A towering four-year starter at left tackle for UConn, Ryan Van Demark has spent four NFL seasons developing into a reliable swing tackle option.
Ryan Van Demark went undrafted out of UConn but has steadily built a professional career on the strength of his size and athleticism, most recently signing on with Minnesota. His path from a Colts final-roster cut to a multi-year NFL veteran reflects the grind of an offensive line journeyman.
Path to the league
Van Demark started 43 games for the UConn Huskies, mostly at left tackle, and was named a team captain as a senior. He went undrafted in the 2022 NFL Draft but signed with the Indianapolis Colts, who gave him one of the higher guaranteed-money deals among that year's undrafted class before he was cut in final roster reductions.
Career highlights
At 6-foot-6 and 307 pounds, Van Demark tested well at his pro day, running a 5.27-second 40-yard dash and posting a 30.5-inch vertical. After his release from Indianapolis, he joined the Buffalo Bills' practice squad in September 2022, eventually making the 53-man roster and appearing in 12 games in 2023 and 14 games with two starts in 2024.
2025 season recap
Van Demark spent the 2025 season with Buffalo, earning a 74.4 overall PFF grade that ranked 26th among 89 qualified offensive tackles. He signed a one-year, $4.2 million contract with the Minnesota Vikings in March 2026, bringing his career total to 43 games played.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Ryan Van Demark
- Pro Football Reference: Ryan Van Demark
Player Profile
Background
- Position
- Offensive Tackle
- Group
- offense
- College
- UConn
- Hometown
- Wayne, NJ, USA
- Age
- 28
- Status
- active
