All the Vikings’ Big Moves Are Possible for One Reason
The Minnesota Vikings have exploded onto the free-agent scene, even more so than most fans projected.
All the Vikings’ Big Moves Are Possible for One Reason
The Vikings have notably signed Ryan Kelly (C), Will Fries (G), Jonathan Allen (DT), Javon Hargrave (DT), and Isaiah Rodgers (CB) in free agency in addition to re-upping with Aaron Jones (RB), Byron Murphy Jr. (CB), Theo Jackson (S), and the beloved one, Harrison Smith (S).
Minnesota has outpaced all spenders in the last few days. That’s possible for one reason — they’re not spending megabucks at the quarterback spot.
For now, J.J. McCarthy and Brett Rypien are the only passers under contract for the 2025 club. That’s a $6 million cap number for the most critical position in sports. Of course, the Vikings will likely sign a backup quarterback like Jameis Winston or Drew Lock, but that man won’t exceed $10 million.
On Tuesday, general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah put it all on the line, fortifying the offensive and defensive trenches with the aforementioned Fries, Allen, and Hargrave, a day after procuring Kelly. He could not have done that while employing Kirk Cousins or re-upping with Sam Darnold.
Cousins played admirably for the purple team from 2018 to 2023. He usually checked in around the NFL’s eighth highest-paid quarterback while delivering the 12th-or-so best statistics. Cousins was never an outlandishly overpriced commodity.
But he could never singlehandedly drag Minnesota to the postseason or Super Bowl, and when a team elects to pay a quarterback north of $30 million, it might need that player to transcend bad circumstances.
Cousins’ versions of Vikings teams were often beset by poor defenses or worse offensive lines. In theory, because he earned mucho dinero, it was up to him make up the difference — be the reason his general manager couldn’t sign players like Kelly, Fries, Allen, and Hargrave.
He never did that.
Then, Minnesota could’ve re-signed Darnold on Monday for three years and $100.5 million, his new deal in Seattle. But Vikings fans would basically say goodbye to three of these names: Kelly, Fries, Allen, and Hargrave.
This is the fun part of employing J.J. McCarthy for the next four seasons on an affordable contract. Adofo-Mensah can spend liberally, surrounding McCarthy with pieces.
Utilizing good-not-elite quarterbacks all but nullifies that style of team-building.
Now, the Vikings have four years to “get it right” with McCarthy — until he’s eligible for a four-year, $300 million extension that will kick in after the 2028 season (assuming he thrives).
Have fun, Vikings fans. This is the roster construction you’ve yearned for … forever.
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Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The show features guests, analysis, and opinion on all things related to the purple team, with 4-7 episodes per week. His MIN obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band). He follows the NBA as closely as the NFL.
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
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