US EditionBills Decline to Match Contract Offer to Ryan Van Demark, Lose Offensive Tackle to Vikings
Ryan Van Demark will join the Vikings on a fully guaranteed $4.2 million deal after the Bills declined to match, opting to rely on internal options for the swing tackle role.
- On Friday, the Buffalo Bills declined to match the Minnesota Vikings' one-year, $4.2 million fully-guaranteed offer sheet for restricted free agent Ryan Van Demark, allowing the 27-year-old offensive tackle to sign with Minnesota.
- Buffalo had placed a $3.52 million right of first refusal tender on Van Demark after the Vikings extended their offer sheet Wednesday, giving the Bills a five-day matching window. Van Demark was an undrafted free agent from Connecticut who spent three seasons with the Bills.
- Starting left tackle Christian Darrisaw missed seven games in 2025 recovering from two torn ligaments, while right tackle Brian O'Neill missed three games with various ailments. Former general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah said the Vikings would need to be "more mindful" of having backup insurance in 2026.
- Because Van Demark was undrafted, the Bills receive no draft compensation from Minnesota. The 6-foot-6 lineman will replace Justin Skule as the Vikings' swing tackle, providing contingency coverage for Minnesota's injury-prone starting tackles.
- The Buffalo Bills face offensive line depth challenges after losing guard David Edwards to the New Orleans Saints on a four-year, $61 million deal this offseason. Sixth-round picks Tylan Grable and Chase Lundt emerge as main contenders for swing tackle duties, with potential April additions.
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Pine Journal
Vikings officially sign swing tackle Ryan Van Demark
After signing swing tackle Ryan Van Demark to an offer sheet this week, the Vikings have officially signed him to a one-year, $4.2 million contract. The move was finalized after the Buffalo Bills opted not to match. Though even the most diehard fans probably aren’t familiar with Van Demark at this point in his career, the Vikings prioritized him because he’s already proven that he’s capable of holding his own in the trenches. That’s exactly what…
Bills decline to match contract offer to Ryan Van Demark, lose offensive tackle to Vikings
The Buffalo Bills’ depth along the offensive line took a hit Friday. The team has elected not to match the offer sheet offensive tackle Ryan Van Demark signed with the Minnesota Vikings, a league source told The Buffalo News.
Bills Make Final Decision on 4th Year Swing Tackle
The Buffalo Bills‘ offensive line took a hit this offseason when they lost guard David Edwards to the New Orleans Saints, with whom he signed a four-year $61 million free agent deal. And the team was in danger of losing another fairly long-standing member of the offensive line group, tackle Ryan Van Demark, when the Vikings made a one year, $4.2. million offer to the former 2022 undrafted free agent. Van Demark had already been given an original…
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