Grade The Signing: Minnesota Vikings officially poach player from Buffalo Bills who will massively improve a unit that needs

It’s a big one for the Minnesota Vikings.

Adam Zientek, Tyler Forness
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Nov 20, 2025; Houston, Texas, USA; Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) celebrates with offensive tackle Ryan Van Demark (74) after a touchdown against the Houston Texans in the first quarter at NRG Stadium.
Troy Taormina-Imagn Images

The offensive line was a big issue for the Minnesota Vikings during the 2025 season. With over 5,100 snaps, one-third of those came from backups. There were too many injuries to the unit, and it massively impacted the Vikings’ offense.

Last season, Justin Skule was the swing tackle, and he played over 500 snaps, leading the team in sacks allowed with seven, and had 29 pressures allowed on just 356 pass blocking reps. The Vikings were aggressive in trying to find a replacement, and they got it done.

Minnesota Vikings sign OT Ryan Van Demark

On Tuesday night, the Vikings signed Buffalo Bills offensive tackle Ryan Van Demark to a one-year offer sheet worth $4.25 million. He was on a right of first refusal tender, giving the Bills five days to match. On Friday, reports surfaced that the Bills would not be matching, making him a Viking.

Van Demark has only played 557 offensive snaps in his career, but was a key player for Bills last season, starting in four games and logging 312 snaps. He allowed just two sacks and nine pressures, playing extensively on both sides of the line, making him the prime option to be a swing tackle. I spoke with our Buffalo Bills beat writer, Adam Zientek, to get the lowdown.

“Van Demark was a key contributor for Buffalo, playing in all 17 games and starting in four on both the left and right side of the offensive line. Buffalo didn’t have a ton of cap space, but it morseo appeared that the team favored who was behind Van Demark in the pecking order. Tylan Grable and Chase Lundt are key reserve tackles for the Bills and the team will lean heavily on them in the 2026 season. Since Van Demark was a restricted free agent, Buffalo doesn’t get any draft compensation for the decision. Additionally, they cleared around $3.5 million in cap space with the move. He was always a solid contributor as Buffalo had one of the most effective offensive lines in football, which contributed to them having the number one rushing attack. Ultimately it’s a calculated risk by general manager Brandon Beane and the front office, trusting their depth to step up while prioritizing flexibility elsewhere on the roster while the team steams ahead to 2026.”

The Vikings now have their swing tackle at a fair price, and they will be in a better spot on the offensive line.

Grade: B

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