EAGAN, Minn. — The Vikings bolstered their offensive line during the first snap of 2025 free agency.

Minnesota has agreed to terms with guard Will Fries, the team announced Wednesday. His addition was among the Vikings wave of signings upon the opening of the New League Year.

A seventh-round pick by Indianapolis in 2021, Fries spent his first four NFL seasons with the Colts, becoming a hidden gem. The guard experienced some growing pains in pass blocking his first two seasons, but in 2023 and 2024 he received grades of 65.4 and 74.9, respectively, from analytics site Pro Football Focus.

Fries last season was credited with allowing 2.0 sacks, one QB hit and three hurries in the five games he played and started. He suffered a fractured right tibia in Week 5 and landed on Injured Reserve for the season's remainder.

Here are five things to know about the Vikings new interior lineman:

1. Former Nittany Lion

Fries played collegiately at Penn State, where he started 42 of the 48 games he played.

He made 26 career starts at right tackle for the Nittany Lions, as well as nine at left tackle, six at right guard and one at left guard.

During his 2020 senior season, Fries started all nine games, first at right tackle before sliding inside to right guard for the final six contests. He helped the Lions rank second in the Big Ten in total offense (430.3) and was named to the All-Big Ten Second Team by coaches.

Fries earned his degree in economics from Penn State in December 2019.

2. New Jersey native

Fries was born on Staten Island, New York, but later relocated with his family to Cranford, New Jersey, where he played prep football at Cranford High School.

Fries played both offensive and defensive line; he helped lead the Cougars to the Mid-State 38 Conference Championship in 2014 and North 2 Group 3 State Championship in 2015. He was rated a four-star prospect by Rivals and a three-star prospect by ESPN, 247Sports and Scout.

3. Would you like Fries with that?

Though new to Minnesota, Fries will have a friendly face in the Vikings locker room.

Minnesota also agreed to terms with former Colts center Ryan Kelly upon the opening of free agency.

Kelly, a 2016 first-round draft pick, and Fries both spent the entirety of their careers thus far with Indianapolis before trading in the Horseshoe for a Norseman.

4. Advocate for others

Throughout his college and NFL playing career, Fries has used his platform for good.

He teamed up with Uplifting Athletes while prepping for his Penn State Pro Day, encouraging people to pledge a dollar amount per bench press rep in support of rare disease research.

Fries also has been a consistent participant in the NFL's My Cause My Cleats campaign, using custom-painted kicks to raise awareness for a variety of issues. He has promoted the Tunnels to Towers Foundation in support of first responders; Veterans of Foreign Wars; and The Headstrong Project, which provides confidential, stigma-free mental health treatment for the military community.

5. Popped the question

Fries proposed to his fiancée Isabella Therien in June 2024. Isabella is the daughter of former Philadelphia Flyer Chris Therien, and she also founded her own home improvement company.