Roster Cut Suddenly Floated for Veteran Vikings Defender
Javon Hargrave has been attached to the Minnesota Vikings’ roster for about nine months, but according to The Athletic, the man could be on his way out in the coming months.
Minnesota didn’t sign Hargrave to be a short-term experiment, but one offseason note has already shifted the conversation from impact to exit ramps.
Hargrave signed a two-year, $30 million deal last March, on tap to serve as a desperately needed defensive tackle solution. Yet, if Alec Lewis has it right, Hargrave will be seeking a new team in no time.
Cap Math Could Put Javon Hargrave on the Offseason Bubble
Hargrave could be a one-hit wonder, evidently.
Hargrave Floated as Cap Casualty
Sizing up offseason needs, Lewis opined this week, “One of the more predictable offseason moves will be cutting defensive tackle Javon Hargrave. The reasoning? It’s a combination of age, production and financial savings. Hargrave will turn 33 in February.”
“He has flashed in spurts as a pass rusher, but his 3.5 sacks have been underwhelming. And the Vikings can create $11 million in room for 2026 by parting ways with him. The conversation with Jonathan Allen is more difficult. He’s almost two years younger than Hargrave, and his contract doesn’t offer as much flexibility.”
Lewis made the Hargrave roster cut sound like common knowledge, but until this week, the idea had only been whispered in the shadows as a possible outcome.
Lewis added, “Minnesota could cut him with a post-June designation, further resetting the books. Jalen Redmond’s ascent, Levi Drake Rodriguez’s improvement and Elijah Williams’ promise allow for some wiggle room. But the Vikings still desperately need another fearsome defender on the interior.”
Who to Replace Him?
The good news? The Vikings may have in-house replacements for Hargrave. The aforementioned Allen has a bigger contract than Hargrave, and the club may give him one more year to “figure it out.”
Then, Jalen Redmond is a Top 5 player on the Vikings’ roster this season — maybe Top 2 or Top 3. He deserves a starting role for the foreseeable future and will likely be paid handsomely this offseason. After Redmond and Allen, Levi Drake Rodriguez has shown morsels of promise, probably enough to earn a starter’s role in 2026, especially because Rodriguez can stuff the run.
Additionally, DT Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins has earned playing time as a rookie. And undrafted free-agent rookie Elijah Williams posted an impressive training camp and preseason. Minnesota has DT depth.
There’s also free agency and the draft if general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah wants to take another swing at defensive tackle.
The Numbers for Hargrave
Hargrave is not struggling, according to Pro Football Focus. That’s Jonathan Allen (49.2 grade),
PFF has assigned Hargrave a 67.4 grade through 15 weeks, though his 56.9 run defense mark is sad. Among all interior defensive linemen, Hargrave ranks 18th in sacks, 24th in quarterback hurries, 27th in quarterback pressures, 27th in tackles, 43rd in stops, and 50th in quarterback hits.
He’s a mediocre-to-decent defensive tackle who’s stepped up at times and been quiet in others.
The Dead Cap
Whether it’s before June 1, 2026 or after — there’s usually a difference for the salary cap — the Vikings would be on the hook for about $10.5 million in dead cap if Lewis has the roster cut theory correct.
Yes, that would basically mean that Adofo-Mensah admitted fault for the Hargrave signing and will pay over $10 million in penalties. On the other hand, Minnesota would free up about $11 million in additional funds, enabling it to sign a free agent or two in March.
So it’s $10.5 million in dead cap to say goodbye to Hargrave while freeing up $11; a dual-edged sword.
Lewis Also Suggests OT Depth
Lewis also mentioned offensive tackle depth as a 2026 offseason need: “This might be the most interesting position on this list. Let’s start with left tackle Christian Darrisaw, who is almost 14 months removed from a torn ACL and MCL.”
“Darrisaw has played 10 games this season, but he has also pulled himself out of multiple games. Beyond availability, his level of play has not matched his pre-injury output. His return to peak form is paramount for 2026. The Vikings paid him like one of the game’s elite tackles, and when he’s at his best, that’s understandable.”
Darrisaw’s knee situation is quickly rising to the top of the offseason talker list.
“His contract becomes more manageable in 2027. Finding a developmental candidate for the worst-case scenario feels like an appropriate move. Right tackle Brian O’Neill’s case is fascinating in a different way. He is 30, and his contract only runs through 2026,” Lewis continued.
“The Vikings could seek to rework his situation for next season and beyond, but insurance would give Minnesota multiple paths depending on performance and health.”
The Vikings will begin the 2026 offseason about $36 million underwater via the salary cap due to 2025 offseason spending. Several veteran players could face an unexpected cut or at least see their contracts restructured. Both maneuvers are damn near mandatory.
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