Path Clears for Longtime Viking to Start

Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports The Minnesota Vikings entered the offseason with a major question mark at center , and four months in, all signs point to longtime lineman Blake Brandel as the primary fix. The Vikings passed on several outside options, leaving Brandel with a clear path to the job. Minnesota could’ve signed a veteran in free agency , drafted a rookie center somewhere early in the event, or fired off a trade for a proven starter.

They’ve done none of that. A Familiar Lineman Moves Into the Middle Are you worried or excited about Brandel as “the guy” at center? Minnesota Vikings offensive lineman Blake Brandel goes through pregame warmups before facing the Jacksonville Jaguars on Nov.

10, 2024, at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida. Brandel continued to fill multiple roles along Minnesota’s offensive front during the 2024 season, providing the Vikings with dependable depth and lineup flexibility as injuries reshaped the protection unit throughout the year. Mandatory Credit: Morgan Tencza-Imagn Images.

Momentum Builds for Brandel at Center Through the process of elimination, Brandel sure looks like the frontrunner to start at center in September. Then , The Athletic ‘s Alec Lewis dropped this intel on Monday , “The Vikings could have selected a center in the early rounds of the draft, but they didn’t. Instead, the team doubled down on its long-held belief in Brandel.