EAGAN, Minn. – Four thousand, six hundred and thirty-nine.
That's the number of regular-season snaps Vikings center Garrett Bradbury has played since being drafted by Minnesota 18th overall in 2019.
And Brian O'Neill, a 2018 second-round selection? He's now racked up 5,916 offensive snaps, almost entirely at right tackle.
Bradbury and O'Neill have been mainstays on the offensive line since their respective rookie campaigns, and the Vikings added Christian Darrisaw to the mix in the first round (23rd overall) of the 2021 draft. The former Virginia Tech Hokie is entering this season with 2,488 snaps under his belt.
The Vikings o-line has remained largely intact since 2021, albeit there have been a few adjustments at the guard spots. Ed Ingram, however, has started at right guard the past two seasons and is taking most of the training camp first-team reps there.
It all adds up to a lot of experience up front for Minnesota, which is entering a season with two new quarterbacks and a new running back.
Free agent addition Sam Darnold said "you can tell" how much continuity the line has had over the past three-plus seasons, noting the unit's cohesion – which shows up beyond the hashmarks.
From huddling over a cafeteria table for breakfast; to team meetings, practice and film review; to hanging on the golf course or at group dinners, Minnesota's offensive linemen almost always are spotted as a group.
"They're really comfortable with each other. You see that right away with the way they are off the field, then coming onto the field and just how easy it is for them to be able to [communicate]," Darnold said during a recent session with Twin Cities media members. "Garrett makes one call, and they know exactly what they're gonna do. It's just a good feeling as a quarterback to have an offensive line that's so cohesive and ready to go."
As Darnold and rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy continue familiarizing themselves in Minnesota's offensive system, they're able to lean on the expertise of the big men up front.
Vikings Offensive Coordinator Wes Phillips emphasized it's been "tremendously helpful" for the new passers, particularly after six straight seasons of having a veteran quarterback under center in Kirk Cousins.
"The longer a guy's played next to another guy and they know what to expect, they understand each other, they've talked out issues they've had in the past, whether it's games or twists (by defensive players) – any issues they've ever had – they've been able to kind of iron those out together, and it's not a new guy in there where they have to say, 'Hey, what we usually do here is…' " explained Phillips. "So the continuity is really, really big. Garrett's leading the charge. To have a guy who gets up there, he's smart, he knows what calls to make, he understands our protection scheme, it's invaluable.
"They've got their own kind of codes in there. Sometimes I'm saying, 'Hey, tell me what that means. I just want to know what you're saying up there, to make sure I understand,' " Phillips continued. "Any of these calls that they're making, they've got kind of their own language up there to communicate and not give away anything to the defense."
McCarthy benefited at the collegiate level from a talented Michigan offensive line. Now, he's absorbing all he can from a wealth of knowledge in the trenches.
McCarthy pointed out that offensive line is "one of the only positions" in the game that requires every player to be totally in-sync.
"You know, sometimes on the defensive side, a corner on the backside could mess up his job and be OK, but if the offensive line isn't on the same page every single time, you're gonna see it," he said. "Just being able to have an experienced line – a lot of great dudes on that line, a lot of talented dudes, it's a blessing for the entire team."
Running back Aaron Jones, Sr., certainly isn't new to the NFL but is learning the Vikings offense after seven seasons of playing for the division-rival Packers.
Jones reiterated sentiments of Darnold and McCarthy, saying it's always obvious when offensive linemen have built the level of continuity the Vikings have.
"When they're having to run combinations together, [zone combination] B blocks – different blocks where they have to work in tandem – and they're always together. You can tell they've worked together before," Jones said. "It's a relief. They know what they're doing. You can run right off them … or they might turn around, 'Hey, this is what's going on.' "
Everything starts from the center position, which is why Phillips and other coaches don't take Bradbury for granted.
Trust is key – and they have that in Bradbury.
"There's some complicated looks, especially when you're talking about protections," Phillips said. "And the quarterback has a toolbox of calls to get guys where he wants him and to know where his issues are.
"Sometimes [the defense] might be in a personnel grouping with, maybe it's dime and there's a bunch of DBs on the line – 'Where are the bigs, where are the DBs, where is the line going?' And the [QB] might spit out a call, and Garrett might be the one to trump him at times. Where he says, 'No, no, no. We've gotta go this way,' " Phillips added. "We trust Garrett to do that, and we know that it's hard for the quarterbacks. Any quarterback. Having a guy like that, who's experienced and knows our system, knows what we want, is truly invaluable."
O'Neill and Darrisaw said the offensive line understands the importance of helping the new backfield transition and succeed.
"Managing a new quarterback is going to present some challenges, as far as communication," O'Neill said. "There's going to be a new voice."
Darrisaw added: "Adding Aaron, adding Sam, drafting J.J., just having those guys back there, if we do our job up front and the receivers go make those plays, their jobs will be way easier and they'll have clear minds."
Everything starts from the center position, which is why Phillips and other coaches don't take Bradbury for granted.
Trust is key – and they have that in Bradbury.
"There's some complicated looks, especially when you're talking about protections," Phillips said. "And the quarterback has a toolbox of calls to get guys where he wants him and to know where his issues are.
"Sometimes [the defense] might be in a personnel grouping with, maybe it's dime and there's a bunch of DBs on the line – 'Where are the bigs, where are the DBs, where is the line going?' And the [QB] might spit out a call, and Garrett might be the one to trump him at times. Where he says, 'No, no, no. We've gotta go this way,' " Phillips added. "We trust Garrett to do that, and we know that it's hard for the quarterbacks. Any quarterback. Having a guy like that, who's experienced and knows our system, knows what we want, is truly invaluable."
O'Neill and Darrisaw said the offensive line understands the importance of helping the new backfield transition and succeed.
"Managing a new quarterback is going to present some challenges, as far as communication," O'Neill said. "There's going to be a new voice."
Darrisaw added: "Adding Aaron, adding Sam, drafting J.J., just having those guys back there, if we do our job up front and the receivers go make those plays, their jobs will be way easier and they'll have clear minds."
