL campaign.”
“He is a restricted free agent, and the Bills have the right to match any offer to him after placing a right of first refusal tender on him. Because he was an undrafted free agent, Buffalo would not receive draft pick compensation if it chose not to match the offer.”
Now, it’s a waiting game. The Bills are on the clock.
The Career Bio
Van Demark was an undrafted discovery by Indianapolis in 2022, but he didn’t last long with the Colts, cut during summer roster trimdowns. The Bills swooped with a practice squad contract. It wasn’t until 2023 that Van Demark started to see a regular season field.
He’s appeared in 43 games since then, starting 6 when injuries arose to others, and has played 558 offensive snaps in three seasons.
Here are the Pro Football Focus Grades with snap counts
- 2025: 74.4 (312 snaps)
- 2024: 53.3 (199 snaps)
- 2023: 60.2 (47 snaps)
Specifically, the pass-blocking:
- 2025: 65.6
- 2024: 51.8
- 2023: 27.2
And the run-blocking:
- 2025: 74.9
- 2024: 51.4
- 2023: 64.4
If Buffalo doesn’t match the offer sheet and Van Demark turns purple, Minnesota will basically hope that his 2025 campaign was a sign of big things to come — an unsung springboard season with Josh Allen’s team.
Buffalo Low Down‘s Brandon Ray on Van Demark: “Obviously the Bills have their starters in Dawkins and Brown, but having reliable backups is very important especially when you run into a situation like the Bills did last season against the Steelers. Buffalo will have to ultimately decide on whether or not to bring Van Demark back for $3.52 million.”
“He has proven to be reliable in key situations, but if the Bills feel that they can find a reliable backup somewhere else, then letting him go to the Vikings won’t be an issue. However, this is one of those situations where if the Bills let him go, they don’t get any draft pick compensation and then they will be looking for his replacement.”
The Updated OT Room
Last year, the Vikings’ version of Van Demark was a man named Justin Skule, and he has not signed anywhere through nine days of free agency. In 2023, David Quessenberry filled the same role.
Through mid-March, assuming the Vikings snag Van Demark from Buffalo, the current OT group would look like this:
- Christian Darrisaw
- Brian O’Neill
- Ryan Van Demark
- Walter Rouse
- Caleb Etienne
Minnesota has nine draft picks on the menu for April; it could draft another offensive tackle sometime in the mid or late rounds.
Who’s Next for Signings?
After the Van Demark offer, Minnesota still has a few quasi-urgent roster needs — that look more and more like they’ll be addressed in the draft.
The club needs a center after Ryan Kelly’s retirement, unless it loves Blake Brandel or Michael Jurgens for that assignment. Free agents at the position include Lloyd Cushenberry III and Ethan Pocic. The draft should feature about 5-6 promising centers, though they may not be ready for full-time service in Week 1.
A third wide receiver would be ideal if last year’s rookie Tai Felton isn’t ready (or any good). From free agency, Minnesota could explore Tyreek Hill, DeAndre Hopkins, Deebo Samuel, or Keenan Allen.
And most Vikings fans assume interim general manager Rob Brzezinski will target a defensive tackle and safety early in the draft.
Minnesota has shown through its actions in the last week that it is not interested in a large spending spree this offseason. It’s all about resetting the salary cap and nailing the draft for the time since picks like Christian Darrisaw and Justin Jefferson — a half-decade ago.
Van Demark will turn 28 this weekend.
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