Kelly retires

[MaroonBells]

[purplefaithful]

Well hell....

I wish him well and I understand his decision, especially with a young family in the wings.

[MaroonBells]

A sad ending to the Maul of America

[greediron]

A sad ending to the Maul of America

Yeah, Maul of America was more lego store than anything else.

[purplefaithful]

Kelly, a four-time Pro Bowl selection in nine seasons for the Indianapolis Colts, appeared in eight games during his first season in Minnesota, missing nine starts due to three concussions.

“10 seasons. What an incredible ride it was,” Kelly wrote on social media. “I was blessed to be around some of the greatest people this sport has to offer. I always wanted to leave each place better than how I found it and with that I can hang my hat. Forever grateful for my family and brothers! Cheers.”

Kelly, 32 and the father of three children, considered walking away last year after suffering two concussions within three weeks in September. They were the fourth and fifth documented concussions of his playing career, the latter coming during the Vikings’ Sept. 28 loss to the Steelers in Dublin. While recovering, Kelly said he wondered if he would ever play again. He said the team paid for his visit to a clinical neuropsychologist, Dr. Michael Collins, in Pittsburgh, where his long-term concerns were eased.

“A lot of soul searching, getting as many answers as I could, and then I realized I’m not done,” Kelly told the Minnesota Star Tribune in November. “I still love this game.”
He returned to play five more games before suffering his sixth concussion on Dec. 21 in a game against the New York Giants in East Rutherford, N.J., where he wore a higher-rated helmet and a Guardian Cap.

The Vikings signed Kelly to a two-year, $18 million contract last year to pair young quarterback J.J. McCarthy with an experienced veteran center. Coaches lauded Kelly, a self-described “chameleon” who adapted to many different quarterbacks in Indianapolis, for bringing that leadership, but injuries to both Kelly and McCarthy limited them to just six starts together.

Strib

[RS_Express]

Good for him and the Vikings.

[StickierBuns]

This shouldn't be a surprise to anyone, he's so susceptible to concussions now. I worry for this guy in his mid to late 40s.

[Montana Tom]

Regardless of his desire and ability to continue to play in the NFL, he did the right thing for his family.

[purplefaithful]

Ryan Kelly, who announced his retirement March 6 at age 32, was a two-year, $18 million chance former General Manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah was willing to take in free agency a year ago. Turns out Ryan’s $9 million average — sixth-highest among NFL centers — was all risk, no reward. He suffered three concussions, bringing his career total of documented concussions to six, while missing nine games and 28% of the snaps in the eight games he did play.

When a backup guard/tackle who had never played center in his life (Blake Brandel) is your best Plan B in-season, you need a better Plan A heading into the next season. Plus, Brandel’s best value might be as a swing tackle or an even more multi-positional backup, not an emergency starting center.

Michael Jurgens, a seventh-round pick in 2024, can stay and battle Zeke Correll, an undrafted rookie last year, and anyone else the team brings in to compete for the backup spot. In three starts and 309 snaps at center last year, Jurgens failed to prove he’s sturdy enough to be a reliable backup, let alone compete for the starting job.

Current roster: Kelly, Jurgens, Correll
Current offensive line salary cap allocated: $89.9 million (2nd in NFL)

Free agents to watch

Tyler Linderbaum (Ravens): This is the pie-in-the-sky answer to every team that needs a bona fide anchor in the middle of its offensive line. He’s a three-time Pro Bowler who has missed only two games in four seasons since being the 25th overall pick in 2022. For those still kicking Adofo-Mensah when he’s down and out, yes, Linderbaum is yet another player the Vikings could have drafted the day the former Vikings GM traded down from 12th to 32nd. Linderbaum turns 26 next month and is expected to set the market high point for centers, currently held by the Chiefs’ Creed Humphrey at $18 million a year. 

The Vikings already had three offensive line starters who rank in the top nine at their respective positions: left tackle Christian Darrisaw (fourth, $26 million), right guard Will Fries (sixth, $17.5 million) and right tackle Brian O’Neill (ninth, $18.5 million).

Connor McGovern (Bills): A mainstay on Buffalo’s line the last three years as a guard in 2023 and center the last two years, McGovern could be the player some teams are looking for if they miss out on Linderbaum. Overthecap.com places McGovern’s market value at $16.3 million, so he’s not cheap either. He is, however, a 28-year-old who has missed only four games in the last four seasons. He seems resigned to the fact the Bills won’t re-sign him at his market value.

Tyler Biadasz (Commanders): The Commanders surprised many last week when they released Biadasz, a 28-year-old with 84 career starts, at a time when they had more than $60 million in cap space. Biadasz became a street free agent able to be signed before free agency begins. Biadasz started 53 games with the Cowboys after being drafted in the fourth round in 2020, and 31 more with the Commanders. The Commanders took an $8 million dead-money hit rather than bring him back. Overthecap.com places Biadasz’s market value at $10.1 million a year.

Cade Mays (Panthers): Teams could be projecting Mays as a rising star at the position after career highs in games (14) and starts (12) during Carolina’s turnaround 2025 season. A massive center at 6-6 and 325 pounds, Mays began his career as a guard after being selected in the sixth round in 2022. He moved to center two years ago and has started 27 games, including one playoff game. Mays turns only 27 next month, so the bidding could go high on him. Overthecap.com places his market value at $12.3 million a year.

Strib

[StickierBuns]

Brandel didn't grade out very well at center, but had some good moments. I think you get another guy that is decent in FA/Draft but don't break the bank and let the two of them compete for starting center. Maybe Brandel gets incrementally better with a full offseason at center, TC and preseason at that position. PLEASE do not spend big money at center in FA!!!