EAGAN, Minn. — The Vikings bolstered their offensive line during the first snap of 2025 free agency.
Minnesota has agreed to terms with guard Will Fries, the team announced Wednesday. His addition was among the Vikings wave of signings upon the opening of the New League Year.
A seventh-round pick by Indianapolis in 2021, Fries spent his first four NFL seasons with the Colts, becoming a hidden gem. The guard experienced some growing pains in pass blocking his first two seasons, but in 2023 and 2024 he received grades of 65.4 and 74.9, respectively, from analytics site Pro Football Focus.
Fries last season was credited with allowing 2.0 sacks, one QB hit and three hurries in the five games he played and started. He suffered a fractured right tibia in Week 5 and landed on Injured Reserve for the season's remainder.
Here are five things to know about the Vikings new interior lineman:
1. Former Nittany Lion
Fries played collegiately at Penn State, where he started 42 of the 48 games he played.
He made 26 career starts at right tackle for the Nittany Lions, as well as nine at left tackle, six at right guard and one at left guard.
During his 2020 senior season, Fries started all nine games, first at right tackle before sliding inside to right guard for the final six contests. He helped the Lions rank second in the Big Ten in total offense (430.3) and was named to the All-Big Ten Second Team by coaches.
Fries earned his degree in economics from Penn State in December 2019.