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Three starting Vikings offensive linemen could be cut candidates

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Following the Minnesota Vikings’ season-ending loss to the Los Angeles Rams, Kevin O’Connell made it clear the team needed improvement from the interior offensive line. One Vikings beat reporter believes that the three players who started along the interior Week 1 all have cases to be cut, traded, or resrtructured in 2025.

The Star Tribune‘s Ben Goessling wrote about the most significant decisions the team will need to make with their roster. Goessling mentioned guards Blake Brandel, Ed Ingram, and center Garrett Bradbury when discussing players who could be cut, traded, or restructured.

On Ingram, who currently has a 2025 cap hit of $3.71 million:

Ingram, 26, lost his starting job in 2024, but he’d be in line for an even higher cap number in 2025, thanks to the NFL’s Proven Performance Escalator program that would raise his base salary to $5.2 million for 2025. It seems highly unlikely he’d return at that number; the Vikings would take on only $385,000 of dead money if they cut him.

On Brandel, who currently has a 2025 cap hit of $3.95 million:

If Brandel, 28, is on the roster on the third day of the league year, $1.65 million of his base salary would become guaranteed for 2025. His versatility could mean he stays as a swing lineman, but if the Vikings are prioritizing major offensive line upgrades, they could cut him and recoup $2.58 million of cap space.

And on Bradbury, who currently has a 2025 cap hit of $6.06 million:
This will be an interesting one: Bradbury turns 30 in June, and his struggles against bigger defensive tackles are well-documented. But he’s respected for his leadership and communication skills that could help McCarthy if he’s the starting quarterback in 2025. The Vikings would save $3.6 million by cutting him, but he also has two void years that could help them restructure his deal if they’re not ready to turn things over to 2024 seventh-round pick Michael Jurgens.
Although the Vikings need improvement at all three positions, they will unlikely move on from all three players this year. They still need depth, and it may be difficult to find three starting-level replacements in one offseason.
That said, Ingram seems most likely to be cut or traded. One of the last remaining hopes of the failed 2022 draft class, Ingram was benched for Dalton Risner midway through the season. They could potentially trade the former second-rounder to a team needing offensive line depth for a late-round pick.
Brandel became a full-time starter for the first time in 2024, but the coaching staff has spoken positively about him for years. At worst, the team could restructure him and have Brandel be the sixth offensive lineman who can come off the bench in case of emergency.
Finally, Bradbury has struggled in pass protection for most of his career. Yet he has three years of experience in O’Connell’s system and could help McCarthy develop. Fans may not want to hear it, but Bradbury is the most likely of the three to remain a starter in 2025, although he may need to restructure.