Vikings Rumors: Top Free Agents, Salary Cap Deadline, & Restructuring Veterans
K. Joudry
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We’ve officially transitioned into the portion of the year when Vikings rumors are going to be coming fast and furious.
As a result, I’m returning to the “Vikings Rumor Wrangle,” a series I’ve leaned on previously to keep readers informed on what’s being whispered about in Vikings Land. In this iteration, we discuss the team’s top free agent targets, the salary cap deadline, and the possibility of restructuring some of the veterans.
The Vikings Rumors – 02.15.2023
Rumor #1: The Vikings Will be Active in Their Pursuit of Top Free Agents
Earlier in the week, I published a list of top 25 free agents for the Vikings (and their fans) to consider. Those who are interested in learning more about the players who will (very likely) be of interest to the Vikings can feel free to give it a read.
That said, a few brief words to whet the appetite.
Corner is a need, even if Patrick Peterson and Duke Shelley return. Thankfully, there are several intriguing options on the market. Bringing someone in who can slide into the slot – Cameron Sutton, Jonathan Jones – would be a reasonable move.
There are several players available who can help the pass rush. If I was in charge, I’d be looking to add players who can get after the QB with great consistency. Being able to disrupt a team’s passing attack starts up front. Philadelphia (shockingly) failed to get a sack on Patrick Mahomes in the Super Bowl and it’s hard not to think that it cost them dearly. Just imagine how much harder it’d have been for Mahomes to pull off the second-half comeback if he was facing 3rd & long on a consistent basis.
In other words, there are some defensive players who can make a sizable difference in Minnesota. Oh, and there are a handful of players on offense who crack the top 25, including some speedsters at WR to challenge deep.
Rumor #2: The Team Has a Firm Deadline for All the Cap Moves
In some ways, there is a deadline. In other ways, there really isn’t.
As many fans will know by now, the team is sitting at more than $23 million over the cap. What we have, then, is a bit of a slow-moving conundrum. The team will need to get under the cap, but it doesn’t need to happen today. Per NFL Operations, the deadline is March 15th, the day that free agency officially begins. That’s when the league shifts into a new year, so the team needs to be under the cap for that year.
However, there are some layers of financial nuance we’d be remiss to omit.
The cap – a malleable monster – is a constant focus. After March 15, Kwesi Adofo-Mensah will be continuing to crunch the numbers. His excel sheet will be constantly changing as he explores trades, extensions, cuts, and restructures. We know this since we see teams agree to deals during the spring & summer all the time. Plus, training camp brings a fresh batch of roster transactions, most notably through cuts (and trades + redone deals, though to a lesser extent).
The point, folks, is that the team does have a salary cap deadline when it comes to not exceeding the set amount. Nevertheless, the cap basically always offers the potential for some flux.
Rumor #3: Minnesota Will Look to Restructure Their Expensive Veterans
While we can’t say for certain that this will be the case for every veteran, Adam Thielen has already confirmed that the process is ongoing for him. In all likelihood, there are others in a similar spot to Thielen.
One thinks of Eric Kendricks, Jordan Hicks, Za’Darius Smith, Harrison Smith, and Dalvin Cook as restructure candidates. There are certainly others.
Far too often, fans wander down the cut path while wondering about cap space. However, it’s important to remember that cap space isn’t itself the goal but, rather, a means to an end. Cap space is only good insofar as it leads to adding players who can make a positive difference in winning football games. If the players currently on the roster help with that goal, then it’d be prudent to keep those players (when possible).
So, expect a multifaceted approach from Mr. Adofo-Mensah when it comes to clearing cap space. Cuts will happen; so will restructures.
When it makes sense, look toward a mutually beneficial contract adjustment, thus keeping contributors in town for at least another season.
Editor’s Note: Information from Over the Cap helped with this piece.
