That Makes 3 Franchise Cornerstones off the Team

Dalvin Cook Uses Chalkboard Treatment for Fine
Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports.

General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah is not handing out lifetime achievement awards. His arrival implied big changes and he’s following up on that. Because he has no attachment to the players who joined the Vikings during the reign of Rick Spielman, he can do what is best for the organization instead of focusing on feel-good stories. However, for fans, the moves hit differently.

That Makes 3 Franchise Cornerstones off the Team

That Makes 3 Franchise Cornerstones off the Team
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The Vikings had an aging roster with many of those older players having massive salaries. On Adofo-Mensah’s agenda was the task to get rid of some of those contracts to increase the salary cap flexibility in the future, and to make the team younger in general. Both of those tasks were fulfilled by the release of some longtime Vikings.

The first player who had to pack his bags was linebacker Eric Kendricks. Coming out of UCLA in 2015, Kendricks claimed the starting gig at middle linebacker in his debut season. He played in 123 games for the Vikings and started 119 of them. 10 interceptions, 4 forced fumbles, 3 touchdowns, 16 sacks, and 962 tackles later, Minnesota released him for cap-saving purposes right before the start of free agency.

Will Brian Flores Bring Kendricks' Replacement With Him?
Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports.

Kendricks had a down year in 2022, his age-30 season. He lost a step and had some trouble getting comfortable in the new 3-4 defense. The linebacker was one of the elite players at his position in his heyday. He has a first-team All-Pro nomination in 2019 to show for it. Brian Asamoah, the third-round pick in 2022, is expected to replace him.

A few days after Kendricks’ departure, Adofo-Mensah also cut ties with wide receiver Adam Thielen who was a fan favorite and the hometown hero in Minnesota. However, similar to Kendricks, he had a huge contract and was on a steep decline. Thielen lived the dream of every football fan, to play for his favorite team.

You May Not Like It
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His stat sheet is impressive. The wideout appeared in 141 games for the purple team and started 105. He caught 534 passes for 7,013 yards, and 55 touchdowns. The yards rank him fourth, and the catches and touchdowns third in franchise history. Adofo-Mensah selected Jordan Addison in the first round of the draft to supersede the veteran.

Dalvin Cook became the third cap casualty. The Vikings reportedly plan to release the veteran running back after six years with the club. Injuries were a problem throughout his tenure but he rarely missed games in the last few campaigns.

Cook rushed for 6,165 yards and 49 touchdowns in 76 games in a Vikings uniform (playoffs included). Both of those numbers rank him fourth in franchise history. Running backs usually slow down in their late 20s and Cook will turn 28 in August. It will be up to his backup Alexander Mattison to become the team’s top running back

Another Stunning
Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports.

The three players were staples of the organization and wore the jersey of the Vikings a combined 341 times. However, they are all past their prime and had huge contracts. Adofo-Mensah saved roughly $24.6 million in cap space by letting the trio go. Those savings will be even bigger in 2024 when there is no remaining dead salary cap hit.

The NFL and its teams are businesses and there is no place for sentiment. Harrison Smith stayed after agreeing to a pay cut and remains the longest tenured Viking on the team. He has been with the organization since 2012. Danielle Hunter joined in 2015 but trade rumors about him surfaced as well. Fullback C.J. Ham came to the team in 2016 and Kirk Cousins and Brian O’Neill in 2018. Only three players remain from the Minneapolis Miracle game in 2017.


Janik Eckardt is a football fan who likes numbers and stats. The Vikings became his favorite team despite their quarterback at the time, Christian Ponder. He is a walking soccer encyclopedia, loves watching sitcoms, and Classic rock is his music genre of choice. Follow him on Twitter if you like the Vikings: @JanikEckardt

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