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Will Fries is another 2025 free agency mistake that keeps haunting the Vikings

The Vikings are paying Will Fries like a top-10 guard in the NFL, but he is not delivering anywhere close to a return on that hefty investment.

By Brad Berreman · The Viking Age

Published: Thursday, 5 November 2026 at 1:00 PM

Key Things to Know

Brad Berreman argues that right guard Will Fries has become an expensive free agency mistake for the Minnesota Vikings.
Fries signed a five-year, $87.2 million contract with Minnesota during the 2025 offseason.
Through Week 8 of the season, Fries tied for the third-most sacks allowed among qualifying NFL guards.

The Story in 60 Seconds

Brad Berreman of The Viking Age argues that offensive guard Will Fries has become another costly 2025 free agency misstep for the Minnesota Vikings. Signed to a five-year, $87.2 million contract, Fries has struggled to justify his top-10 guard salary, recording mediocre Pro Football Focus grades across the 2025 and 2026 seasons while allowing three sacks through Week 8.

Berreman suggests that Minnesota could realistically move on from Fries ahead of the 2027 season to avoid a $10 million salary guarantee. The author notes that releasing him with a post-June 1 designation in 2027 would clear $17.5 million in salary cap space while distributing $12 million in dead money over three seasons.

Read the full article on The Viking Age

Will Fries is another 2025 free agency mistake that keeps haunting the Vikings

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