Looking ahead to the 2026 season, the Minnesota Vikings are pretty set with Christian Darrisaw, Donovan Jackson, Will Fries, and Brian O'Neill as their starting offensive linemen.
However, the Vikings still have to figure out who will join that group in 2026 as the team's starting center.
Last year, Blake Brandel spent the majority of his time on the field lining up at center for Minnesota, including the team's Week 5 win over the Cleveland Browns, when he got the chance to start at center for the first time in his NFL career.
Brandel ended up starting seven games at center for the Vikings last season, and some have wondered if the team will continue along with him as their starting center for the 2026 campaign, especially since veteran center Ryan Kelly is no longer on Minnesota's roster.
During the NFL's Annual League Meeting on Monday, Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell shared what the team has planned for Brandel, and the center position in general, moving forward.
"It was really encouraging to see a guy that had never [started at center] before kind of seamlessly jump in there and attack that opportunity.
But when you think about Blake, you think about a guy that's played all five spots, [and] it is great that we feel that good about Blake's versatility. But ultimately, we want to do what's best for Blake to ascend and reach his highest potential at one position or have the flexibility still to play multiple.
But what his offseason looks like, what his training camp looks like, and what his workflow looks like leading into the season, we want to have him more than likely at that center spot and build on some things that he did last year.
...And I'm also really encouraged about Michael Jurgens. His continued growth, his ability to step-in in some times where we absolutely needed him, and his growth and ascension has been there.
And then I do think that it's a position that's got some really unique names in the draft, depending on where you may be looking to take one.
...We're excited about the players we have and excited about Blake and Juergens, and at the same time, wouldn't hesitate to potentially add a guy as well."
Minnesota Vikings want Blake Brandel to focus on playing center for 2026
O'Connell's comments shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone who has been paying attention to what the Vikings have done so far this offseason.
16 centers have been signed around the NFL in free agency this year, and none of them by Minnesota. Of course, the Vikings haven't had much money to spend this offseason, but at the same time, it's not like a center is typically expensive to sign.
Still, Minnesota not adding a center in free agency this year should say a lot about their confidence in Brandel.
If we're going to predict what Minnesota likely has planned for the center position this year based on O'Connell's comments, it seems safe to say that there is a high chance that Brandel will begin the 2026 season as the team's starting center, and the backup will either be Michael Jurgens or a player the Vikings select in the upcoming NFL Draft.
Things might get a little interesting if Minnesota uses one of its three picks on Day 2 of this year's NFL Draft (one second-round selection and two in the third round) on a center. But until that actually happens, it seems like Brandel currently has a clear path to opening up the 2026 season as the Vikings' starting center.