3 Well-Paid Vikings Veterans Competing for their 2023 Roster Spots
K. Joudry
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Much of the focus remains on the 2022 season. For good reason, the Vikings are a near guarantee to make it to the postseason. If they play up their potential, they’ll even be able to go on a deep run.
Nevertheless, there is some merit in peaking ahead at what’s coming. After all, the current season is entering its final third, so we are hastening toward the offseason. Some Vikings veterans are likely competing for their future with the team.
The Vikings Veterans Who are Competing for their Future Spot
1) Eric Kendricks, 30, Linebacker
Before getting too far, we should begin by indicating that the desire isn’t for any of these players to be cut. Rather, we’re simply acknowledging the upcoming cap crunch. Partner the financial reality with the new regime and it’s easy to see a scenario where some Vikings veterans get cut.
Kendricks may be one of these veterans.
At present, Kendricks is the 54th-ranked linebacker on PFF. He finished the 2019 season at 2nd and the 2020 season at 3rd, so it’s a notable decline. Cutting him would free $9.5 million while leaving behind just $1.93 million in dead money.
Over these next 6 games – and into the playoffs – Minnesota will be looking for Kendricks to bring back some of his former brilliance, especially when defending against the pass. QBs are completing nearly 71% of their passes into his coverage. In 2019, that number was a touch over 53%. The defense would certainly welcome some stronger play from the LB.
Oh, and a Jordan Hicks cut would free $5 million while leaving behind $1.5 million in dead money. It looks unlikely that both will be back unless there’s at least a restructure.
2) Adam Thielen, 32, Wide Receiver
Thielen hasn’t been producing like he used to produce. In fact, his current pace puts him on track for his fourth-straight season below 1,000 yards. He’ll carry a cap hit a touch below $20 million in 2023.
Unlike Kendricks, simply cutting Thielen doesn’t provide a ton of financial relief. Most of the cap hit stays behind as a dead money charge. A cut leaves behind $13.55 million while freeing just under $6.5 million. Shifting things around to a post-June 1 cut provides more relief in 2023, but that makes the 2024 budget tighter.
Minnesota is thus in a tricky spot. It may be hard to justify bringing him back at such a high number; cutting him isn’t a clear-cut (or even desirable) solution. Thielen is still a good player, someone who can help this team pursue a Super Bowl.
In a perfect world, the two sides could agree to a redone deal that lessens Thielen’s cap number.
3) Dalvin Cook, 27, Running Back
The former second-round pick is still an excellent football player. He currently has 841 yards (6th in the NFL) and is averaging 4.7 yards per carry (17th in the NFL). He also has 6 TDs and 26 catches.
Cook, in short, remains a productive player, one who pushes the Vikings’ offense to another level.
His inclusion in the list is due to the team’s future finances, especially upon considering what Kevin O’Connell’s offense looks like. O’Connell’s group has only run the ball 257 times, which comes in at 28th overall in the NFL for rush attempts. Given the relative lack of priority, does it make sense to pay a RB so much money?
Cook has a long history of injury and is playing within an offense that doesn’t run the ball a ton. A cut would free nearly $7.9 million in next year’s budget while leaving behind a touch more than $6.2 million in dead money.
Moving on from Cook would mean the team is rallying around Ty Chandler, Kene Nwangwu, and whoever else gets added. Alexander Mattison will be a free agent, and it remains to be seen if he’s looking to stick around Minnesota.
Of the 3 Vikings veterans, Cook may be the likeliest to return in 2023.
Editor’s Note: Information from PFF, Over the Cap, StatMuse, and Pro Football Reference helped with this piece.
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