Three Vikings Listed Among Top 100 Cut Candidates This Offseason
Josh Frey
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This offseason could bring multiple big changes to the Vikings roster.
Minnesota has plenty of big-name players set to enter free agency, and other starters could end up being cap casualties this offseason as the Vikings try to rebuild their roster and get back into playoff contention in 2024.
Over the Cap recently released their list of top 100 cut candidates this offseason, and there are three Vikings who appear on the list. Notably, Harrison Smith did not make the list, but the three players on the list who currently reside in Minnesota are DL Dean Lowry, CB Byron Murphy, and DL Harrison Phillips.
Three Vikings Listed among Top 100 Cut Candidates
It should be noted that if the Vikings were to cut both Lowry and Phillips, they would desperately need to add other talent to their defensive line this offseason. Jonathan Bullard is also set to enter free agency, so in this scenario, the Vikings could lose three players that were starters in 2023.
The Lowry cut makes the most sense here. After a strong couple seasons in Green Bay, Lowry signed a two-year deal with the Vikings last offseason worth $8.5 million. However, he was able to play just nine games in Minnesota this season because of a groin injury and torn pec that ultimately ended his year.
Even when he was on the field, Lowry wasn’t nearly as productive with the Vikings as he’d been in years past. Currently, Lowry carries a $4.6 million cap hit for 2024, and Minnesota can save $2.2 million of that money by letting the 29-year-old go.
Among this trio, the Vikings would save the most money by cutting Phillips. The defensive lineman carries a cap hit of $8,833,334 next season, and Minnesota would save $6.5 million of that money by letting him go.
Again, though, a move like this would call into question who exactly gets snaps along the defensive line next season. Behind Bullard, Lowry, and Phillips, the Vikings currently have just one defensive lineman under contract for next season: Jaquelin Roy.
It also seems more likely that Murphy would receive an extension rather than be cut. The Vikings secondary struggled mightily when he went down with injury, and while there may be a ceiling on his capabilities as a CB1, the cornerback will be just 26 years old next season with many years of strong football in front of him.
In fact, the Vikings could actually save more money by adding years to Murphy’s contract. According to Over the Cap, Minnesota would save $4.65 million by cutting the cornerback while an extension could save upwards of $5.78 million against the cap.
In total, though, if the Vikings were to perform these three cuts, it would save them a grand total of $13.35 million against the salary cap. For more on how the Vikings can free up large amounts of cap space this season check out this article as well.
Editor’s Note: Statistics for this article were found via Over the Cap and Pro Football Reference.
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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.