The Obvious Vikings Cut Candidate Pulls a U-Turn as 2025 Nears an End
Maybe the best move is to run it back with the top Vikings cut candidate, massaging the money in a manner that allows the Vikings to maintain its starting five for 2026.
Lately, starting center Ryan Kelly has been one of the most obvious names for the chopping block. His entire cap charge — one that clears $12 million next season — can be wiped off the books with a simple cut. Could Minnesota pivot, choosing to find alternative financial solutions to the upcoming cap crunch? If so, then the recent words from J.J. McCarthy could end up being crucial. Allowing to kid QB to keep working alongside a center whom he regards highly makes a lot of sense.
Vikings Cut Candidate Ryan Kelly Proving His Excellence
For better or worse, J.J. McCarthy is Batman in Minnesota. Everyone else jumps into the role of Robin, a supporting position that necessarily means being in second place.
Minnesota spent ample resources investing in the team around its young superhero. The thinking made a lot of sense: since quarterbacks carry a disproportionate burden, try to lift off some of the load by reinforcing other areas. Only recently has the plan finally come to fruition, with the team around the sophomore — alongside needed growth from the man himself — helping the Vikings to arrive at key wins.
Consider what McCarthy had to say of his starting center following the game.
“It’s amazing,” McCarthy said in his post-game presser, “There’s nothing better than scoring a touchdown and the first guy that I hear is Ryan Kelly saying, ‘I love you, bro, you’re an animal.'”
Not to be outdone, Ryan Kelly had his own turn in front of the media. The center explained that McCarthy is “the ultimate competitor” in response to a question about the quarterback’s rushing score.
Push the two comments together and there’s clearly a strong bond that’s being formed. Kelly can be the big brother to the kid QB, supporting the sophomore as the spotlight necessarily shines on #9.
With the QB/C connection growing, the Vikings cut candidate becomes much more difficult to cut.
The current estimate has Minnesota north of $46 million in cap debt after getting to the 51-man cap cutoff. Shrinking that debt pile by more than $12 million is definitely appealing, but there’s pain with that option: moving on from a center who is capable of offering excellent play. Minnesota hasn’t had a center so promising in a long time.
Next year, J.J. McCarthy will be better equipped to navigate the challenges of the NFL. But while that’s obviously true, there’s another truth that will remain present: the benefit of an established veteran who has seen a ton.
Rugged and intelligent, Ryan Kelly is the perfect center for the Vikings. He is very good at adjusting at the line of scrimmage, leaning on extensive experience to communicate the protection plan to teammates. His lone concern is his injury history. He’s older but that hasn’t stopped him from playing at a high level. Accordingly, there should be an ongoing desire to work alongside the former Colt.
Kelly, 32, could get squeezed to accept a pay cut. Alternatively, there could be an effort to arrive at an extension. Doing so could free up more than $8 million in cap space.
Next up for Mr. Kelly and the Vikings is a Week 16 game against the Giants.
