Other Teams are Creating Cap Space; Will The Vikings Follow Suit?
K. Joudry
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It’s no secret that the Vikings don’t have a ton of cap space.
Indeed, Kwesi Adofo-Mensah is working with a meagre $358,261, per Over the Cap. That reality puts Minnesota dead last in the NFL. The total gives the team very little ability to add anyone to their roster unless there are some other moves to shift money around. One wonders if the strong start to the season may prompt management to ensure they add just one or two more players for the playoff push.
Around the NFL, we’re seeing other teams create more financial flexibility. The Chiefs have restructured Travis Kelce’s contract. In the end, they gained nearly $3.5 million in their 2022 budget. The increased flexibility “could be used for a trade deadline acquisition or free agent who the team believes can help their push for the postseason.”
Similarly, the Seattle Seahawks have moved money around. Offensive lineman Gabe Jackson agreed to a restructured contract, allowing his squad to add $1.76 million in room. The Seahawks – like the Chiefs – don’t have a ton of room, but at least they’ve got a few more options.
Given the recent news about Kansas City and Seattle, I’ve been wondering about Minnesota. Will the Vikings create cap space, possibly by kicking money into future years? Doing so could help the team improve its roster.
On OTC, we’re able to see how much Minnesota can clear off their 2022 budget through a restructure or extension. One of the names that jumps out is Eric Kendricks, Minnesota’s All Pro middle linebacker. A simple restructure can free up more than $4 million whereas an extension can create more than $6.5 million.
Kirk Cousins offers the team some potential to create room, but it’d be surprising if they adjusted the QB’s deal given that he was just signed to an extension. Otherwise, veteran leaders like Dalvin Tomlinson, Dalvin Cook, and Brian O’Neill are all players to consider.
The point, folks, is that the Vikings have some options if they need more cap space. They’ve been adjusting the roster, such as the recent decisions to waive Blake Proehl and sign Myles Dorn to the practice squad. These moves are a good reminder that the team is still a work in progress.
Forced to guess, I’d say Minnesota isn’t too aggressive when it comes to adding talent. Nevertheless, we can’t completely overlook the possibility. If Adofo-Mensah starts to move money around, we’ll need to pay attention to what could be coming next. The GM isn’t shy about pulling off trades.
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