When Do the Vikings Start Addressing the Slow Moving Crisis?
Thankfully, the Vikings are facing a slow-moving crisis, not one that needs ironclad solutions in the present moment. There are still many months before Kwesi Adofo-Mensah needs to prove capable of solving the riddle.
What happens in the coming days and weeks, though, may prompt the GM to get ahead of the sticks.
As things stand, the Vikings are sitting on $37.165 million in salary cap debt for 2026. The number has gone through no shortage of movement over these past several months, which is par for the course for an NFL budget. Things move up and down faster than a houseboat on choppy waters. The one constant is that the future finances are in poor shape, in need of repair before the new league year begins.
The Vikings & The Slowing Moving Crisis
In a lot of ways, Adofo-Mensah is having a conversation with his team. He’s always listening, seldom talking.
The opening four games have told the GM that the season has the potential to go in any number of directions. What appears to have been ruled out is being among the NFL’s worst teams or among the NFL’s best teams. Getting into the playoffs is possible. More important will be the capacity to do well once there.
But then there’s still more that needs to be said.
Imagine a world where the Vikings easily take care of the Browns. Not too difficult to envision given that we’re considering the Browns, a team that makes the words incompetence and ineptitude seem inadequate. What happens, though, if the team comes out of the bye healthy before taming the Eagles? That would be a strong statement to Adofo-Mensah, telling the GM that the Vikings can fulfill their immense potential. Proving capable of downing the NFC’s (NFL’s?) top team would be bold.
Conversely, the Vikings could see things go in a poor direction.
Stumbling against the Browns would be a gut punch (the team has taken several lately). There may be something that occurs were that outcome to arrive. Indeed, the GM may see his loaded roster fall to a hapless Cleveland team and begin working the phones over the Week 6 bye. See what’s out there for options; the GM constantly wants options. Being a 2-3 football team isn’t reason to strip things down the studs, but offloading a veteran or two could make some sense.
At every turn, the Vikings are chasing success. The only factor that changes is when that success is expected to arrive.
Coming into the season, Minnesota’s actions pointed toward a very obvious goal: achieving meaningful success in the present moment. There’s no trade for Adam Thielen unless that’s the desired outcome. The same could be said for other win-now moves, such as signing Ryan Kelly and Aaron Jones — both older players who are injured — to beefy deals. There was also some hearty contract commitments to older defensive tackles who have underwhelmed.
Through their actions, the Vikings could shift the focus away from 2025 and toward what comes next.
Starting to chip away at the salary cap deficit could involve the Vikings becoming sellers prior to the 2025 NFL trade deadline, which arrives in early November. Moving out Jeff Okudah wouldn’t bring back much apart from minor cap savings (room that could be rolled over) alongside a late-round selection, at best. There could be a decision to offload Ivan Pace Jr. since the linebacker’s next contract may be too pricey.
Moving on from T.J. Hockenson appears very unlikely. Nevertheless, the TE1 hasn’t been shining in 2025 despite some improved blocking. Pulling the ripcord would be a bold, controversial move that opens cap space both now and in the future.
Would Jalen Nailor be moved, bringing back a late-round pick while creating more snaps for Tai Felton? Maybe Justin Skule would be viewed as decent depth by a contender, leading to a willingness to forfeit modest draft capital. Minnesota’s OL depth would take a hit but the budget would get a minor boost while opening snaps for someone younger.
Goodness, there’s even a Carson Wentz trade theory out there.
Since taking over as the GM, Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has made several mistakes. What he has done consistently, however, is demonstrate a willingness to be shrewd with the salary cap. He can be a tough negotiator, one who doesn’t blink in the staring contest. Somehow, Adofo-Mensah is going to get the money sorted out; the mystery and intrigue rests in how and when he’ll do so.
If 2025 features more stumbling than originally planned, Adofo-Mensah may opt to offload talent. Doing so would make room for young players to develop further, save cap room, and bring in late-round capital. After all, the team is moving toward a cap crisis next offseason, so painful decisions need to be made at some point. The play of the roster will largely determine whether those decisions arrive sooner rather than later.
The Vikings begin the Week 5 Browns game at 8:30 a.m. CT on Sunday, October 5th.
Editor’s Note: Information from Over the Cap helped with this piece.
