The Minnesota Vikings and the Chicago Bears each came out on the losing end of the Kansas City Chiefs’ decision to franchise tag Pro Bowl offensive guard Trey Smith ahead of free agency. With Smith now off the table, both NFC North teams find themselves in need of bolstering their offensive lines, specifically the interior, which has been a point of concern in recent seasons. As a result, these two teams are expected to turn their attention to other available free agents who can fill the void left by the Chiefs’ move.
Both the Vikings and Bears are facing an important offseason in terms of improving their respective rosters, and the offensive line is at the top of their lists. As divisional rivals, they now find themselves in a competitive race to secure the best available talent to strengthen their line. The absence of Trey Smith means they must look elsewhere for a solution, and one such player on their radar is Indianapolis Colts guard Will Fries, who has garnered attention from both franchises.
“Headlining the list is Indianapolis Colts guard Will Fries,” Alec Lewis of The Athletic wrote on March 3. “He fits the Vikings’ preferred free-agent benchmarks in that he’s young, versatile and productive.” Fries is an intriguing option due to his blend of youth and ability, both of which are valuable qualities for any team looking to build for the future. The Vikings are particularly interested in players who can grow within their system, and Fries checks many of those boxes.
- Will Fries
However, there is a question mark surrounding Fries’ injury history, specifically a right tibia fracture that could impact his market value. Lewis noted that it remains to be seen how this injury will affect the bidding process for the versatile guard, but it could be a factor that deters some teams. Despite this concern, Fries’ talent and potential fit with both the Vikings and Bears could drive significant interest in the coming weeks, making him one of the top names on the free-agent market.
As free agency looms, the Vikings and Bears are likely to be in a bidding war for Fries’ services, given his fit for their needs and his solid performance with the Colts. Both teams are looking to upgrade their offensive lines, and Fries offers a potential solution to their challenges. In what could become a heated competition, whichever team lands him will be taking a step toward building a more formidable offensive unit in the 2025 season.
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