Feb 2, 2026; San Jose, CA, USA; New England Patriots heart Garrett Bradbury (65) speaks to media throughout Opening Evening for Tremendous Bowl LX at San Jose Conference Heart. Necessary Credit score: Kyle Terada-Imagn Photos
The Minnesota Vikings kinda-sorta have an answer on the heart place in 2026, and his title is acquainted to Vikings followers: Blake Brandel. However later this summer time, if the entrance workplace and training workers understand they need another, and an outdated good friend could possibly be accessible through commerce: Garrett Bradbury.
Minnesota has familiarity, a middle query, and a theoretical path to an old-friend reunion.
Bradbury presently performs for the Chicago Bears, a membership that drafted Logan Jones from Iowa final month. Jones will flip 25 years outdated as a rookie, suggesting he’ll in all probability play sooner reasonably than later, placing Bradbury on the again burner.
Bradbury’s Timeline in CHI Creates a Slim Commerce Window
How would you are feeling a couple of Brabury commerce?
New England Patriots heart Garrett Bradbury (65) blocks in go safety for quarterback Drake Maye (10) towards the Seattle Seahawks throughout Tremendous Bowl LX on Feb. 8, 2026, at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California. Bradbury reached the championship stage throughout his first season away from the Minnesota Vikings. Necessary Credit score: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Photos.
Bradbury on the Sizzling Seat?
Jones in all probability isn’t a rookie to be dropped within the crockpot for 2027 or 2028. Extra doubtless than not, his age and draft inventory counsel he’ll play — probably begin — in 2026.
DaWindyCity.com‘s Parker Hurley wrote this week, “The long-term plan is now for Logan Jones, whom the team drafted in the second round. However, history tells us that this is more than just a long-term play. Almost all centers who get drafted that high end up starting more games in their rookie year than they sit. Chicago is in a win-now mindset, and they did not spend a second-round pick on someone who cannot help them win this year.”
“So, Jones will likely open training camp as the backup, but he is going to have every chance to win the job in the preseason. If that is the case, the Bears will have two decisions. They could keep Bradbury and ensure solid depth behind a rookie center. Given their questions recently at left tackle, they may lean into having better depth. The Bears could also trade Bradbury.”
Contemplating Bradbury spent his first six seasons in Minnesota, the Vikings wouldn’t be an outlandish commerce companion if the final portion of Hurley’s evaluation involves fruition.
Blake Brandel, Michael Jurgens, and Gavin Gerhardt at Heart
If the Vikings “do nothing” within the spring and summer time at heart, Brandel will doubtless put his paw on the soccer for the primary offensive snap of 2026. He took over the place final 12 months when accidents rocked Ryan Kelly, and fact be instructed, Brandel improved every week.
The membership additionally employs Jurgens, a late-round lottery ticket from the 2024 NFL Draft. Then, Kevin O’Connell and Co. drafted Gerhardt in Spherical 7 a few weeks in the past. The Vikings declare to have large plans for him, scouting him as their heart answer whereas not drafting gamers like Jones.
However what if none of these choices sounds as enticing as a Bradbury on the open market? That’s precisely why the Bradbury commerce concept needs to be alive and effectively.
The Commerce Value for Bradbury
The Bears acquired Bradbury for a Fifth-Spherical choose in March. Chicago won’t be able to show round just a few months later and promote him for extra. They misplaced leverage once they chosen Jones.
New England Patriots operating again Rhamondre Stevenson (38) celebrates a landing with broad receiver Efton Chism III (86), heart Garrett Bradbury (65), and guard Ben Brown (77) throughout third-quarter motion on Jan. 4, 2026, towards the Miami Dolphins at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts. Bradbury began prominently in New England’s offensive entrance. Necessary Credit score: Brian Fluharty-Imagn Photos.
Due to this fact, whereas commerce costs are notoriously unpredictable within the NFL, a center-needy franchise can in all probability pry Bradbury from Chicago for a Fifth- or Sixth-Spherical choose. That needs to be interpreted because the Bears’ penalty for drafting Jones. They tipped their hand.
The Vikings would then ask themselves: ought to we ship a late-round asset from a deep 2027 draft class to Chicago for Bradbury, who we all know intimately — or let it experience with Brandel, Jurgens, and Gerhardt?
SI.com‘s Mike Moraitis on Bradbury: “Guaranteeing more money for Bradbury would seem to indicate a trade of the veteran is now less likely and instead the Bears might be keen on keeping him around, even if he falls to No. 2 on the depth chart.”
“Keeping Bradbury around as more depth if he loses the starting job wouldn’t be the worst idea, although we still tend to believe Chicago would trade him in that scenario if the offer is right.”
Bradbury in 2025
Bradbury performed a whopping 1,070 offensive snaps in 2025 and was flagged for zero penalties. He fired up acquainted Professional Soccer Focus grades, notching a 60.1 general — first rate however not nice. Then, he flipped the script on his modus operandi. Till 2025 in New England, Bradbury specialised in run-blocking whereas struggling — very often — towards large, imply defensive tackles in go safety.
New England Patriots heart Garrett Bradbury (65) speaks with reporters throughout Tremendous Bowl week on Feb. 5, 2026, on the Santa Clara Marriott in Santa Clara, California. Bradbury joined New England after spending the primary portion of his NFL profession with the Minnesota Vikings, later serving to the Patriots attain Tremendous Bowl LX. Necessary Credit score: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Photos.
Properly, with the Patriots, Bradbury produced a 56.2 run-blocking grade however 63.1 through pass-blocking. He mainly switched his talent set round with none ceremony.
Total, the Patriots should not have loved him an excessive amount of, delivery him to Chicago in favor of Jared Wilson, a Third-Rounder from Georgia within the 2025 NFL Draft.
However the reality stays that the Vikings may categorical commerce curiosity due to their expertise with him, and the Bears could possibly be promoting.
Dustin Baker is a novelist and political scientist. His second novel, The Invaders , is out now. So is … Extra about Dustin Baker
