Garrett Bradbury Quickly Finds a New Home
The Vikings have addressed their team’s worst weaknesses in the first week of free agency, finding help on both sides of the line of scrimmage.
Javon Hargrave and Jonathan Allen are exciting additions to Brian Flores’ defensive line, and Ryan Kelly and Will Fries can provide better blocking than what the franchise has had in recent history.
Garrett Bradbury Quickly Finds a New Home
However, those signings lead to other players losing their jobs. On the offensive line, Ed Ingram was traded to Houston, while the guy who had handled the center duties for six years was released on Monday.
Garrett Bradbury didn’t take long to find his next team, agreeing to sign a two-year deal with the New England Patriots.
Adam Schefter reported 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.”
The Patriots just said goodbye to their long-term center, David Andrews, who spent half of his career with Tom Brady lining up right behind him. Therefore, a new snapper was needed, and Bradbury will take that spot.
In fact, the Patriots had quite a terrible offensive line last year, paired with the lack of receiving talent or a great running back, and the surroundings were less than ideal for rookie Drake Maye.
Evan Lazar wrote on the official Patriots website, “On paper, adding Bradbury signals that the Patriots have three-fifths of their starting offensive line solidified for the 2025 season. Bradbury will join projected starters in RG Mike Onwenu and RT Morgan Moses. New England has recent draft picks Cole Strange, Layden Robinson, and Sidy Sow to compete for the starting job at left guard. The Pats will also likely target a left tackle early in April’s draft, but could still pursue free agents such as Cam Robinson or Jedrick Wills.”
Now, Bradbury is in the mix. The veteran center has a PFF resume that pretty much sums up his six-year career.
- 2019: 57.8 (28th of 35 centers)
- 2020: 61.4 (25th/36)
- 2021: 60.2 (29th/39)
- 2022: 67.5 (11th/36)
- 2023: 60.9 (23rd/36)
- 2024: 62.8 (27th/40)
He was a starting-caliber player in his tenure with the Vikings, but he was also a player folks hoped the club could upgrade on at some point. Bradbury started 88 games for the purple franchise.
This offseason, they finally took action, acquiring four-time Pro Bowler Kelly from the Colts. He is in the final stretches of his long career but will be an upgrade in pass protection, an area Bradbury has notoriously struggled in.
Bradbury will turn 30 in June. He will reunite with backup quarterback Joshua Dobbs in New England.
Editor’s Note: Information from PFF, Over The Cap, and Pro Football Reference helped with this article.
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Janik Eckardt is a football fan who likes numbers and stats. The Vikings became his favorite team despite their quarterback at the time, Christian Ponder. He is a walking soccer encyclopedia, loves watching sitcoms, and prefers Classic rock over other genres. Follow him on Twitter if you like the Vikings: @JanikEckardt