An Underrated Vikings Role Player Might Be On the Chopping Block
The Minnesota Vikings enter the offseason with a good amount of cap space for the first time in years. Normally, they have to restructure some deals to even be cap compliant but not this time. General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has some flexibility in addressing the numerous roster needs via signing free agents.
An Underrated Vikings Pass-Catcher Might Be On the Chopping Block
The sweet aspect is that he could even increase his bank account by releasing some guys who don’t live up to their cap hit. Ed Ingram and Garrett Bradbury could be on their way out if the Vikings indeed plan to improve their interior offensive line.
Parting ways with blocking tight end Josh Oliver, however, can open $5.152 million. That number could rise to $8 million if the Vikes release him with a June 1st designation and push some of the dead cap hit into 2026.
Oliver arrived in free agency during the 2023 offseason, and it was quite a strange acquisition because the Vikings had previously traded for tight end T.J. Hockenson and planned to hand him a lucrative contract.
Adofo-Mensah gave a tight end with 230 career receiving yards a three-year deal worth $21 million. It is noteworthy, though, that Oliver is one of the best blocking tight ends in the business, and he has been fantastic in that regard for the Vikings.
In 32 games with the purple team, Oliver recorded 471 yards and five touchdowns. Kevin O’Connell included him more as a pass-catcher compared to what he was used to with the Ravens and the Jaguars prior to moving to the Twin Cities. Still, paying a blocking tight end $7 million per season while being cheap at other areas like the interior offensive line is quite a strange trade-off.
Of course, his presence helps in the running game, but having an above-average guard would’ve likely been even more helpful in the running game.
For what it’s worth, Oliver finished the 2024 season as PFF’s best run-blocking tight end in the NFL, and he ranked 9th in overall grade.
His offensive coordinator, Wes Phillips, made a strong claim during the season: “Josh is the best blocking tight end in the league, you know. And that’s no disrespect to anyone else and for anyone who wants to use that as fuel, go ahead; I can’t say I’ve studied each one intently, there are some good ones out there, but we’ll take Josh over anybody in this league in the role that he’s in. He’s not only physical imposing, he’s a 270-pound man, but the attitude that he plays with, the physicality.”
Phillips added that even referees get tricked by his blocking skills: “There have been times in his time here where I don’t know that they were particularly holds. I don’t think [the referees] are used to seeing a guy on the edge just kind of put a defensive end on his back, and he has gotten some calls in some situations where we’re like, ‘it’s hard to coach sometimes, that was a great block.’ But you see it every week. He’s moving humans, large, large men, and putting them on the ground.”
At the end of the day, the Vikings have to decide if Oliver is worth that type of money for a third season or if they can better allocate those resources at a different position.
Oliver will turn 28 in March. His blocking skills are undeniable, but is it worth the $5.125 million the Vikings could save? That question will be answered within the next couple of months.
Editor’s Note: Information from PFF, Over The Cap, and Pro Football Reference helped with this article.
Janik Eckardt is a football fan who likes numbers and stats. The Vikings became his favorite team despite their quarterback at the time, Christian Ponder. He is a walking soccer encyclopedia, loves watching sitcoms, and prefers Classic rock over other genres. Follow him on Twitter if you like the Vikings: @JanikEckardt