Questions Answered: The Sean Payton Domino, Zimmer in CO, Salary Cap Increase
Dustin Baker
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The following questions are about current Minnesota Vikings topics, answered by PurplePTSD. Today is the January 31st edition, addressed in a from-the-hip fashion. If you have questions, please email them to [email protected].
Also, please note: These are opinion-based responses. Some answers will be incorrect from time to time. But we’ll try to keep that to a minimum.
Questions Answered: The Sean Payton Domino, Zimmer in CO, Salary Cap Increase
Q: Now that Sean Payton was hired in Denver, is the Vikings defensive coordinator search clear?
A: It’s probably closer to fruition — but not any clearer.
Brian Flores is in the mix for the Arizona Cardinals top job. So was Payton. It’s a safe assumption that the Vikings probably want Flores for defensive coordinator. And he’s still in the running for the Arizona job.
The Vikings DC search may not crystalize until the Cardinals pick their head coach. If they choose Flores, our guess is Sean Desai for the Vikings defensive job.
Q: I know Mike Zimmer is supposed to coach for the University of Colorado, but will he maybe join Sean Payton with the Broncos?
A: This is a decent theory, yes.
Zimmer and Payton worked together in Dallas for three years (2003-2005). They have a relationship. Zimmer also knocked Payton out of the postseason twice in 2017 and 2019.
For now, Zimmer is supposed to join Deion Sanders’ Buffaloes staff in Boulder. But now this Broncos thing is available.
The safest bet is that Zimmer will land somewhere in Colorado in 2023.
Q: How much does the salary cap increase help the Vikings?
A: The salary cap increase affects every team the same. It’ll be set at $228.4 million.
Minnesota is still near the bottom of the league per available cap space, so Kwesi Adofo-Mensah will have to get creative, no matter the increase.
Players will get paid more, and that’s pretty awesome for the sport.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sal Spice. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ and The Doors (the band).
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.