Vikings Sign Bills Restricted Free Agent OT Ryan Van Demark To Offer Sheet The Minnesota Vikings have signed Buffalo Bills restricted free agent offensive tackle Ryan Van Demark to an offer sheet, according to reports from NFL insiders. The deal, which is a one-year, $4.2 million guaranteed contract, was confirmed by Aaron Wilson, who noted that the Bills have five days to match Minnesota’s offer if they wish to retain Van Demark. Van Demark, a 27-year-old undrafted free agent, originally signed with the Indianapolis Colts in 2023 after going unselected in the NFL Draft. He was waived by the Colts and subsequently joined the Bills’ practice squad. Buffalo re-signed him to a futures deal in 2024, and he has remained on the team’s active roster since. In 2025, Van Demark appeared in all 17 games for the Bills, starting four of them, which highlights his role as a reliable backup along the offensive line. The Bills initially tendered Van Demark a restricted free agent offer for the 2026 season at a value of $3.5 million. This tender allows other teams to submit offer sheets, but the Bills retain the right of first refusal to match any competing bids. However, if they choose not to match, they would not receive a draft pick as compensation, since Van Demark was an undrafted free agent rather than a drafted player. Van Demark’s journey to the NFL has been marked by perseverance. After being waived by the Colts, he found a foothold with the Bills, where he has developed into a key rotational player. His ability to contribute at the NFL level despite not being drafted underscores his value as a versatile and hardworking offensive lineman.#buffalo_bills #minnesota_vikings #nfl #aaron_wilson #ryan_van_demark
Detroit Lions Secure New Center Cade Mays in Three-Year Deal The Detroit Lions have finalized a three-year, $25 million contract with former Carolina Panthers starting center Cade Mays, marking a significant addition to their offensive line. According to Aaron Wilson, the deal includes $14 million in guaranteed money. Mays, who was selected by the Panthers in the sixth round of the 2022 NFL Draft, will turn 27 in April. During his time with the Panthers, he has appeared in 52 games, starting 27 of them. In the past two seasons, he has started 20 games without allowing a single sack. Standing at 6 feet 6 inches and weighing 325 pounds, Mays is a physically imposing lineman who relies on power to dominate at the point of attack. However, his athletic ability also allows him to move effectively, making him a versatile threat in both run and pass protection. This season, Mays recorded 793 snaps on offense, the most in his four-year career. Over the past two seasons, he has accumulated more than 1,200 snaps at center, demonstrating his reliability and experience. His pass-blocking performance has been particularly impressive, with just 21 pressures and zero sacks allowed across 756 snaps. Pro Football Focus data highlights Mays’ efficiency in pass protection, ranking him ninth among 35 qualifying centers with an efficiency score of 98.6. For comparison, Linderbaum, who finished 30th with an efficiency score of 97.2, allowed 26 pressures and two sacks across 536 snaps in 2025. These numbers underscore Mays’ ability to minimize disruptions in the pocket, a critical skill for a center in today’s NFL. The Lions’ decision to sign Mays comes after a challenging offseason for their offensive line.#detroit_lions #cade_mays #carolina_panters #aaron_wilson #pro_football_focus
