Were the Vikings Interested in Signing JC Tretter?

Dec 20, 2021; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Browns center JC Tretter (64) blocks Las Vegas Raiders outside linebacker K.J. Wright (34) during the second quarter at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Galvin-USA TODAY Sports

Apparently, the window for the Vikings to sign JC Tretter has closed. The veteran center has chosen to retire, meaning Minnesota will need to look elsewhere if they’re actually looking to bring someone else in to snap the ball.

Part of what makes the retirement even more interesting is that, according to Tretter, Minnesota never reached out to him. Take a look at the word from ESPN‘s Kevin Seifert (who is taking info from a Sports Illustrated piece):

The SI article provides some thoughts on why Tretter hasn’t been signed:

In Tretter’s estimation, finding the reason for this radio silence isn’t difficult. He describes his salary requests as modest, “not at a vet minimum” but “well below the value I bring.” He says his right knee is “fully ready” for game action, having healed itself of the swelling issue by Week 8 last season and requiring no more draining for the rest of the season. Plus, Tretter adds, no club has so much as requested an MRI or a physical to inspect it. This despite Pro Football Focus ranking him as the league’s fifth-best center entering this season.

If the Vikings actually failed to return a phone call to JC Tretter, then perhaps the plan has been to stick with Garrett Bradbury all along.

Minnesota’s offensive line may show significant improvement in 2022. There’s still plenty of optimism for the Darrisaw/O’Neill tackle tandem. Ezra Cleveland will be the starting left guard, and rookie Ed Ingram continues to look like the leader for the right guard spot. Perhaps strong play in these four spots will help to elevate the entire line.

The Vikings may have been able to add JC Tretter to be their center in 2022. As it stands, it doesn’t look like that’ll end up working out. The team must now decide if Bradbury is their best option. Austin Schlottmann has done some good things during the preseason, and another good performance on Saturday night may mean the competition for C1 duties is more close than many realized.

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