4 Ways for Vikings to Spend Their $17M Cap Space
Minnesota Vikings mandatory minicamp is about three weeks away, the first real precursor to the regular season.
4 Ways for Vikings to Spend Their $17M Cap Space
The purple team still has around $17 million in cap space before signing the whole 2024 draft class and could upgrade the roster here and there. These are the four best ways to spend that cash, ranked in ascending order (No. 1 = best way).
4. Hunter Renfrow (WR)
Renfrow banked 1,038 receiving yards in 2021 and just under 600 combined from 2022 to 2023. His career has slowed, and at age 28, he needs a geographical cure to attempt rejuvenation.
Conveniently, Renfrow is a free agent, and many wonder why no team has taken the plunge for his services as a WR3 or WR4. Adofo-Mensah selected zero wide receivers during the draft, even though the event was filled with promising WR3 types.
In theory, Renfrow should have a few seasons left, so why not in purple as a WR3 on a one-year deal? It would be affordable. And he’s probably one of the last best WR3 types available on the open market.
3. Dalton Risner (LG)
Risner has encountered back-to-back bizarre free agencies. No one can quite figure out why he doesn’t generate more interest from NFL teams.
The veteran guard played well for Minnesota in 2023, especially via pass-blocking and keeping Kirk Cousins, Joshua Dobbs, Jaren Hall, and Nick Mullens upright. Risner hired Drew Rosenhaus in March, so if anyone can get a deal completed, it’s him.
The only catch might be that Risner’s asking price is too high. Stay tuned.
2. Greg Van Roten (OG)
This journeyman is well into his 30s and has played 110 NFL games.
Some reports suggested that Van Roten signed with the Buffalo Bills last month, but those turned out to be inaccurate. He’s also up there in age, as he turned 34 in February. But offensive linemen can often thrive well into their 30s.
Minnesota is tentatively scheduled to start Blake Brandel — especially if Riser doesn’t return — and some fans are shaky on that idea. Van Roten fired up a tremendous 75.3 Pro Football Focus grade last year with the Raiders while playing over 1,000 snaps.
Put plainly, the former Green Bay Packer is still quite predictive. He might even be an upgrade over Risner.
1. Calais Campbell (DT)
Campbell is a fantastic football player whose skillset never diminishes. He was drafted the year after Adrian Peterson — can you believe that? — and is still one of the NFL’s best defensive tackles.
Minnesota didn’t sign Christian Wilkins, Leonard Williams, or Arik Armstead, so the clock is ticking on adding an impact interior defensive lineman. In fact, Campbell could be the last chance this offseason at defensive tackle, kind of like Renfrow at WR3.
Campbell recorded an 80.0 Pro Football Focus grade last season — at age 37. The defensive tackle spot next to Harrison Phillips is the one item separating Minnesota from showcasing a magnificent defense, at least on paper.
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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