A former Penn State offensive lineman is making big money to play for a new team.
Per Jeremy Fowler of ESPN, Will Fries is moving on from the Colts to the Vikings and making $88 million over five years to do so.
Guard Will Fries is headed to the #Vikings for five years and $88 million, sources told ESPN.
One of the top interior linemen on the market is now off the board. pic.twitter.com/xL38oVQfNO
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) March 11, 2025
Fries has been a big time success story in the NFL.
At Penn State, he was a second-team all-Big Ten selection in his senior season of 2020. But this didnโt lead to a big NFL payday initially. Of the 256 NFL Draft picks, Fries went No. 248 overall to the Colts in 2021. Usually, guys who go that late donโt last long, maybe not even through training camp. But Fries has been different. Over the past four seasons, Fries became a regular in the Coltsโ lineup, starting 27 games. He would have started more if not for a fractured tibia he suffered in Week 5 of this past season. In Pro Football Talkโs list of Top 100 free agents for this cycleโ which officially opened Mondayโ Fries ranked 26th. Not too shabby.
In the games before the injury, Pro Football Focus graded Fries at 86.9, the third-highest amongst guards.
At the NFL Combine in Indianapolis late last month, Colts GM Chris Ballard was highly complimentary of Fries for his worth ethic.ย
“He’s never missed a day, doing everything in his power, he’s progressing nicely,” Ballard said. “I couldn’t be more happy for him. Hopefully we can get something done. If not, we’ll get into free agency and see what the market is.”
It turns out, the market was good to Fries. Heโll be with a quality Minnesota team that won 14 games last season.
