Despite the presence of Garrett Bradbury on the interior of their offensive line, the Minnesota Vikings were willing to splash the cash in free agency on an upgrade in this area. Indianapolis center Ryan Kelly fits the bill for a team looking to get much stronger up front.
Kelly has agreed to sign a two-year, $18 million contract with the Vikings as they try to keep their championship-caliber offense intact. The Vikings have had a quiet offseason to this point, but Kelly will help them stay afloat with the rest of the NFC North contenders after losing Sam Darnold.
The Vikings lost a ton to start this offseason. Darnold is a Seattle Seahawk, edge rusher Patrick Jones is a Carolina Panther, and Camryn Bynum signed a huge deal to become an Indianapolis Colt. Gettin Kelly is a sign that this front office is serious about addressing their needs in free agency.
Vikings agree to two-year contract with center Ryan Kelly
The still-effective Kelly has played in Indianapolis since being picked in the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft, making four Pro Bowls and being named a second-team All-Pro performer. Of the interior offensive linemen available on the market, Kelly may have been the best of the bunch.
This signing may not be the best news for Bradbury, who is coming off a fairly up-and-down season with Minnesota. If he doesn't kick inside to guard, Kelly might be ready to take his job and make it very difficult for the coaching staff ever to move back to him.
While often overshadowed in Indianapolis by the presence of left guard Quenton Nelson constantly earning All-Pro nods next to him, Kelly was an above-average starter for the better part of a decade. Kelly also has familiarity with Vikings executive Ryan Grigson, as Kelly was one of the few good draft picks Grigson made in his time as general manager.
While the Vikings' offensive line is far from an impregnable wall, as it could do with one more NFL Draft selection on Days 2 or 3 this year, this group should be more than capable of giving JJ McCarthy enough time to throw in what will be his first season at the sticks.