2 More Vikings Cut Candidates Emerge
On Sunday, several reports confirmed that Minnesota plans to show running back Aaron Jones and defensive tackle Javon Hargrave the door. However, the Vikings’ cap purge might not stop there, as two other names have picked up some steam as potential cap casualties.
Defensive lineman Jonathan Allen and center Ryan Kelly, both signed last offseason, could be next.
Consider ESPN’s Kevin Seifert, who wrote Sunday, “The moves will save the team $18.65 million in cap space. Entering the weekend, the Vikings were roughly $43 million over the NFL’s $301.2 million cap, the result of two consecutive years of heavy free agent spending. Other candidates for contract termination include defensive tackle Jonathan Allen and center Ryan Kelly.”
Both players are over 30 and didn’t meet expectations in their first season in purple after signing lucrative multi-year deals.
Alec Lewis (The Athletic) also noted, “Even with both moves, the Vikings will have ample work to do, which will likely lead to a busy week. They are pursuing pay cuts with key players. Defensive lineman Jonathan Allen and center Ryan Kelly are also cut candidates.”
Though far from confirmed, having not just one but two high-profile Vikings reporters mention the same two names could be relevant.
Allen’s case is almost bizarre. While Hargrave agreed to a two-year deal with little guarantees in the second season, fellow defender Allen signed a three-year contract. The potential cap savings are minimal. If he’s axed, the Vikings save $6,533,332 while keeping a dead cap penalty of $17,333,334. If the Vikings pull that lever next year, those two numbers pretty much flip.
Hargrave’s contract was structured to have an “out” after one year; Allen’s was structured to have one after Year 2.
Still, the 31-year-old didn’t reach his past Pro Bowl level. Allen appeared in all 17 games and made 68 tackles and 3.5 sacks. His 34 QB pressures ranked him 5th on the team, behind Jalen Redmond, who stole the show on the defensive line. Also notable: Hargrave had 31 QB pressures in 116 fewer pass-rush snaps.
Allen’s PFF grade of 53.2 ranked him among the worst defenders on the team, dragged down by poor run-defense efficiency.
If both Allen and Hargrave are cut, it would leave defensive coordinator Brian Flores in need of a starting defensive tackle. Redmond has proven to be a starter. Levi Drake Rodriguez, Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins and Elijah Williams represent a solid rotation, but not starting-caliber play. A couple of players would have to be added in the Draft or via free agency, but it’s doubtful the front office could find a replacement for Allen with the minimal savings.
While Allen is fairly new in the cut rumor mill, Kelly’s name has been there for a while. The center has four Pro Bowls on his track record, but also a long list of injuries.
Last year, he suffered three separate concussions. That by itself is scary enough, even without the three documented concussions he had suffered prior to moving to Minnesota.
Limited to only eight games in his purple debut season, Kelly has just played a single full season this decade and just 18 games over the last two campaigns. He’ll turn 33 in May and the Vikings have to plan for the future, whether he’s on the team or not.
If he isn’t, however, the club can save $8,347,647 while only inheriting a dead cap hit of $3,367,500. The front office structured his deal knowing he might just be a one-year player and can now easily move on without any daunting salary cap penalties.
It is certainly unfortunate, as Kelly was a fantastic center for the Vikings in the limited playing time he had. In 2025, the veteran was the 4th-best center according to PFF.
When he was sidelined, the Vikings turned to either backup center Michael Jurgens or versatile reserve lineman Blake Brandel. Both could be in the mix for Kelly’s successor, but acquiring another center this offseason is an option.
Ultimately, the Vikings’ cap situation suggests the recent moves may only be the beginning. With significant space still needed, additional veteran contracts will remain under scrutiny in the coming days. Whether it results in pay cuts, restructures, or outright releases, Minnesota’s roster could look noticeably different by the start of the new league year.
Editor’s Note: Information from PFF, Over The Cap, and Sports Reference helped with this article.