The Vikings added one former Colt along the offensive line in the form of center Ryan Kelly yesterday, and another is also headed to Minnesota. Guard Will Fries has a deal in place, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports.
This will be a whopping five-year, $88MM pact, Fowler adds. KTSP’s Darren Wolfson’s reported yesterday that the sides were discussing a deal, so it comes as little surprise one has now been worked out. Fries will face massive expectations upon arrival given the nature of this commitment.
Fries does not have a connection to Ryan Grigson like Kelly does, as Fries is a first-time free agent who had joined the Colts in the 2021 draft. Despite not joining a team on Day 1 of the legal tampering period, Fries will cash in. While this is on the longer end of the term-length spectrum — especially as the cap has climbed like his has this decade — Fries is receiving a big number to join the Vikings. Guarantees will provide more illumination, but it is clear Minnesota eyed Fries from the start.
The Vikings have been busy Tuesday, agreeing to deals with two high-profile street free agents (Jonathan Allen, Javon Hargrave) to beef up their defensive line alongside Harrison Phillips while adding Fries as their other new piece with Kelly. The two Colts defections come as Indianapolis added long-rumored Minnesota Sam Darnold fallback option Daniel Jones. As Jones prepares to take a run at another starting job, two Colts blockers will prepare to help J.J. McCarthy transition after missing his rookie season.
A Colts starter for roughly two seasons, Fries is coming off a season-ending injury. He sustained a broken leg early last year; that halted considerable momentum. The fifth-year veteran is not yet 100%, per ESPN.com’s Stephen Holder, but all indications point to him having no issues being ready for next season on time. This contract certainly displays Vikings confidence on this front. The Vikings needed to go big for Fries, whom the Colts tried to re-sign. Pushes from the Patriots, Giants, Seahawks and Cardinals drove the market to this place, SI.com’s Albert Breer notes, as Fries did very well for himself despite the early-season injury.
Fries, who emerged out of the 2021 seventh round, graded as the league’s second-best guard (per Pro Football Focus) and had won his run- and pass-blocking matchups at a career-best rate (per ESPN) before the Week 5 setback. This came after a 17-start 2023, as Fries had taken over for less effective starter Danny Pinter during the 2022 season.
Not on the younger end among this year’s free agent class, Fries (27 in April) will be asked to start at one of the Vikings’ guard spots. Former second-round pick Ed Ingram‘s Vikings future is in doubt, after a 2024 benching, and Dalton Risner — who has not seen free agent markets come close to Fries’ new level — is again out of contract.
Adam La Rose contributed to this report.
Wow! Huge deal.
KWESI COOKING
More like Kwesi smoking.
Vikings are up early this morning. Solid day so far.
Isn’t that a overpay for someone that played 5 games last year
Name a FA signing that ISN’T an overpay?
@unclemike1526. Ok a overpay is by a million or two. 88 million for 5 years on someone that had one complete year is lunacy.
Well if you really want somebody, And somebody else is willing to pay X Dollars, Then to get him you have to pay Y Dollars. It’s been that way ever since FA started. And like Basketball, Potential is more important to some than others. Just the facts of business.
@unclemike1526. I know how free agency works. Also I’ve seen this before. Next year we will see vikings shopping fries. They had no suitors and they took a 20 million dead cap. Thanks for your insightful facts Mike.
Sorry but you sounded confused. My bad. But you really can’t say it’s an overpay until January can you? You know, Until he actually plays a game that is.
@unclemike1526. Sorry for the confusion. Stating isn’t that a overpay for someone that played 5 games is very confusing my bad.
What’s confusing is that someone who’s a fan of the Angels who gave Anthony Rendon 250 million bucks is overtly qualified to offer opinions on any over pays. I was just giving the Vikings their props for making improvements. Not sure what your opinion is to any of them.
@unclemike1526. That makes me qualified, because I’ve seen how free agency can cripple a team. Aren’t you a white sox fan, and the vikings are a division rival to the bears. i guess props is fair when your team is going to be last. I guess you got to root for something. You troll.
You’re funny. Dumb but funny. LMAO.
@unclemike1526. Your just dumb. Stick a fat Chicago dog in your mouth and don’t choke
Four years in the league, one complete year as a starter without games missed. Yep, sounds like an overpay.
He was the number 1 guard in free agency according to numerous sites/experts, and it would seem that people in the NFL really like Fries and his potential/future…we also don’t know the guaranteed money in this deal just yet so how could anyone call it an overpay until we know exactly what is being paid. Finally, the vikings have needed to upgrade the iOL for about a decade, so if they have to pay a little more to do so then by all means, get it done.
Keep raiding the Colts Free Agents, till they stop raiding the Vikings FAs.
How can anyone say anyone is overpaid without knowing all the available offers? Then see how someone actually performs? Conjecture & Facts are too different things. Too soon to know ANYTHING
@Qckappa. I’m going off track record. I’m not miss cleo with my crystal ball, but does anything suggest he’s going to be healthy for 5 years. Out of fours years he was for one year. So you giving him 88 million for maybe two years. Your right it’s a great deal.
Not only do they not know the offers, they don’t know the guarantees in the deal.
@sjcourtney56. Your right the guarantee isn’t released. Wait what was your point again I forgot. Dalman was half the price. Greenlaw and hufanga around the same age half the price (roughly) injury risks as well. Zeitler is available and a top 5 guard according to pff. Older but I would take my chances with him
Quite frankly I don’t care who you would prefer them to sign, but sure we can play the game if you want to…Dalman is a center not guard and he stated that he took less money to play for chicago. Dre Greenlaw is a damn linebacker and Hufanga is a safety so I have no idea why you are bringing them up as it isn’t comparable. Zietler is 9 years older so while sure he would be cheaper, it seems as though the team wanted a long term option on the line. Call it an overpay if you want to, but your post here was just nonsense so we can just agree to disagree.
@sjcourtney. Well you replied. This is a comment section so if you don’t care don’t respond simple as that. Greenlaw and hufanga were merely age comps, and with injury concerns. Zeitler is a good guard and yes old but luckily I’m not playing franchise mode on madden. That was to show it was a overpay. My nonsense is fact. Has he been healthy? Do you think Jesus miraculously heal him? That’s also your opinion to think he going to be healthy. Just like i think he’s going to be a bust. We can revisit this next year when he’s cut.
Your nonsense was just nonsense…using other positions to prove an overpay is just nonsense. His injury last year was a broken leg, not a torn ACL or an injury that has the potential to crop up again. Injuries happen in football and every player that takes the field can get hurt at anytime regardless of their prior history. If you honestly believe that the team is going to sign him to a 5 year deal (with you knowing absolutely nothing about the structure of that deal) and cut him the next season then there’s really nothing more to say to you because your level of intelligence is clear.
@sjcourtney. Did he break his leg the other two years. One healthy year out of 4. Sounds like a great deal. Yes most of big money deals in free agency flop. That’s why you need to draft well. Zeitler for two years is more of a guarantee because he’s proven. If he gets hurt you move on without a big cap hit. You can think it’s nonsense on nonsense with a side of nonsense all you want. Has he been healthy if you can’t say yes. That means it’s a fact.