The Josh Oliver Contract Structure Is Out
The Minnesota Vikings have handed out multiple contract extensions this offseason, including those of offensive coordinator Wes Phillips, head coach Kevin O’Connell, and GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah. On the player’s side, Theo Jackson and Aaron Jones re-signed prior to free agency, while in the last few weeks, Andrew Van Ginkel and Josh Oliver made sure to stay beyond next offseason.
Josh Oliver’s New Deal
Tight end Josh Oliver has been a controversial player considering his status as a TE2, but that’s because he also has a higher salary than the usual backup or rotational tight end.
He was originally hired in the 2023 offseason, one of Minnesota’s quieter offseasons in recent memory. Because he was acquired after the massive trade for T.J. Hockenson, a player who was waiting for his own payday, folks were confused to see a player at the same position sign for an average annual salary of $7 million.
Two years later, not everyone is sold. Oliver produces the 200-300 yards a capable TE2 should accumulate, but that’s not why he’s making that kind of money. He’s just a phenomenal blocker, which is why the Vikings decided to extend his contract through the 2028 campaign. He had been scheduled to become a free agent next March.
After days of waiting, we now have the contract structure.
Spotrac is writing on their website: “Josh Oliver signed a 3 year, $23,250,000 contract with the Minnesota Vikings, including $7,700,000 signing bonus, $19,745,000 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $7,750,000. In 2025, Oliver will earn a base salary of $1,250,000, a signing bonus of $7,700,000 and a workout bonus of $50,000, while carrying a cap hit of $4,264,000 and a dead cap value of $19,917,000.”
Long story short, Oliver will have a cap hit of about $4.4 million this season, nearly $10 million next year. It’s pretty much guaranteed that he will be on the roster in those two seasons. After that, the Vikings could get out of the deal in the 2027 offseason with a dead cap hit of slightly over $6 million, saving nearly $4 million. Those numbers basically flip in the 2028 offseason.
Oliver is 28 years old, and his play style doesn’t require him to run a dazzling 40-yard dash. He should age gracefully. Players can block deep into their 30s.
Offensive coordinator Phillips, who will remain on the team through 2026, said about his star blocker following the extension: “No disrespect to anyone else, but I think Josh Oliver is the best blocking Y (tight end) with pass game value in the NFL. What he brings to us from a physicality standpoint in the run game, from being able to block defensive ends, some really good players as a single blocker. A lot of times, those guys say ‘you never let a tight end block you.’ Josh is kind of a different human when it comes to that.”
The tight end logged back-to-back career seasons in receiving numbers with 22 receptions each year for 213 and 258 yards, respectively. He also caught a total of five touchdowns. That’s not spectacular by any means, but it’s enough to catch defenses off guard if they don’t take him seriously.
Vikings Territory’s Dustin Baker wrote this month, “How does Oliver fit? Well, he’s a remarkable run-blocking tight end and might be the best in the business at the task. Accordingly, to avoid regression, general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah locked down Oliver. He’ll be a central figure in the ground game for the next three to four years.”
Hockenson will continue to serve as the team’s top tight end in the passing game, while Oliver can help open lanes for runners in the ground game, an area that needs to improve in Kevin O’Connell’s offense. With the reinforcements on the offensive line, Jordan Mason supporting Aaron Jones, and Oliver staying on the team, the personnel is in place to ensure a better running game.
Oliver is going nowhere anytime soon.
Editor’s Note: Information from PFF, Over The Cap, and Sports Reference helped with this article.