When 2025 free agency kicked off for the Minnesota Vikings, the club had around $60 million in cap space, prepared […]
When 2025 free agency kicked off for the Minnesota Vikings, the club had around $60 million in cap space, prepared for a spending spree that eventually came to fruition. This time, the club is in the opposite scenario: over budget by about $35 million. But according to one report, the Vikings aren’t too spooked by the ordeal.
Kwesi Adofo-Mensah can create workable room through routine moves, and Minnesota’s main constraint could be forgotten in no time.
General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah can evidently clear cap space rather easily, so much so that the current cap fears may be a nothingburger.
The Vikings’ Cap Narrative Might Be Overbaked
The $$$ anxiety may be overblown.
The Athletic Outlines the State of Vikings Cap Space
Facing a grim salary cap, The Athletic‘s Alec Lewis wrote about the Vikings this week, “Minnesota’s brass is not sweating the cap situation, even if they know there’s not as much flexibility as last year.”
“This is also a major reason the Vikings accumulated draft capital for 2026, with at least nine picks projected once compensatory selections are awarded.”
Last year, Minnesota had just five picks entering the draft. This year is different.
Lewis continued, “Cutting ties with both players would create almost $20 million in cap space. Running back Aaron Jones and tight end T.J. Hockenson are also expected to be the subjects of meaningful internal conversations.”
“Separating from them would free up about $17 million more in cap space. Combined, these four decisions would bring the Vikings close to the black. Extensions and restructures are expected, too. O’Neill is entering the final year of his deal. Signing him to an extension would allow the Vikings to shrink his $23 million cap number.”
In other words, a veteran purge may be on the way to fix the Vikings’ money woes.
“Linebacker Blake Cashman is in a comparable position, as his contract is set to void after the 2026 season. The Vikings also have levers to pull with the following players to convert base salaries to signing bonuses, creating money for the present: receiver Justin Jefferson, edge rusher Jonathan Greenard, edge rusher Andrew Van Ginkel, cornerback Byron Murphy Jr., tight end Josh Oliver, Darrisaw and Fries,” Lewis added.
Who Replaces the Cut Players?
Lewis mentioned Jones and Hockenson as cut candidates, with defensive tackle Javon Hargrave and center Ryan Kelly in the rumor mill as financial casualties as well.
Without Hockenson, Minnesota would have to scour free agency or the draft for a replacement. Veterans like Isaiah Likely and Cade Otton come to mind. The Vikings could also spend their 1st-Round pick on Oregon TE Kenyon Sadiq if they’re feeling frisky.
At running back, Jordan Mason is under contract next year; he could reasonably take over a quasi-RB1 role. Minnesota is also overdue to draft a running back, with rookies like Jadarian Price (Notre Dame) and Jonah Coleman (Washington) probably gettable after Round 1.
At defensive tackle, Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins is hungry for more action and looked promising at times as a rookie. At center? That’s less clear. Blake Brandel and Michael Jurgens took snaps when Kelly missed multiple games, but it’s unclear if those men would be trusted with full-time starting duty.
The Draft Problem
There’s one issue with the Vikings’ plan to rely on the draft with such a limited budget. Adofo-Mensah doesn’t draft well. Minnesota’s front office boss has hit on players like Jordan Addison, Levi Drake Rodriguez, Jalen Nailor, Will Reichard, and Dallas Turner (all relative to draft position), but has swung and missed on these players:
- Brian Asamoah
- Gavin Bartholomew
- Mekhi Blackmon
- Andrew Booth
- Ty Chandler
- Lewis Cine
- Akayleb Evans
- Jaren Hall
- Ed Ingram
- Kobe King
- Vederian Lowe
- DeWayne McBride
- Nick Muse
- Esezi Otomewo
- Jaquelin Roy
Therefore, Adofo-Mensah must suddenly draft well if the plan is to rely on rookies for roster reinforcement and depth.
A Return to the Spielman Era Way of Thinking
The “good” news? Vikings fans are familiar with this situation — starting an offseason underwater via the salary cap.
During the entire Kirk Cousins era, former general manager Rick Spielman renewed the all-in Super Bowl stakes, and the salary cap would frequently look like it does now. It’s merely a new year on the calendar, with the same arrangement from 2020 or 2021, for example.
The Vikings always found ways to field competitive teams in those scenarios. It’s Adofo-Mensah’s turn to see if he has the special sauce. And he’s apparently not all that worried about it.
Category: General Sports
