Four Vikings Players Will See Portions of Their 2024 Contracts Become Guaranteed on Saturday
Josh Frey
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The Minnesota Vikings have been hard at work rebuilding their roster throughout the past week.
They’ve rewarded many of their own free agents as well as some newcomers with some shiny new contracts for the 2024 season. On Saturday, though, some Vikings players who were already on the roster will be rewarded by seeing some of their money for 2024 become guaranteed.
Four Vikings Players Will Get Guaranteed Money on Saturday
According to Over the Cap, the four players who will see their salaries become guaranteed on March 16th are C Garrett Bradbury ($4.65 million), CB Byron Murphy ($4.5 million), TE Josh Oliver ($2.5 million), and RT Brian O’Neill ($12 million).
Bradbury and O’Neill have been staples on the Vikings offensive line for multiple years. O’Neill was a second-round pick by the team in 2018 while Bradbury was selected in the first round of the 2019 draft. O’Neill was given a new contract extension following the 2021 season (during which he was voted into the Pro Bowl), which will end up paying him $92.5 million between the 2022-2026 seasons.
Bradbury, on the other hand, seemed like he was set to depart the Vikings following the 2022 season. Minnesota did not utilize his fifth-year option, and he entered unrestricted free agency after the 2022 campaign concluded. However, the Vikings gave him a new three-year deal later that spring, and it ultimately will result in $15.75 million being paid to the center from 2023-2025.
For awhile, there were some questions as to whether or not Bradbury could be a cut candidate this offseason (the Vikings would have saved ~$2.5 million by doing so), but with the guarantees, that seems unlikely now.
Murphy and Oliver are free agent acquisitions that the Vikings made during the 2023 season, and both players had key roles on the roster this past season. Murphy arguably was the best cornerback on the 2023 team, and he very well could receive a contract extension at some point this offseason. He signed a two-year deal worth $22 million last offseason and proceeded to record 57 tackles, four tackles for loss, 13 passes defended, and three interceptions in year one with the Vikings.
Meanwhile, Oliver had a career-year as a tight end for Minnesota after signing a three-year deal worth $21 million. Throughout his career, particularly during his two-year stint with the Baltimore Ravens, Oliver has been known for his prowess as a blocker at the position.
However, Oliver not only maintained that reputation with the Vikings this past season, but he recorded career highs in receptions (22), receiving yards (213), and tied his career high for touchdown receptions with two. With T.J. Hockenson looking like he will miss at least a few weeks to begin the season, Oliver could play a vital role early on.
Overall, four contributors worthy of the guaranteed money are officially set to be rewarded.
Editor’s Note: Statistics for this article were found via Pro Football Reference and Over the Cap.
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Josh Frey is a Class of 2020 graduate of The College of Idaho and managing editor of PurplePTSD.com. When he’s not writing about the NFL, Josh enjoys running, gaming, or rooting for the Milwaukee Brewers and Bucks. Check out his Twitter account: @Freyed_Chicken.