Vikings Roster Countdown: No. 56 Garrett Bradbury — Can He Repeat 2022?

Bradbury took a huge leap in the pass protection department in his fourth NFL season.

Will Ragatz | Jul 28, 2023

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Minnesota Vikings

Ahead of the Vikings' 2023 preseason, we'll be taking a look at every player on the 90-man roster, counting down from 99 to 0 (excluding the UDFAs, who we've already profiled). For every player, we'll look at the best and worst-case scenarios and their realistic outlook for the upcoming season.

No. 56: Garrett Bradbury, C

Age: 28: 6'3", 300

Finally, in year four, it clicked for Garrett Bradbury. After three seasons as one of the worst pass-blocking centers in the NFL, he took a huge leap in that department in 2022, elevating his overall game enough to be brought back on a new three-year deal in free agency this spring. Locked in once again as the Vikings' starting center, Bradbury will look to not only repeat his breakout campaign, but continue elevating during his second year directing traffic in Kevin O'Connell's offense.

Former Vikings GM Rick Spielman was probably guilty of drafting for need when he picked Bradbury 18th overall out of North Carolina State in 2019. Bradbury's truly elite athleticism for the position made him an impact player in the run game in his first three seasons in Minnesota, but that was offset by his persistent inability to anchor in pass protection. He finished dead last among qualified centers in PFF pass blocking grade in two of those years and second-to-last in the other.

In 2023, for whatever reason, Bradbury jumped to a solid 14th out of 32 centers in that category. He ranged from good to great for most of the year — but there were a few stinkers mixed in that were reminiscent of past years. Bradbury had three games — Packers, Dolphins, and the playoff loss against the Giants — in which he had a sub-30 pass-blocking grade and allowed at least four pressures. To be fair, he faced Kenny Clark, Christian Wilkins, and Dexter Lawrence in those games, and in the playoff loss, he was coming off missing five games with a back injury.

Best-case scenario: Bradbury builds off last season and puts together the best year of his career at age 28. His run blocking is elite and his pass protection continues to improve, with only one or two poor games all season. He gets into the Pro Bowl for the first time.

Worst-case scenario: Last year proves to be a fluke as Bradbury reverts to being below-average in pass protection.

Outlook for 2023: If he can repeat last season or at least come close, Bradbury is a quality player to have as your starting center. He may never quite live up to his first-round draft pedigree, but he's a crucial part of the Vikings' continuity up front. Centers have to set protections, move in space as run blockers, and go against athletic behemoth defensive tackles every week. It's a difficult job and Bradbury has the tools to do it well.

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Published Jul 28, 2023

WILL RAGATZ