How the Vikings Can Clear $10 Million Off the 2024 Cap in Just a Pair of Moves

NFL: Minnesota Vikings at Atlanta Falcons
Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Currently, the Vikings are working with roughly $19 million in cap space.

The amount isn’t monstrous and yet it’s fairly rotund, all things considered. After all, Minnesota is digesting a huge amount of dead money — $57,392,540 — so the cap flexibility points toward some tidy work from Mr. Kwesi Adofo-Mensah. Minnesota has been pulling off a lot of roster moves lately, but most have been to strengthen the depth. If there’s a desire for a more impactful signing and more cap room, what could they do?

The Vikings, The Cap Space, & and The Chance at $10M

The good thing is that no subtractions are needed.

Quite the opposite is true. An NFL team has any number of avenues when it comes to freeing up room in their budget, but one of the most common ways is to kick the can down the road. Doing so often involves an extension.

NFL: Chicago Bears at Minnesota Vikings
Nov 27, 2023; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Chicago Bears running back Roschon Johnson (23) runs with the ball against the Minnesota Vikings defensive tackle Harrison Phillips (97) in the third quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports

Now that Christian Darrisaw has agreed to a new deal — and quite early in the process, I hasten to add — the focus shifts to some of the other players. Recently, Camryn Bynum came up in a piece for PurplePTSD, an argument that also lassos Josh Metellus into the mix since the pair of safeties are intertwined.

Consider of a couple of other starting defenders, though: corner Byron Murphy Jr. and defensive tackle Harrison Phillips. The former is 26 and the latter is 28. Both are entering the final year of their deals in Minnesota.

Any chance the front office sees that as a problem that needs to be rectified?

NFL: Kansas City Chiefs at Minnesota Vikings
Oct 8, 2023; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings cornerback Byron Murphy Jr. (7) pressures Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) in the second quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports

Consider how things could look with an extension:

PlayerCurrent Cap HitPotential Savings w/ ExtensionTotal Cap Room Saved
Phillips, Harrison$8,833,334$4,300,000
Murphy Jr., Byron$10,911,765$6,380,000
Total: $10,680,000

The benefit is twofold. For starters, Minnesota gets to keep their starters. Strong defenders who work well within the Brian Flores defense can keep calling Minnesota home for a little longer.

But then there’s the financial benefit. Minnesota would perhaps feel a little more emboldened to sign one of the remaining big-name free agents, perhaps to solidify a secondary that still looks like it could use more help. Oh, and there’s no such thing as too many pass rushers or pass catchers, so there could be some action on those fronts, as well.

Dec 17, 2022; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings defensive tackle Harrison Phillips (97) reacts to a stop during the fourth quarter against the Indianapolis Colts at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports

In 2023, Harrison Phillips started all seventeen games while piling up 92 tackles, 3 sacks, and 2 tackles for a loss. Meanwhile, Byron Murphy Jr. started fourteen games while picking up 57 tackles, 3 interceptions, and 13 passes defended.

Editor’s Note: Information from Pro Football Reference and Over the Cap helped with this piece.


K. Joudry is the Senior Editor for Vikings Territory and PurplePTSD. He has been covering the Vikings full time since the summer of 2021. He can be found on Twitter and as a co-host for Notes from the North, a humble Vikings podcast.