Top Vikings FA Add Was Being Pursued by Multiple Teams Around the NFL
There were several teams looking to sign top Vikings FA add Ryan Kelly. Source? None other than the man himself.
The team’s new C1 took some time to chat with the media last week. Sensibly enough, the lineman was asked to clarify some of the details behind his free-agent journey: “There was a few different teams calling. To be honest, I was actually on a flight when this was all going down, which is probably the worst place to be […] There was a few teams involved and as I started looking at it, Minnesota was the most appealing place.”
Vikings FA Add Ryan Kelly & The Broader NFL Competition
Predictably enough, the league expressed an interest in adding a top-tier center.
Now, the downside is that Kelly is closer to the end of his career than the beginning. He was added to the league back in the 2016 NFL Draft with the No. 18 pick. He has since been to four Pro Bowls and has established a reputation for being one of the best centers in the league. Keep in mind, as well, that he was named a second-team All Pro back in the 2020 season.
Minnesota’s pursuit makes a ton of sense given that the budget was robust and they’re moving forward with a young quarterback. The nine-year veteran should keep J.J. McCarthy on his feet more often than not while helping the youngster to decode what the defense is doing (something Kelly goes on to discuss later in the same press conference).
While discussing the appeal of Minnesota, Kelly goes on to praise the head coach — Kevin O’Connell demands a lot of respect inside of Minnesota’s borders but also around the NFL more broadly — and the importance of the NFLPA report card.
Prior to becoming a Viking, Kelly was a Colt for the duration of his career. Originally, there was the rookie contract but then there was a meaty extension to follow. The center was kept around for a while longer due to a four-year extension that kicked over $49,650,000.
During 601 snaps in 2024, Ryan Kelly got dinged for allowing 1 sack, 1 QB hit, and 11 pressures. During 1,117 snaps in 2024, Garrett Bradbury got dinged for allowing 4 sacks, 6 QB hits, and 37 total pressures. Of course, the PFF assessment isn’t the only way to evaluate o-line play, but those numbers certainly suggest that an upgrade has been made.
The Vikings being able to overcome competition in the free-agent market has been a bit of a theme so far during the 2025 offseason. We’ve seen similar scenarios take place with right guard Will Fries, running back Jordan Mason, and receiver Rondale Moore.
Sending over the largest contract — or, at least, close to the largest contract — is indisputably a key factor in landing free agents. Don’t discount the impact of the culture in Minnesota, though, alongside the investment that the Wilfs have made in giving the players top-tier facilities.
Give the final word to Ryan Kelly: “[The NFLPA report card is] huge […] The surveys had a major impact because you’re a guy who is looking for a new home, you’ve got kids, you have a family. What’s the treatment? If you treat my family well, generally I’m going to be happier as a person, I’m going to be happier as a player, I’m going to be in a better mood. We’ll probably have more success.”
Editor’s Note: Information from Pro Football Reference, PFF, and Over the Cap helped with this piece.
Vikings Rumors: Extra ’25 Draft Pick, Trio of Extension Candidates, and Dead Money
K. Joudry is the Senior Editor for Vikings Territory and PurplePTSD. He has been covering the Vikings full time since the summer of 2021. He can be found on social media (Bluesky & Twitter). If you feel so inclined, subscribe to his Substack, The Vikings Gazette, for more great Vikings content.