Garrett Bradbury was unfortunately hit with COVID-19 before the Minnesota Vikings Week 9 game against the Baltimore Ravens. Since being benched and reinserted in the starting lineup, it’s not only benefited himself but Mason Cole as well.

Bradbury was drafted with the 18th pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. Minnesota looks for offensive linemen that are athletic and can get out and block in run situations.

Since getting drafted, it hasn’t been all flowers and roses. Sure, he’s improved since 2019, but there haven’t been any drastic changes in his development. He’s struggled quite a bit, and his PFF grade has gone from 57.8 in year one, to 64.3 in year three.

Bradbury struggles massively in pass blocking situations:

• 2019: 41.4
• 2020: 38.8
• 2021: 42.5

It’s not all negative; he’s improved in run-blocking situations:

• 2019: 60.7
• 2020: 69.3
• 2021: 73.9

Beyond these last two weeks, his best performance was in Week 2 against the Arizona Cardinals (70.8). Other than that, it’s been mostly 50s and 60s.

Bradbury has been a lot better since being reinserted in the starting rotation. He’s posted the best two grades of the season and even finished with a pass-blocking grade of 84.0 against the Pittsburg Steelers.

Maybe all Bradbury needed to unlock his full potential was getting benched?

Cole has been in the league since 2018 and hasn’t found much success until this year with Minnesota.

Cole has a PFF grade of 75.7 this season, and the only game he seemed to struggle in was against the Green Bay Packers. The Vikings could easily replace him tomorrow, but he’s been playing at a pretty high level.

With Bradbury in the mix, the Vikings have moved Cole to RG, and he’s been even better at that position than he was at center.

Bradbury is playing the best football of his career since being benched, and Cole has fit in perfectly alongside him at right guard. I guess good things do happen when you bench first-round talents.