EAGAN, Minn. — The Vikings on Monday confirmed they will not exercise the team's fifth-year option on center Garrett Bradbury. Minnesota also announced it has signed fullback Jake Bargas.
Bradbury, a first-round pick in 2019, is set to enter the final year of his rookie contract.
He has started all 45 regular-season games he's played and both playoff contests.
Bradbury started the first 39 regular-season games of his career and was the first Vikings rookie center to start 16 games in a season. He landed on the Reserve/COVID-19 list before Minnesota's Nov. 7, 2021, game at Baltimore.
View the best offensive line photos from the 2021 season shot by Vikings photographers.
Once he was cleared by protocols, Bradbury did not immediately return to the starting lineup. The Vikings instead stuck with Mason Cole at center for two more games. Bradbury returned when Cole was moved to right guard while Olisaemeka Udoh filled in for Christian Darrisaw. Cole was placed on Injured Reserve before the final three games of the season. Cole signed with Pittsburgh this offseason.
Bradbury was forthright last fall in evaluating his status and returned as the starting center for the final six games of the 2021 season, but new Vikings Head Coach Kevin O'Connell has expressed confidence in Bradbury starting at center this year.
Minnesota did not draft a center this year, but the Vikings did sign Josh Sokol as one of eight undrafted rookie free agents. The Vikings also added veteran offensive linemen Chris Reed and Jesse Davis during free agency.
Bargas will return to Minnesota after spending each of the past two years on the practice squad. He initially joined the Vikings as an undrafted free agent in 2020 and switched to fullback after playing tight end at North Carolina.
View photos of the Vikings 2022 undrafted free agents the team has agreed to terms with.
Miami Redhawks S Mike Brown
Appalachian State WR Thomas Hennigan
Toledo RB Bryant Koback
Miami OLB Zach McCloud
Sacred Heart C Josh Sokol
Tulsa DT Tyarise Stevenson
Wake Forest OLD Luiji Vilain
Tulane P Ryan Wright
Oklahoma K Gabe Brkic
Bargas has backed up C.J. Ham and was elevated once in each of the past two seasons. He played at New Orleans (Dec. 25, 2020) and at Detroit (Dec. 5, 2021).
Minnesota's roster is at the offseason maximum of 90 players.
Undrafted rookie receiver Tre Turner, who was initially announced as having agreed to terms with the Vikings, has since signed with the Las Vegas Raiders.
Eight undrafted rookies have agreed to terms signed with Minnesota.
