The Vikings’ Center in 2026 — Why the Answer May Already Be on the Roster
As the Minnesota Vikings look ahead to the 2026 season, one issue is the health of the offensive line, which includes the Vikings’ center position.
Injuries plagued the “purple moving crew” and led to over twenty line combinations throughout the season. At the heart of the offensive questions for this team lies the offensive line. Who should be the long-term answer at center? While options in the draft exist in the mid-to-late rounds, the current solution for the 2026 season may already be wearing purple in Blake Brandel.
Who Should the Vikings’ Center be in 2026?
Ryan Kelly’s Health Concerns Create Uncertainty
Veteran center Ryan Kelly was brought in as a free agent last year for his leadership, football IQ, and ability to command protections that he showed in his time with the Indianapolis Colts. However, concussion injuries have become a major concern.
Kelly previously had 3 concussions in nine years with the Colts. With the Vikings, Ryan Kelly has suffered (3) concussions just this season, adding to a troubling history of head injuries throughout his career. For offensive linemen who receive contact on nearly every snap, recurring concussions are not just a short-term issue but a long-term health risk.
Even if Kelly is able to continue playing, the Vikings must be looking for that replacement plan or feel confident in the other options on the depth chart, where there’s Brandel and Michael Jurgens.
Blake Brandel: Position Versatility is Valuable
Enter Blake Brandel, a player whose value took a hit after he was given a contract to be the starting left guard in 2024, only to lose the job to rookie Donovan Jackson in 2025.
He struggled at times at guard and was demoted to a rotational backup. The way the Vikings now see Brandel after his 2025 season has steadily grown his stock thanks to his rare versatility. Brandel has already proven he can play tackle and guard in the NFL. This season, he added another wrinkle by playing center for the first time in his professional career (as he told Vikings Territory he could do back in 2024).
What stands out to me is not just that Brandel survived at center, but that he looked comfortable. With limited preparation time, Brandel showed he doesn’t have too many issues snapping the ball. Even though he is big for a center, Brandel has enough athleticism to get to the second level.
He showed he can make offensive line calls and adjustments that typically take considerable time to learn and master. Being so experienced helps. So, too, does it help to have a strong understanding of the Kevin O’Connell scheme.
A Smart Cap and Roster Strategy
From a team-building money perspective, Brandel at the center makes sense.
The Vikings are navigating a tight salary cap while also feeling pressure to draft other areas — like the secondary — early in the draft. Investing premium draft capital or free-agent dollars into a center when you have a solution already on the team may not be the most efficient use of resources.
Brandel is already under contract for 2026, so why not see if the experiment works? Sliding him into center allows Minnesota to allocate money toward positions like quarterback, which the rumor mill is all over in what type of quarterback(s) will be added.
The Vikings are looking at needs in the secondary, tight end, running back, edge rusher, linebacker, and even wide receiver. A lot will be revealed when free agency opens on March 11th.
The 2026 Audition and a Potential Extension
The 2026 season could quietly serve as Blake Brandel’s audition year at the center position. With a full offseason, training camp, and preseason dedicated exclusively to learning the nuances of playing center, he could develop into the team’s future at the position. Working on his footwork, hand placement, and mastering the playbook, Brandel has a real shot at being a good center in the league.
Brandel’s experience from playing tackle and guard gives him vast knowledge of an opposing defense that a typical first-time center doesn’t have. If Brandel continues to develop as a center, the Vikings may find themselves extending Blake Brandel.
Sometimes the answer a team is searching for is already an in-house option. In the Vikings’ case, Brandel at center could be the move.
