Vikings Entered a Six-Team Bidding War And Won
The Vikings have been busy in free agency. Adding not only one but two potential game-changing defensive tackles surely makes life easier for defensive coordinator Brian Flores. On offense, Kevin O’Connell’s scheme can work even better with a pair of upgrades along the offensive line.
Vikings Entered a Six-Team Bidding War And Won
Colts center Ryan Kelly and Colts guard Will Fries reunite in the Twin Cities to solidify the protection up front. The aging Kelly agreed to a two-year deal worth $18 million. Fries, meanwhile, was more expensive.
His contract is worth a whopping $88 million for five years. That’s a ton of money for any player, especially for a guard. He now ranks tenth among offensive guards in average annual salary.
That salary was necessary to acquire his services, though. According to Albert Breer, six teams were pursuing him. “There was a lot of action on Fries—the Colts were trying to bring him back, and the Patriots, Giants, Seahawks and Cardinals were also involved.”
In the NFL, practically all 32 teams constantly look for offensive line help, so it’s not too surprising to see other teams trying to sign the man. What might be more surprising is that the Vikings entered the sweepstakes and won.
The last regime around Mike Zimmer and Rick Spielman often would sign a low-end guard in free agency and call it a day. Even the current regime led by Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and Kevin O’Connell is coming off a season with Blake Brandel, Dalton Risner, and Ed Ingram at guard.
But it’s a new day in Minneapolis. Guards are no longer overlooked, and the fans finally get their wish for more interior protection granted.
Fries came into the league as a seventh-round rookie in 2021. The Penn State alumnus started 31 of 41 games he played for the Colts. After a year and a half of depth duties, he finally clinched a starting spot during the 2022 season. Last year, he started the campaign at a Pro Bowl level, but a fractured tibia ended his season in Week 5.
It didn’t affect his market, although a full season at that level might have gotten him another million or two per season.
The offensive line will be a fascinating spot to watch. Of course, the top duo on the outside, Brian O’Neill and Christian Darrisaw, will return to keep edge rushers away from presumed starter J.J. McCarthy. Darrisaw’s recovery timeline from his knee injury is uncertain at this point, but he should be back at some point, possibly even in Week 1.
Fries and Kelly join an interior group that only lost starting right guard Risner. Last year’s Week 1 starters Ingram, Brandel, and Garrett Bradbury are all still under contract. The two former Colts will slide into the lineup; Brandel should be considered the favorite to complete the starting line, barring any other additions.
The Vikings paid Fries a ton of money, but he is just 26 years old and many considered him the top guard on the market. The franchise just needs him to return to his pre-injury form.
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