Vikings, C Ryan Kelly Agree To Deal

Ryan Kelly is leaving Indianapolis after nine seasons. The Pro Bowl center has agreed to terms with the Vikings, ESPN’s Adam Schefter and Jeremy Fowler report.

The nine-year veteran will join the Vikings on a two-year, $18MM deal. Kelly will join a Minnesota O-line housing high-end tackle contracts for Christian Darrisaw and Brian O’Neill. Kelly will reunite with the GM who drafted him, Ryan Grigson, who is in the Vikings’ front office.

After signing a Colts extension in 2020, Kelly lobbied for a new deal last year. Nothing emerged, as Kenny Moore and Grover Stewart secured third Indianapolis contracts. Kelly played out his four-year, $49.65MM extension and will depart. He was the last position player acquired under Grigson’s GM tenure.

A 2016 first-round pick Kelly was tied to a fifth-year option when he inked his Colts extension. Playing well enough to keep going in Indy — but perhaps not well enough to follow Moore and Stewart with a third contract — that timeline placed Kelly as first-time free agent ahead of an age-32 season. That naturally affected his market this week.

Kelly missed seven games last season — largely due to in-season knee surgery — but has four Pro Bowls and a second-team All-Pro honor on his resume. The longtime Indy Quenton Nelson running mate up front made his most recent Pro Bowl as recently as 2023. Even during an injury-marred 2024, Kelly ranked 10th in pass block win rate. Pro Football Focus slotted him eighth among center regulars in ’23, when the Alabama alum played 17 games.

This signing looks set to displace Garrett Bradbury from his center post. PFF rated Bradbury 23rd and 27th since he re-signed on a three-year deal. Minnesota is bringing in a more proven blocker, and this would stand to end Bradbury’s six-season run as the Vikings’ starting center. The Vikes are likely to cut former second-round pick Ed Ingram. If Minnesota were to release Bradbury, it would save $3.6MM in cap space.