The Minnesota Vikings have a lot of needs this offseason, but one that isn’t being talked about enough is the need at center. Garrett Bradbury is an impending free agent, and there is no certainty the Vikings will bring him back. This would leave a hole the Vikings would need to fill.
On Tuesday, Benjamin Robinson’s mock draft on Football Outsiders helped the Vikings fill that void if they move on from Bradbury by selecting Wisconsin center Joe Tippmann.
“Garret Bradbury is slated to be a free agent and on the way out of Minnesota, and Wisconsin’s Joe Tippmann would be a major upgrade at a position group whose performance as a unit is most often impacted by its weakest link. Tippmann is the top center in the class, and he would fit seamlessly into an offensive line room that includes cornerstones at tackle, promise at guard, and now a top talent at center.”
Tippmann is not considered a first-round prospect by many experts, but that doesn’t mean that the Vikings wouldn’t take him if they felt he was the best player available. If the Vikings move on from Bradbury, there will be a need at the center position, but taking Tippmann here would be a disappointment for a lot of Vikings fans.