Free agency and the NFL Draft are likely to change the Minnesota Vikings roster to a significant degree. They have 45% of their 2024 snaps set to hit free agency, which is a bafflingly high number and the most in the National Football League.
The one place that most Vikings fans will argue needs to be fixed is the interior of the offensive line. Heck, some would argue it’s been a massive need since the end of the 2011 season, which is also the last year that Steve Hutchinson played with the Vikings.
0:07 / 3:54 3 BIG Defensive Tackles the Vikings have to seriously consider in the 2025 NFL Draft3 BIG Defensive Tackles the Vikings have to seriously consider in the 2025 NFL Draft Read More
The last two games of the 2024 season exposed the Vikings’ interior of the offensive line in a major way, as they struggled to hold up against both the Detroit Lions and Los Angeles Rams.
Should the Vikings keep Garrett Bradbury?
The biggest question mark on the interior of the offensive line has been Bradbury. He’s been the starter since the Vikings selected him at 18th overall in the 2019 NFL Draft. The prevailing thought at the time was that Bradbury was a plug-and-play center from day one and he would grow into a very good player at the position, especially in the wide zone running game that the Vikings were running at the time.
Bradbury is still a very good run blocker, especially when you consider his elite movement skills for his size. If you go by Pro Football Focus grades, Bradbury ranked as an average center in 2024.
Overall: 62.8 (20th) Run Blocking: 70.5 (10th) Pass Blocking: 50.5 (26th)
It’s no secret to anyone that Bradbury is a good run blocker, but struggles in handling defensive tackles in pass protection. He doesn’t have a super strong anchor to hold up against a lot of power. 2024 saw Bradbury struggle in pass protection, allowing a career-high 38 pressures a year after allowing a career-low 22 pressures. Why the difference? The play of Sam Darnold. Not all pressures are created equally.
I don’t think anyone would argue that a better option at center would be a prudent move. Here’s the thing: where are you finding a better option?
The one player that everyone points to is Atlanta Falcons center Drew Dalman. He’s the same size profile as Bradbury and is arguably a better run blocker. What he isn’t is a significantly better pass blocker. His career efficiency in pass protection is 0.1% lower than Bradbury’s.
If you were to sign Dalman, he would cost more than Bradbury’s salary cap hit of $6,064,000 and if he were to get cut, Bradbury would cost $2,442,000 in dead cap.
Is it worth “trying someone new” if they bring in a player with the same flaws that Bradbury has? You can argue that it’s the definition of insanity. The only other good option in free agency is Indianapolis Colts’ Ryan Kelly. He’s older at 32 years old with some injury history, but he’s arguably the type of player the Vikings need at the position right now, that is, if he stays healthy.
If the Vikings want to replace Bradbury, that’s a good idea. However, it needs to be the right player because, as we’ve seen with the Vikings in the past, it can always get worse.