5 Vikings Deals That Stand Out as Cap Decisions
According to Over the Cap, the Minnesota Vikings are nearly $44 million over the cap and need to clear that cap space until the new league year begins in March. That can be done by restructuring some contracts, but moving on from contracts with high cap hits is also an option.
Here are five Vikings GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah needs to make a decision on in the next few weeks. Most of them will likely receive a contract extension or restructure, or end up on the chopping block.
Javon Hargrave
The two-time Pro Bowler was viewed as a massive free-agent get a year ago, but his first season in purple didn’t go smoothly. Hargrave played in 16 games and logged 15 starts, tabulating 3.5 sacks and 52 tackles.
He’ll turn 33 next month, and at this stage in his career, Hargrave is a pass-rushing specialist. As the defensive tackle frequently struggled to hold his ground in the running game, and with Jalen Redmond’s emergence, defensive coordinator Brian Flores lowered his snap count. Throughout the season, Hargrave played 537 defensive snaps, equalling 53% of the plays in the game he appeared in.
The Vikings can save $10,955,882 by ending the experiment after one season. He signed a two-year deal last March.
T.J. Hockenson
Tight end T.J. Hockenson was a big-time contributor early in his tenure with the Vikings, but a season-ending knee injury in 2023 has derailed his career. The torn ACL cost him half of the 2024 season and hasn’t been nearly as productive since.
In 2025, Hockenson caught just 51 passes for 438 yards and three touchdowns. In all fairness, the quarterback play didn’t help him or any pass-catcher put up numbers and he was used as a blocker more than in the past.
Regardless, he’ll have a cap hit of over $22 million next season, and the Vikings can save $8,871,176 (in addition to his $23,355,000 cap hit in 2026) by releasing him.
Ryan Kelly
Center Ryan Kelly was another item in Adofo-Mensah’s shopping cart in free agency of 2025 and he’s been quite good when available. Unfortunately, three separate concussions put his playing future in jeopardy and limited him to only eight games and 329 snaps.
Kelly is under contract for one more season, but his salary isn’t guaranteed. A release (or retirement) opens up $8,347,647, and it would be a little surprising to see Kelly play for another year. He’ll turn 33 in the offseason.
Aaron Jones
Running back Aaron Jones signed a one-year deal in 2024 and was good enough to earn a two-year extension. At the age of 31, he’s well in the danger zone for a running back. Players at that position decline rapidly once they get up there in age.
Jones can still play, and he looked pretty explosive throughout the season. However, he missed five games with injuries, played several others banged up and he’s not getting any younger.
A release would clear $7,750,000 in cap space.
Brian O’Neill
Right tackle Brian O’Neill has the team’s second-highest cap hit entering the offseason (behind Justin Jefferson), costing the club $23,115,657.
The good news is that most of that is non-guaranteed base salary. Even better, the Vikings can extend the veteran’s contract and defer most of the cap hit. There’s no need to cut the two-time Pro Bowler, who’s coming off his eighth season with the Vikings.
If the front office wanted to release him, however, they’d free $19,411,765.
Editor’s Note: Information from PFF, Over The Cap, and Sports Reference helped with this article.