Minnesota Vikings center Ryan Kelly sustained three concussions in 2025 — on top of several concussions before this season. He […]
Minnesota Vikings center Ryan Kelly sustained three concussions in 2025 — on top of several concussions before this season. He may retire. If so, the Vikings will obviously need a replacement, especially if the club doesn’t trust Blake Brandel or Michael Jurgens with the starting job.
Center sits on Minnesota’s short list of needs, and this group offers realistic answers.
Consider these five players as viable alternatives from free agency if Minnesota does not use a high-round draft pick on a center in April.
Five Centers Who Make Sense for the Vikings in Free Agency
A look at possible Kelly replacements if the four-time Pro Bowler retires.
5. Ethan Pocic (CLE)
Age: 30
2025 PFF Grade: 63.8
PFF Pass Protection: 62.2
PFF Run Blocking: 63.2
Estimated Market Value: $10-$12M
Pocic was a 2nd-Rounder in 2017 — the same day the Vikings drafted Dalvin Cook. He spent his rookie contract in Seattle before signing with the Browns in 2022 free agency.
The Browns lineman always misses at least a couple of games per due to injury, but that’s where Brandel and Jurgens would come into play.
4. Connor McGovern (BUF)
Age: 28
2025 PFF Grade: 69.1
PFF Pass Protection: 73.4
PFF Run Blocking: 65.2
Estimated Market Value: $16-$19M
McGovern reached the Pro Bowl in 2024 and was a 3rd-Round pick in 2019. The Dallas Cowboys drafted him in 2019, and he spent four seasons there.
The Bills would probably be wise to re-sign McGovern, but if they cannot afford him, Minnesota would get a durable talent. He’s missed just five games to injury in the last five seasons.
It’s worth noting that McGovern’s specialty is pass protection rather than run-blocking. He’s the opposite of longtime Vikings center Garrett Bradbury.
SI.com‘s Colin Richey wrote about McGovern earlier this month, “Stationed in the middle of Buffalo’s elite offensive line, the Bills’ starting center is projected to earn $16 million AAV this offseason. Similar to David Edwards, the plan for McGovern was always a two-parter since he joined the Bills in 2023.”
“He started all 17 games at guard in his debut season with Buffalo, before transitioning to center to replace Mitch Morse. The move couldn’t have been smoother. He’s currently tied for third in IOL pass block win rate, winning 97% of his reps.”
3. Cade Mays (CAR)
Age: 26
2025 PFF Grade: 62.4
PFF Pass Protection: 58.4
PFF Run Blocking: 69.4
Estimated Market Value: $12-$15M
Mays has transformed into a full-time interior offensive lineman in the last two years, and despite some injury concerns, he’s a pretty damn good starting center. He played 727 offensive snaps for the 2025 Panthers and will look to cash in via free agency for the first time.
Carolina found Mays in Round 5 four years ago; he was a draft steal who most of the world doesn’t know about.
Mays was a teammate of Vikings safety Theo Jackson at Tennessee.
2. Tyler Linderbaum (BAL)
Age: 25
2025 PFF Grade: 80.2
PFF Pass Protection: 63.4
PFF Run Blocking: 83.7
Estimated Market Value: $17-$20M
Linderbaum may not hit the open market. He’s one of the best centers in the NFL, and usually when such players are on tap at this point on the NFL calendar to hit free agency, their existing employers hand down the cash. That feels like a good possibility for Linderbaum.
Otherwise, the Vikings would welcome a three-time Pro Bowler and Iowegian — who they could have drafted with the 25th overall pick in 2022.
It will remain weird that Baltimore did not exercise Linderbaum’s fifth-year option. The guy is a stud. He’s already started 66 games in the pros.
1. Luke Fortner (NO)
Age: 27
2025 PFF Grade: 66.5
PFF Pass Protection: 72.5
PFF Run Blocking: 65.3
Estimated Market Value: $6-$8M
Fortner makes the most sense as a Vikings replacement center because his whole prime is upcoming, his PPF marks check out, and he costs about 60% less than Linderbaum. The latter is important for a cash-strapped team.
Canal Street Chronicle‘s Nic Jennings on Fortner: “New Orleans acquired Fortner in a trade with the Jacksonville Jaguars for DT Khalen Saunders prior to the start of the 2025 season — a move that paid off as injuries depleted the offensive line. While replacing McCoy’s impact is nearly impossible, the 27-year-old former third-round pick filled in seamlessly and established himself as a reliable depth option.”
“In 12 games and 10 starts, Fortner allowed just three sacks and 11 pressures on 442 pass-blocking snaps while committing only three penalties. He earned a 72.5 pass-blocking grade from Pro Football Focus in his first season with the black and gold.”
He was a full-time starter in Jacksonville for a couple of seasons, entering the league in Round 3 of the 2022 NFL Draft. Fortner improved markedly in 2025. Here’s his PFF history:
2022: 52.0
2023: 44.3
2024: Barely Played
2025: 66.5
He’s cheap because he has one good year under his belt. Perhaps there will be another in Minnesota.
Minnesota will have nine draft picks in April, assuming no trades, and could draft a center, too, somewhere in the early rounds.
Category: General Sports
