The 40 Most Important Vikings of 2026: No. 17 — Blake Brandel

Perhaps the most confusing aspect of the Minnesota Vikings’ offseason, at least for some, was the club’s refusal to sign an established starting center or draft a promising early- or mid-round rookie center in April. Instead, Minnesota is content with Blake Brandel – – and he’s No. 17 on our most important Vikings players of 2026 countdown.

Brandel has played tackle, guard, and center for Minnesota since 2020. The club has tapped him on the shoulder to be a full-time center, replacing Ryan Kelly, who retired in March.

Vikings Bet That Brandel Can Be the Long-Term Answer

Brandel’s Role in 2026

Brandel is the only veteran Viking with a brand-new position and starter’s title in 2026. DT Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins could move to outside linebacker or play as a hybrid DT-OLB, but for now, Brandel is the lone player trusted with a completely different job title to start a new season.

At center, he must identify fronts, communicate protections, coordinate with both guards, and safely snap the ball before focusing on his blocking assignments. Minnesota got a preview last season when Brandel logged 363 snaps at center, despite also playing guard and tackle.

Interestingly, his versatility may have prepared him perfectly for this role. Brandel has played meaningful NFL snaps at virtually every position across the offensive line, so when he makes a protection call, he inherently understands the demands that call places on the other four linemen. He’s been trained in a regular season lab for this moment.

What Success Looks Like

Brandel doesn’t need to be at his peak to succeed; the goal is for fans to never really talk about him. For offensive linemen, no news is good news.

Last year, Brandel performed well in his limited time at center. His 67.6 pass-blocking grade from Pro Football Focus ranked 14th among centers with at least 240 snaps. A significant advantage is that Brandel is now playing between Donovan Jackson and Will Fries, rather than being moved around due to injuries. That stability finally lets him get the necessary practice he lacked when he was primarily used as an emergency fill-in.

If the center position isn’t a major talking point by October, it’s a good indication that Brandel is performing successfully.

What Could Make This Ranking Look Too Low – – or Too High

No. 17 will be too low if Brandel morphs into a legitimate starting center who can hold the job for the next few years in Minnesota. That’s the goal. Brandel’s success will show that his work at center last year wasn’t merely a stopgap; it was the start of his success at his optimal NFL position.

The center serves as the offensive line’s communication hub. If Brandel can develop into a dependable, above-average starter who also helps stabilize protection for Kyler Murray, his No. 17 ranking could prove to be conservative. This would essentially let the Vikings replace Kelly internally without spending significant free-agent money or draft capital.

The upside is particularly compelling because Brandel himself believes the position aligns better with his personality and intelligence than other roles he has played.

On the other hand, the experiment could flop, and No. 17 would then be too high. Brandel has had trouble getting Murray the ball in the exchange at training camp on a few occasions. If he doesn’t fix that, he won’t be the starting center for long. This ranking will be too high if you’re browsing the internet for “centers who could be on the trade block” in late October.

Next in the Countdown

The Top 15 nears, but let’s first review how the countdown got here:

Guard Will Fries checks in at No. 16, a handsomely paid offensive lineman who desperately needs a bounceback year in 2026.

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VikesNow Verdict: The Vikings handed a starting center job to a longtime offensive-line utility man. If Brandel turns seven encouraging starts into a stable season, the Vikings will have solved center far more cheaply than expected.
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About The Author

Dustin Baker

Dustin Baker is the co-founder and editor of VikesNow, a novelist, a writer at CBS Sports, and a political scientist. His second novel, The Invaders, is out now, along with his debut thriller, The Motor Route. He hosts VikesNow on YouTube and has followed the Minnesota Vikings intently since 1996. Guilty pleasures include peanut butter ice cream, The Sopranos, Basset Hounds, and The Doors.

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