After watching quarterback Sam Darnold constantly under pressure in January’s playoff loss to the Los Angeles Rams, Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell made it clear: the interior offensive line needed a serious upgrade.
Enter Will Fries.
The Vikings made a bold move in March, signing Fries — Pro Football Focus’ No. 2-ranked free-agent guard behind Trey Smith — to a five-year, $88 million deal. Smith re-signed with the Chiefs, but Minnesota made its own splash by betting on Fries, a former seventh-round pick with just two seasons as a starter in Indianapolis and coming off a fractured tibia.
It’s a gamble, but one with plenty of upside.
Brandon Thorn of Trench Warfare, a respected voice in offensive and defensive line analysis, told Purple Insider’s Matthew Coller that Fries brings an intensity and toughness the Vikings haven’t had on their offensive line since the Steve Hutchinson era.
He’s one of my favorite O-linemen in the league,” Thorn said. “He’s the enforcer. In Indy, he was sometimes nastier than even Quenton Nelson. I haven’t seen a guy like him in Minnesota for a long time.”
Fries, 27, is known for his physicality, edge, and ability to get under defenders’ skin. Thorn believes his gritty style will set the tone for the Vikings’ offense, bringing a much-needed mean streak to the trenches.
Despite being a late-round pick in 2021, Fries has emerged as one of the top interior linemen on the market. Before his injury last season, he earned an impressive 86.9 PFF grade over five games — a glimpse of his potential when fully healthy.
The contract is a big commitment, and expectations will be high. But if Fries can deliver that level of performance over a full season, he could become a cornerstone for a Vikings offensive line that has desperately needed a player like him.
Leave a Reply