A former first-round pick, Garrett Bradbury spent six years with the Minnesota Vikings before his release this offseason after starting 88 games in his career. After landing with the New England Patriots, the 29-year-old said this week that the way his time with the Vikes ended provided a jolt.
"Had six great years in Minnesota. It's a great locker room [and] built some really good connections there. And it ended, right? That's the business," he said Thursday, . "You never want to feel comfortable, but that's a wake-up call. That's, 'All right, here we go, that's how they feel and they move on.'
"There's no ill will. I'm not bitter towards the Vikings. It's just a new opportunity for me. I think when there's a change, if you don't take that opportunity, you're not going to grow from it. So it's more about, 'All right, I get to reinvent myself, I get to re-prove myself.' And the minute you think you have it figured out, you're gone."
In his six years in Minnesota, Bradbury was always a better run blocker than a pass protector. As part of a disappointing interior, he allowed a career-high 38 QB pressures in 2024, per Pro Football Focus (he'd previously never allowed 30 in a season).
The Patriots inked Bradbury to a two-year pact as part of their revamp in front of Drake Maye, replacing veteran center David Andrews at the pivot.
"New team, new chapter, new offense. What can I bring? And you have to bring it every day," Bradbury added. "That's the biggest thing I've learned -- meeting room, practice, weight room. So not even a wake-up call, but it's just new. It's exciting. It's a fresh start. New opportunity."
The Patriots sorely needed to bring in fresh blood on the offensive line. They added Bradbury, Morgan Moses and Wes Schweitzer to the mix this offseason. More reinforcements should be on the way in the 2025 ¹ś²śĶāĮ÷ĶųDraft, with left tackle still a particularly glaring need.
