One Trade the Vikings Should Make to Address Center Concerns Before Preseason Ends

Time is running out for the Vikings to figure out their most pressing offensive-related issue.

Blake Brandel's performance has given the Vikings enough reason to consider trading for a certain player. | USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Connect

It was always a bold choice by the Vikings to start a player at center who had never snapped a ball before 2025. Unsurprisingly, Blake Brandel's move inside has been rocky at best.

Brandel's camp hasn't been reassuring as he continues to have snapping accuracy issues for quarterback Kyler Murray. After relieving an injured Ryan Kelly last season, the Vikings pushed all their chips in on making Brandel's move to center permanent after serving as the team's backup swing lineman in previous years. That experiment has been met with mixed reviews so far, and with the clock ticking, it may be time to explore alternate options.

That said, the Vikings waited until the seventh round of April's NFL Draft to address the position, and rookie Gavin Gerhardt isn't ready to step into a starting role just yet. With the season quickly approaching, Minnesota needs to hope Brandel's aim rapidly improves, or else look outside of the organization for some help.

Blake Brandel has left the Vikings with more questions than answers, potentially forcing their hand to seek a replacement via trade. | USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Connect

The Vikings did little to bolster the position during the draft, and few quality free agent options remain on the market. Clearly, it's not ideal to still be struggling with the center-quarterback exchange just weeks before the start of the season, so rather than risk snaps rocketing over Murray's low altitude head, the Vikings could get ahead of the problem by calling an old friend.

Vikings should call Seahawks about a trade for Olu Oluwatimi

One potential trade candidate hails from Vikings general manager Nolan Teasley's old stomping grounds with the Seahawks, and could provide the experience at the position they desperately lack.

Veteran offensive lineman Olu Oluwatimi could be available for a modest price after falling out of favor in Seattle, and might be the steady hand to fix Minnesota's concerns. The Seahawks drafted him 154th overall in 2023, which coincided with Teasley's first year as the team's assistant GM.

Trading for Olu Oluwatimi, who began his time with the Seahawks during Nolan Teasley's last three years with the organization, could help solve the Vikings' center issues. | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Oluwatimi has started 13 of his 36 career games at center for the Seahawks after winning the Rimington Trophy at Michigan, given to the best center in college football. Now, though, Jalen Sundell has a firm grasp on the starting role in Seattle, leaving Oluwatimi as potentially dispensable for the Super Bowl champs.

His 55.9 Pro Football Focus (PFF) grade in 2025 ranks him as the 35th-best center, and Oluwatimi might benefit from a change in scenery. He also played decently in Week 1 of the 2026 preseason, playing to 79.9 pass block and 51.5 run block grades without allowing any pressure, per PFF.

While his time in the NFL hasn't been especially fruitful, Oluwatimi brings experience up front in a pinch and (bonus) is five inches shorter than the hulking 6-foot-7 Brandel, whose height has apparently been an issue (h/t DawnAtFOX9).

(Kyler) couldn't see on a play, and he didn't want to tell me that. So he prefaced it with, 'I know I'm not allowed to say this, but, ' and we both got a laugh out of it."

Kevin O'Connell, Vikings HC

Ultimately, Oluwatimi won't be an elevator for this team, but for a late-round draft pick, he could bring stability. It's also a low-risk, high-reward swing, as the 27-year-old blocker only carries a $1.2 million cap hit on the final year of his rookie contract, according to Spotrac. For reference, Teasley & Co. have about $22.2 million in remaining salary cap space.

The Vikings are playing with fire by not adding an experienced center to an already strong offensive line. Brandel's value has always been in his versatility, and his controversial move to center has effectively stripped him of that.

A move for Oluwatimi and a switch back to a jack-of-all-trades role for Brandel would be the best outcome for all parties.

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