One of the Minnesota Vikings’ first moves of the offseason was to re-sign longtime starting center Garrett Bradbury to a three-year, $15.75 million deal. However, they constructed the contract to be a one-year prove-it deal. Minnesota can release him with zero dead money after 2023.
Bradbury had the best season of his career last year, finishing with a 67.2-overall PFF grade and a career-high 63.8 pass-blocking grade.
A highly regarded run blocker coming out of college, Bradley was originally a great schematic fit when the Vikings drafted him to play in a wide zone run-heavy scheme. Unfortunately, Bradbury immediately struggled, and they even benched him at a point in the 2021 season. But Bradbury took ownership of his shortcomings after Minnesota benched him, and he worked his way back into the starting spot.
Bradbury is less of a fit under Kevin O’Connell’s more balanced scheme that requires more from the pass blockers. He struggles against heavier nose tackles, and he’s considered light in the wide world of offensive linemen.
That was evident during multiple matchups last year:
- Week 1 against Kenny Clark (27.6 PBK grade)
- Week 6 vs. the Miami Dolphins against massive interior lineman Christian Wilkins (20.4 PBK grade)
- And the most critical matchup of the season, the Wild Card matchup against Leonard Williams and Dexter Lawrence, in which Bradbury finished with a 20.4 PBK grade and a 58.2 overall PFF grade.
Bradbury meaningfully improved in 2022 season. Still, the Vikings will use the 2023 season to evaluate if he is the ideal candidate to start at center going forward.
If not, the team has options:
Cesar Ruiz
Proj. market value via Spotrac: 4y, $42m
Ruiz and Bradbury have had similar career trajectories. Both were once highly regarded first-round centers, but now they’re recipients of criticism from fans and analysts.
But their shortcomings are different. Ruiz has typically fared well in pass-blocking, with more consistency than Bradbury throughout their young careers. However, Ruiz has consistently been a sub-par run-blocker. Ruiz could benefit substantially from playing within a system that would place him alongside run-blockers like Ezra Cleveland, Christian Darrisaw, and Brian O’Neill.
Ruiz suffered an injury that kept him sidelined for the final three weeks of the 2022 season, but he does not have an extensive injury history. His projected contract would not prevent the Vikings from any of their key extensions at only $10.4 million in AAV. The value for his performance would be solid, and it would be a bargain if he improves within the new system.
Matt Hennessy
Proj. market value via Spotrac: 4y, $38m
Hennessy is perhaps the most intriguing name on this list. In his second and only full season, Hennessy finished with a promising 76.2 overall PFF grade, with an incredible 88.1 run-block grade and pedestrian 50.5 pass-blocking grade.
However, he suffered an injury that sidelined him for most of the 2022 season, and only had 157 snaps. If the 2021 season was any indication of his ability, Hennessy would be an immediate and drastic upgrade for the Vikings.
Spotrac projects Hennessy to command only roughly $40 million over four years. That would be a very manageable contract for the Vikings when factoring in impending extensions to players like Justin Jefferson, Christian Darrisaw, and T.J. Hockenson.
If Hennessy plays as he did and 2021 and can avoid injuries, the Vikings could have their best center in nearly a decade.
Lloyd Cushenberry
Proj. market value via Spotrac: 4y, $27m
Cushenberry would be the least-expensive option on this list. He’s projected by Spotrac to earn roughly $3.5 million less than either of the other candidates and would also be the least exciting option. Currently starting for the Denver Broncos, Cushenberry received a modest 56.2 PFF grade while playing for one of the most maligned offensive lines in football last year.
The Denver Broncos’ dysfunction last year under Nathaniel Hackett is enough to turn a blind eye to Cushenberry’s less-than-impressive season. He offers an immediate upgrade at pass-blocking, finishing with a 68.8 PFF PBK grade in 2022 and a 71.3 PBK grade in 2021. He would be a solid signing on a shorter deal.
Regardless of which direction the Vikings choose, they have options. The team can draft and develop a new center, continue to see Bradbury’s upside within the new system, or seek an external candidate in free agency. With premier tackles Christian Darrisaw and O’Neill starring along with young and improving guards Ed Ingram and Ezra Cleveland, the line is finally beginning to take shape and could heights the team hasn’t seen in nearly a decade.
