The Vikings’ Top Compensatory Pick Players Moving into a Skimpy 2026 Budget
Losing talent within NFL free agency comes with some upside: the chance to recoup value by seeing the league kick over some compensatory picks.
To that end, the Vikings’ top players moving into March of 2026 feel quite pertinent. Minnesota doesn’t just lack money; to the contrary, there’s so little money that some guys will need to get cut just to get the finances in order. With a tip of the cap to Over the Cap (pun intended), consider some Vikings players who could be too pricey to keep while generating draft compensation on their way out.
The Vikings’ Top Pending FAs
Player #1 — WR Jalen Nailor
In all likelihood, Jalen Nailor is going to take his talents elsewhere.
GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah took over in 2022. He hasn’t demonstrated much appetite for paying decent money for a WR3. He allowed K.J. Osborn to get away. Likewise, Trent Sherfield got away on what was a low-end, middle-class deal.
Nailor hasn’t fully exploded in the NFL but he’s moving in a positive direction. Competent quarterback play could involve seeing him getting around the 750-yards range rather than being around 400 yards. Even better is that he’s an assassin at scoring touchdowns, further enhancing how enticing he is to teams looking for receiver help.
Seeing him land anywhere from $5-$10 million per season (admittedly, a broad range) would be enough to get Minnesota on the board for a compensatory pick.
Player #2 — LB Eric Wilson
Seeing Eric Wilson take off would be painful.
Last offseason, Mr. Wilson came to Minnesota despite having a chance to earn more money elsewhere. Brian Flores has used Wilson in a bold, aggressive manner. Not just an off-ball ‘backer and special teams ace, Wilson can line up as an edge rusher while being an every-down defender who gets shuffled around the front seven.
The Vikings may opt to keep him around, especially if Flores sticks around for 2026 (and potentially beyond).
At 31, Eric Wilson doesn’t have too many more chances to secure a large payday before his playing career is done. Very likely, there will be no better opportunity for him to land great money.
He’s projected to kick over a comp pick to the Packers after agreeing to become a Viking for just $2.6 million and then playing the vast majority of the snaps on defense. The per-year annual average appears supremely likely to be much higher as some team hands over lucrative money to get Eric Wilson onto its defense.
Player #3 — OT Justin Skule
Admittedly, the Justin Skule option is an unlikely one.
The backup offensive tackle is going to secure work somewhere. For how much remains to be seen. He is playing for just $2 million on a single-season deal in Minnesota. He could, if all the stars align, get a contract that spans across a couple of seasons while seeing the per-year average push higher.
Mr. Skule is a 29, meaning he’s no spring chicken but still has good ball ahead of him. He has experience at both right tackle and left tackle. The correct situation — such as the Vikings with an uncertain Christian Darrisaw going into 2025 — could send over some decent money to bring in a solid OT3 who has done work for reasonably impressive franchises in the 49ers, Bucs, and Vikings.
Some sneaky options otherwise? Punter Ryan Wright, safety Harrison Smith (if he decides to head elsewhere, which doesn’t appear likely), quarterback Carson Wentz, and/or receiver Rondale Moore. However, all of these players appear unlikely to depart for a deal that could send over a comp pick.
