One of the biggest disasters for the Minnesota Vikings in 2025 has been the offensive line, largely because the majority of the starters struggle to stay on the field.
The only lineman who has been healthy all season has been guard Will Fries, who ironically played just five games last week with the Indianapolis Colts after suffering a broken tibia. Fries signed a five-year, $88 million contract in the offseason with the Vikings, and apparently, he's not playing at the level he should be.
ESPN's Aaron Schatz surprisingly included Fries in his list of five players in new homes who have not worked out. While Schatz acknowledged that things have not been smooth on the offensive line, he has not seen the same production from the veteran guard that he did last year.
"So far this season, Fries' win rates are not only below what he did last season but also below what he did in a full season in 2023. His pass block win rate has gone from 90.9% in 2023 to 92.4% to 88.5%. His run block win rate has gone from 70.3% in 2023 to 74.3% to 66.3%, which is currently 55th out of 65 qualifying guards.
He had a setback in his recovery from the injury over the offseason, which might still be affecting him. He has also had to deal with some shuffling of the players on either side of him, which isn't good for offensive line continuity."
Minnesota Vikings offensive lineman Will Fries has not been as bad as Schatz claims he has been
Everyone needs to give Fries a break, as the Vikings have had to deal with some continuity issues on the offensive line. This is a unit that has had eight different starters on the line after key injuries to Ryan Kelly, Christian Darrisaw, Donovan Jackson, and Brian O'Neill.
Fries is literally the only day one starter who has started every single game on the line this season. Sure, the numbers aren't going to look great as his Pro Football Focus grade in 2025 so far is 57.2, which is 43rd out of 79 offensive guards. The positive is that he is 16th among guards in pass blocking with a grade of 69.3.
It would be hard for any offensive lineman to succeed in the turmoil that has been the Vikings' offensive line. The good news is that the line is starting to get healthier, including the opening of Kelly's 21-day practice window.
Once the Vikings are fully healthy on the offensive line, Fries should see more success with his play, and fans will be able to see the full picture of what the franchise is aiming for.