Like the Titanic, The Vikings are Sailing Toward a Ship-Sinking Iceberg
Before too long, the Vikings need to choose a new route. Failing to do so will mean sinking. Or, more accurately, being inactive in the upcoming free agency period since there’s no money left in the coffers.
Minnesota is sitting on $17.147 million in open room. More than enough to make a move (or two) prior to the NFL’s trade deadline that hits at Tuesday, November 4th. But while adding talent can be very exciting, one wonders if the Vikings start to steer in a different direction, offloading a player(s) in an effort to start chipping away at next year’s huge pile of debt that’s coming in at more than $36 million.
The Vikings, The Iceberg, & The NFL Trade Deadline
If success can’t arrive in the present moment, then the focus shifts toward success in the future. Sounds simple, of course, but not something to overlook.
If the Vikings have the potential to do something special in 2025, then the front office can invest in 2025. If, however, the Vikings only have the potential to do something special after 2025, then the focus shifts toward investing in years beyond 2025.
One such way to focus on the future is to start shaving ice chips off that huge iceberg. Put differently, start to diminish the debt by moving out players in cost-saving moves.
Consider a wild scenario that isn’t going to happen: trading Brian O’Neill. The team captain and stud at right tackle is a well-paid lineman who is soon to arrive at his final contract year. The 2026 season sees Mr. O’Neill carrying a $23,203,892 cap charge. Simply cutting him next offseason would mean regaining $19,500,000 in cap space while accepting $3,703,892 in dead money. As a result, the possibility — a possibility, not a likely scenario — exists that O’Neill gets axed.
Moving on from the RT1 requires having a replacement for the RT1 spot. Is that player already on the roster? Walter Rouse has a decent way to go before being an impact starter, but the 2024 6th-Round pick possesses great size and has been earning some snaps as a sophomore. Is he the future at right tackle as a cheap, 24-year-old lineman who stands at 6’6″ and weighs 322 pounds?
In theory, Minnesota could recoup an asset for Brian O’Neill, picking up a pick while saving money in the process.
Similarly, the Vikings could opt to move on from Adam Thielen, a receiver making very little impact. Could there be a decision to offload Ivan Pace, T.J. Hockenson, and/or Javon Hargrave?
The Vikings look to be ready to hand things over to J.J. McCarthy. So much of the plan during the offseason was to supercharge the roster with excellent veterans at key spots, thereby lessening the burden on the Michigan alumnus. Some of the additions have worked out — corner Isaiah Rodgers, linebacker Eric Wilson, running back Jordan Mason — but several others haven’t. The onus is shifting to McCarthy to push the Vikings toward wins. If McCarthy fails, the Vikings will fail, too.
Circulating around all of this is the reality of a 3-4 record. Losing in Week 9 against the Detroit Lions — a likely outcome, especially since the game is on the road — will leave the Vikings sitting at 3-5 a couple of days before the NFL trade deadline.
In that scenario, the best course of action could be to pivot, thawing the debt by offloading a veteran player(s) while bringing back an asset(s). Not what many expected coming into the season but an option that’s possible given how poorly the season has gone.
The Vikings are in last place in the NFC North and are coming in at 12th within the NFC.
