One Future Vikings Myth Already Debunked
Regarding the Minnesota Vikings’ future, especially after Kirk Cousins left town, you’ve probably heard a familiar slogan.
One Future Vikings Myth Already Debunked
It goes something like this: “Wait until 2025, when the Vikings have over $100 million in cap space.”
The myth is usually shouted with vigor, envisioning grand plans for the J.J. McCarthy era. And in fairness to the slogan-makers, Minnesota, indeed, will have more financial flexibility in 2025 than in years past. However, they won’t have $100 million to spend on free agents — unless general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah weirdly begins backloading existing contracts, which seems unlikely.
According to OverTheCap.com, the Vikings are scheduled to boast about $54 million in cap space next March — or about half of the $100 million famously touted by optimistic fans. Fifty-four million is still noteworthy and cause for enthusiasm, but it ain’t $100 million.
As of July 2024, Minnesota will have the eighth-most cap dollars on hand when free agency shakes down next offseason, so Adofo-Mensah can have the pick of the litter via veteran free agents. The Arizona Cardinals lead the pack at $88 million, at least per forecasting nine months out.
A cool perk? Dead cap space. The Vikings are on tap to go from third-worst in dead cap funds this season to just six thousand bucks in 2025. That is — a decrease from $57 million to $6,000 from 2024 to 2025. The high prices from Kirk Cousins and Danielle Hunter will soon fly off the books, and it’s unlikely that Minnesota will shove dead cap onto the 2025 ledger. Of course, some contract decisions between now and next March could result in dead cap funds, but it won’t approach the godforsaken $57 million currently on the books.
With the $54 million on deck for the 2025 offseason — not $100 million because the proposed mark would always shrink after inking the deals of Justin Jefferson, Jonathan Greenard, and Andrew Van Ginkel, for example — Minnesota can pursue a handful of free agents.
At wide receiver, if the purple team still needs a WR3, players like Stefon Diggs, Hollywood Brown, and Amari Cooper are due for 2025 free agency. For defensive tackles — a position the Vikings desperately need to improve — Kenny Clark, Cameron Heyward, and Osa Odighizuwa could hit the open market. And at cornerback, Charvarius Ward, Asante Samuel Jr. and Deommodore Lenoir, among others, will be available.
Ergo, the Vikings will have several fascinating free-agent options to explore, presumably catapulting the team fully into the McCarthy era.
They just won’t have the widespread theory involving $100 million. It’s closer to half.
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,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band).
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
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