LA Rams free agency search turns up 3 undervalued veteran centers

Vikings center

And versatility is also what center Bret Jones of the Minnesota Vikings brings to the table as the 6-foot 2, 315-pound lineman has played both center and guard last year. Now in his seventh season, he’s also a veteran presence who was signed for a $910,000 contract last year.

The native of Saskatchewan, Canada, was signed by the New York Giants in 2015 after spending two seasons in the Canadian Football League. He was named the CFL’s Most Outstanding Rookie in 2013 with the Calgary Stampeders. And, in 2014 received the CFL’s Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman Award. He saw action in 15 games last season for the Vikes.

Curiously enough, he originally signed on with the New York Giants after the 2013 NFL Draft. Canadien by birth, when things did not work out he found his passion in his native homeland.  He has not been a solid performer for two seasons until 2020 when everything came together for him in two games against the Dallas Cowboys and Carolina Panthers.

He had great performances in both 2016 and 2017, and he was the starter for the Giants for 13 games that season. He struggled due to injury in 2019. In 2020, he spent most of the season on the Vikings practice squad but did an excellent job in two starts in 2022.  Now, he is ready for a chance to compete for a starting role and will be an ideal player for Coach Kromer to coach up.