6 Possible Salary Cap Casualties for Vikings
NFL free agency begins in 51 days, and the 2024 NFL Draft is 96 days away.
Indeed, the Minnesota Vikings offseason has arrived in living color, and before too long, the budget will take shape as general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah adds and subtracts players from the 2024 roster.
6 Possible Salary Cap Casualties for Vikings
Inevitably, a handful of men will depart the club as salary cap casualties. Ranked alphabetically, these are the possibilities.
1. Garrett Bradbury (C)
Dead Cap if Cut: $3.2 million
Cap Savings if Cut pre-6/1: $2.5 million
Cap Savings if Cut post-6/1: $4.9 million
Bradbury has improved since Kevin O’Connell’s arrival in 2022 but isn’t quite a Pro Bowl-level center. His pass protection remains suspect against the league’s top defensive tackles, and at some point, the goal would be to reduce that dominance from the opponent.
The Vikings structured Bradbury’s extension last offseason so that it would be relatively pain-free to cut ties this offseason if needed.
2. C.J. Ham (FB)
Dead Cap if Cut: $1.5 million
Cap Savings if Cut pre-6/1: $1.7 million
Cap Savings if Cut post-6/1: $2.5 million
Ham played 15% of Vikings offensive snaps in 2022 and 19% in 2023. So, yes, his role is increasing, but 19% usage just isn’t very noteworthy. Indeed, Ham is a wonderful commodity, especially blocking for playmakers and quarterbacks, but at what point do the Vikings leaders realize, “Do we really need to pay this guy if we don’t use him?”
The fullback has been a Vikings staple for eight seasons, but this offseason may spell the end.
3. Dean Lowry (DL)
Dead Cap if Cut: $2.4 million
Cap Savings if Cut pre-6/1: $2.08 million
Cap Savings if Cut post-6/1: $3.8 million
Lowry was a dirty work guy for the 2023 Vikings defense before his season ended prematurely due to a pectoral injury. He’s an example of the stats not doing too much justice — his Pro Football Focus grade was 47.4 — but he was a sturdy performer.
The problem, however, is the Vikings may finally upgrade the DT spot, perhaps leaving Lowry on the outside looking in.
4. Nick Mullens (QB)
Dead Cap if Cut: $375,000
Cap Savings if Cut pre-6/1: $1.9 million
Cap Savings if Cut post-6/1: $1.9 million
Nick Mullens is a superb backup quarterback. If the Vikings’ defense would’ve emulated the Cleveland Browns’ in December, Mullens would’ve enjoyed a Joe Flacco-like tale. But Minnesota’s defense didn’t do that.
If the Vikings draft a rookie quarterback and have some other patchover quarterback in mind, they might save some cash by releasing this reservist gunslinger.
5. Kene Nwangwu (RB)
Dead Cap if Cut: $188,000
Cap Savings if Cut pre-6/1: $1.05 million
Cap Savings if Cut post-6/1: $1.05 million
The Vikings don’t use Nwangwu’s speed on offense, and kick returns — the very concept of them — are dying. In an offseason where the Vikings must improve their rushing personnel and strategy, Nwangwu may not make the team in 2024.
6. Harrison Smith (S)
Dead Cap if Cut: $7.8 million
Cap Savings if Cut pre-6/1: $11.4 million
Cap Savings if Cut post-6/1: $15.3 million
By far the saddest predicament on the list, Smith is overpaid in his current form. Last offseason, he accepted a paycut, and he might do the same in 2024. If he does not, Smith could retire or join a Super Bowl-contending team.
One thing is certain: Smith won’t be a part of the Vikings’ roster with his scheduled $19.2 million cap number. That will either shrink via paycut, Smith will retire, or Minnesota will release him.
No matter what, the man is a Vikings legend — with zero debates from anyone.
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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