5 Vikings Players Moving Toward their Final Five Games in Minnesota
At the end of the 2025 season, Minnesota will need to welcome some major change. Inevitably, some Vikings players are going to be shown the door.
The team’s upcoming cap situation isn’t super promising. The 2026 cap shows a debt pile sitting at close to $36 million (Over the Cap). Already, the painful decisions have begun, made evident in the move to waive Adam Thielen, who was a complete flop within his second chapter with the Vikings. Who else is moving toward a conclusion as Vikings?
5 Vikings Players Moving Toward Final MIN Games
Player #1 — Right Tackle Brian O’Neill
Best guess is that Mr. O’Neill is extended rather than cut. The possibility of moving on, though, is lucrative.
In September, O’Neill turned 30 (a dreaded number in the NFL). He’s still an above-average player but he’s carrying hearty cap hits. He’s leading the 2025 Vikings with a cap charge sitting at $26,019,114. Next year, the budget sees O’Neill coming in at $23,203,892.
A cut would mean recuperating $19,500,000. There isn’t a pre-June 1 cut capable of clearing out more cap space. Extending him would mean opening as much as $14,160,000.
Player #2 — Center Ryan Kelly
A great pro, Ryan Kelly struggles to stay healthy.
He is 32 and has a lot of miles on his odometer. Bringing him to town was all about giving J.J. McCarthy an excellent partner in crime, someone who is rugged and with high-level communication abilities. In theory, a wise decision, but one that hasn’t worked out.
Kelly has missed time due to a pair of concussions alongside a hip issue. Cutting the Pro Bowl lineman comes with the possibility of restoring $12,117,500 in cap space while accepting $0 in dead money.
Player #3 — Tight End T.J. Hockenson
T.J. Hockenson is a good player who isn’t being used to his potential with the Vikings. In all likelihood, a different offense could do a lot of damage in the middle of the field with Mr. Hockenson.
As a Viking, Hockenson doesn’t score and isn’t particularly explosive. Why pay him so much?
Cutting him would be painful due to the $12,425,000 in dead money. There would, however, be $8,930,000 tossed back into the mix. Is that enough incentive to make a move with the TE who was playing at an All-Pro level prior to his serious knee injury in late 2023?
Player #4 — Wide Receiver Jalen Nailor
Unlike the other players, Jalen Nailor will be a free agent. The chance of bringing him back appears small.
The Vikings’ WR3 has developed into a good player. In the right situation, Mr. Nailor could be a sturdy WR2 or a great WR3. His Minnesota production has suffered due to the team’s horrendous quarterback situation. Seeing him around 600-700 yards wouldn’t be surprising and nor would it be surprising to see him become an assassin when it comes to scoring. He has previously shown himself capable of putting up points and getting loose down the field.
He’s likely to be too expensive for Minnesota, a team that has long been allergic to paying a WR3. Comp pick coming back for his departure?
Player #5 — Safety Harrison Smith
Keeping Harrison Smith was costly.
The Hall-of-Fame defender is accounting for $9,901,178 within the present-day budget despite playing average football. Gone are the days of being an elite option. Even worse is that he’ll leave behind dead money on next year’s cap.
Smith is an all-time Vikings player, one who will get his #22 retired. He’ll be remembered fondly even as the 2025 season has gone poorly both individually and for the team.
