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The Minnesota Vikings signed offensive tackle Ryan Van Demark on Friday, adding some much-needed depth after injuries hit both starting tackles hard last season.
Van Demark was a restricted free agent with the Buffalo Bills, who tendered him at the lowest level – meaning they had the right to match any offer he received. The Vikings put together a one-year deal worth $4.2 million that’s fully guaranteed, and Buffalo decided not to match it. According to ESPN‘s Alaina Getzenberg, the Bills won’t get any compensation.
It’s easy to see why Minnesota wanted to bolster the offensive line.
Left tackle Christian Darrisaw missed seven games in 2025 while recovering from two torn ligaments in his left knee – an injury he originally suffered back in October 2024. Even in the 10 games Darrisaw did play, he left five of them early as part of his recovery plan. The Vikings eventually shut him down in Week 16 and moved him to injured reserve on Dec. 19.
Following the season, former general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah acknowledged they’d need to be “more mindful” about having insurance behind Darrisaw going into 2026.
Right tackle Brian O’Neill wasn’t exactly healthy either; he missed three games dealing with various injuries throughout the year.
Van Demark went undrafted out of Connecticut and landed on Buffalo’s practice squad for the 2022 season. Over the next three years, he worked his way into six starts with the Bills.
