The Vikings’ Cap Space Settles, Giving Minnesota Some Money to Spend
For a long time, the Vikings’ cap space was showing off ample wear and tear from aggressive spending in 2024 and 2025. Some tough decisions have left things in a considerably better spot.
Minnesota’s still modest budgetary freedom has settled in at roughly $9.5 million. The number on OTC shows a touch under $6 million, but Aaron Jones hasn’t seen his $9 million base salary lowered to $5.5 million, thereby freeing $3.5 million (Tom Pelissero). What makes Minnesota’s money outlook more promising is that there are still a few levers that can get pulled. Moreover, the outlook beyond the 2026 budget looks a lot healthier due the various decisions that have been made.
The Vikings’ Cap Space After the Chaos
To begin, a quick PSA: an NFL team’s cap gets pulled in a ton of different directions at this time of the year.
The offseason sees the roster limit swell to 90 players (up to 91 if a team scoops up a player for the international player exemption, as the Vikings often do). Of those players, the most expensive 51 contracts will count against the cap. So long as those 51 players come in below the financial threshold, the Vikings are in a fine spot, at least as it relates being cap compliant.
What’s far more fascinating than mere league compliance is what the Vikings can afford. If, in theory, there’s a desire to land more talent, what kind of buying power exists in Minnesota?
Currently, the cap space is showing roughly $9.5 million. Not a ton, but enough to do business on low-end and/or medium-money deals. No doubt, enough to land a quarterback who will play for the league minimum.
Keep in mind, as well, that the 2027 cap space is coming in at roughly $67.5 million. That’s a projection that’s going to undergo a lot of movement over the coming months. Simply signing the draft class alongside the UDFA talent will mean things get adjusted, but keep in mind that there’s some future abundance to lean on.
What can the team do if there needs to be more money right now?
Well, start off with a basic reality: there does need to be more money. Signing the draft class isn’t free. The good news for Minnesota is that some cap space is already on the way since post-June 1 cuts were pursued.
Most lucrative of all is the Jonathan Allen cut. Opting for that strategy turns down money for the present moment, deferring the payoff until the beginning of June. At that time, the Vikings will see $11.2 million added into the mix. Furthermore, Harrison Smith has been cut with the same strategy, so there will be some added cap space in June due to Smith, as well. The team will add $1.3 million due to the safety cut.
Also in front of the Vikings are the trade decisions involving EDGE1 Jonathan Greenard alongside LB3 Ivan Pace Jr. Shipping out one (or both) of those players involves gaining cap space as well as whatever gets directly added in the trade (read: a draft pick or two). Greenard being sent out means adding $12.25 million whereas a Pace trade would involve adding $3.52 million.
Finally, consider that RT Brian O’Neill hasn’t yet arrived at an extension. Extending the big fella who has been locking down the RT1 job since 2018 could involve liberating $14 million for 2026. Likewise, LB1 Blake Cashman and do-it-all offensive lineman Blake Brandel are extension candidates.
To function as a recap, consider the players who have seen their deals adjusted to save cap space:
- Justin Jefferson (Restructure)
- Christian Darrisaw (Restructure)
- Byron Murphy (Restructure)
- T.J. Hockenson (Pay Cut)
- Aaron Jones (Pay Cut)
- Javon Hargrave (Cut)
- Jonathan Allen (Post-June 1 Cut)
- Harrison Smith (Post-June 1 Cut)
- Ryan Kelly (Retirement)
The Vikings can pursue these options to put more cap space back into the mix:
- Brian O’Neill (Extension)
- Blake Cashman (Extension)
- Blake Brandel (Extension)
- Ivan Pace Jr. (Trade)
- Jonathan Greenard (Extension/Trade)
- Other Mystery Option(s)
The Vikings’ cap space has been replenished. As a result, there’s a modest amount that’s currently available. More is coming in June and there are several possible levers that can get pulled to get more money back into the mix.
Editor’s Note: Information from Over the Cap helped with this piece.
