So That’s Where the Vikings Are Spending Money
This offseason was largely about the quarterback and wide receiver positions for the Minnesota Vikings. With cap room remaining, Kwesi Adofo-Mensah just made it about the left tackle position as well.
So That’s Where the Vikings Are Spending Money
Christian Darrisaw is among the best draft picks of former general manager Rick Spielman. He has established himself as among the best left tackles across the entire league, and the only thing stopping him from higher accolades has been injury.
Fully expected to get paid before the 2025 season began, the Vikings did him one better.
Paying Darrisaw a $113 million deal over the next four seasons, the Minnesota Vikings have their bookends locked up. Brian O’Neill was recently paid, and now the younger Darrisaw joins him in the check cashing line. With training camp ready to fully kick off, Darrisaw no longer has to worry about his eventual payday.
This is the blueprint that Adofo-Mensah envisioned when letting veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins walk this offseason. Without having a substantial amount of money tied up in a mid-tier quarterback, the Vikings were free to operate with salary cap flexibility once again. Justin Jefferson got the payday only he deserved, and Darrisaw was given the dollars a year early.
By drafting J.J. McCarthy in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft, the Vikings have their shot at a cost-controlled asset for years to come. Knowing that the quarterback position is the most important in sports, Minnesota took a swing at getting their guy into the future. If they are correct, then this is the exact way you’d want to construct a roster.
It has taken a few years for Adofo-Mensah’s vision to come to life, but we’re now seeing the full picture. Jefferson and Darrisaw were always essential for the future, but it took organizing everything correctly to make the moves possible. He has done all the straightforward work to this point and now needs McCarthy to be the guy that head coach Kevin O’Connell can develop.
Ted Schwerzler is a blogger from the Twin Cities that is focused on all things Minnesota Twins and Minnesota Vikings. He’s active on Twitter and writes weekly for Twins Daily. As a former college athlete and avid sports fan, covering our pro teams with a passion has always seemed like such a natural outlet.
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