Garrett Bradbury had a wild couple of weeks to start the new league year for himself and his family. He went from being the established starting center for the Vikings to potentially having to compete with new signee Ryan Kelly and then being released. The former first-round pick had it all happen very fast for him, but so did his bounce back.
Bradbury signed very quickly once he hit free agency with the New England Patriots and is now projected to be their new starting center. On Thursday, he spoke to the media about the experience and his new opportunity.
“That’s the business. 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 new team, new chapter, new offense — what can I bring? And you have to bring it every day. 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 have a new franchise quarterback, Drake Maye, whom they drafted in 2024 and need to do a better job protecting in 2025. While Bradbury was hoping to do it for J.J. McCarthy, he will do it for one of his classmates instead.
This article originally appeared on Vikings Wire: Garrett Bradbury didn't expect to be released, it was a 'wake up call'
