New Batch of Dead Cap Money Hits Vikings Books
NFL free agency begins in 20 days, and the Minnesota Vikings can enter the signing period with roughly $55.5 million in cap space.
New Batch of Dead Cap Money Hits Vikings Books
But on Monday, a batch of new dead cap money solidified in the Vikings’ books and became immovable.
Here’s the who and how much. It’s also worth noting that Minnesota can still re-sign the following players, but the 2025 dead cap will remain as-is.
1. Sam Darnold (QB)
Dead Cap = $5 Million
Probably the most popular man in the Vikings’ orbit at the moment, $5 million from Darnold’s $10 million salary (2024) became dead in the budget this week.
General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah can still franchise tag Darnold if he sees fit, as the window for such a maneuver opened on Tuesday, February 18th. Adofo-Mensah has two weeks to tag Darnold.
The 27-year-old spoke with SiriusXM Radio earlier this month, sounding like a player who will test free agency.
“I’ve put a little bit of thought into it. I’m not going to share anything about, kind of, what I’ve been thinking or, obviously, the conversations I’ve had behind closed doors,” Darnold said. “There’s obviously, a lot that’s going to happen still, even after the Super Bowl. So, I’m just going to continue to talk to my agent and figure things out from there.”
Normally in an interview like SiriusXM’s, a player might say something to the effect of: “I’d love to be back with the Vikings.” But he said no such thing.
2. Byron Murphy Jr. (CB)
Dead Cap = $4.2 Million
When the offseason began, most expected Murphy back in 2025, almost as a no-brainer.
But the man played so well in 2024 — 6 interceptions and his first Pro Bowl — that he expanded his pocketbook and might get more money on the open market than Minnesota is willing to pay.
ESPN’s Kevin Seifert even claimed this week that Murphy, not Darnold, could receive Minnesota’s franchise tag.
Of all three players on this list, Murphy Jr. is probably the most likely to return because, well, Minnesota needs cornerbacks for long-term roster planning.
3. Stephon Gilmore (CB)
Gilmore played his 13th NFL season in 2024, and he’s evidently contemplating retirement, according to Star Tribune.
“I’m probably the last corner playing. So, definitely going to sit down with my family and think about what’s best for me and go from there,” Gilmore said last month about his 2012 draft class, mentioning that his body was “feeling it.”
Gilmore served as a big-name replacement in the Vikings’ defense last season when Mekhi Blackmon tore his ACL and rookie defender Khyree Jackson tragically died in a car accident.
All told, $11.5 million in dead cap attached to the Vikings’ books this week — a somewhat small number in NFL-speak.
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 Vikings 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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