For years, the Minnesota Vikings might have wanted to replace Garrett Bradbury, and anyone who closely followed the team saw him as ripe to be replaced.
This offseason's signing of four-time Pro Bowl center Ryan Kelly signaled the end of Bradbury's time in Minnesota, and after a trade felt possible, the 2019 first-round pick was eventually released in March.
Bradbury quickly landed with the New England Patriots, proving there was a market for an experienced (88 career starts) perfectly average center--even if a trade market didn't seem to seriously materialize for the Vikings to recoup even a Day 3 draft pick.
He is one of three free agent additions made by the Patriots this offseason in an effort to upgrade the offensive line in front of second-year signal-caller Drake Maye.
New England started its offseason program under new head coach Mike Vrabel this week, so Bradbury has been around his new teammates and coaches for the first time.
Though it's fair to say Bradbury might have needed a change of scenery, and Minnesota's signing of Kelly surely made him realize he'd likely be gone in short order, being cut is never a good feeling.
New England Patriots Garrett Bradbury carries no ill-will toward the Minnesota Vikings
Bradbury spoke to reporters on Thursday, and unsurprisingly, he was asked for his thoughts on his time with the Vikings and if his departure has added motivation to prove he's still a starting center.
“Yeah, absolutely. Had six great years in Minnesota. It’s a great locker room. Built some really good connections there. And it ended, right? That’s the business. You never want to feel comfortable, but that’s a wake-up call. That’s [when you say] 'All right, here we go, that’s how they feel and they move on.'
There’s no ill will. I’m not bitter towards the Vikings. It’s just a new opportunity for me. I think when there’s a change, if you don’t take that opportunity, you’re not going to grow from it. So it’s more about, ‘All right, I get to re-invent myself, I get to re-prove myself’. And the minute you think you have it figured out, you’re gone.
So new team, new chapter, new offense – what can I bring? And you have to bring it every day. That’s the biggest thing I’ve learned – meeting room, practice, weight room. So, not even a wake-up call, but it’s just new. It’s exciting. It’s a fresh start. New opportunity.”
Entering what was the final year of his contract, Bradbury surely knew his time as a Viking was winding down. The timeline for the end was accelerated when Kelly was signed, and now he's in New England as the favorite to be their starting center.
Sometimes things just work out like they're supposed to, and Bradbury is embracing his new opportunity while not looking back in any anger.