“What Are They Planning?” 7 Theories for Vikings Cap Space.
The Minnesota Vikings have about $33 million remaining in free agency. Roughly $5.7 million will pay for the 2025 draft class, assuming Kwesi Adofo-Mensah conducts a few trades for more picks.
“What Are They Planning?” 7 Theories for Vikings Cap Space.
That’s a sizable cash wad after Adofo-Mensah added Ryan Kelly (C), Will Fries (G), Jonathan Allen (DT), Javon Hargrave (DT), Jordan Mason (RB, trade), and Isaiah Rodgers (CB) in free agency — in addition to re-upping with Aaron Jones (RB), Byron Murphy Jr. (CB), Theo Jackson (S), and Harrison Smith (S).
And as the question circulates social media — “What are the Vikings planning with all this unused cap space?” — these are seven theories, ranked in ascending order (No. 1 = most likely method for remaining cap space).
It’s worth noting that the Vikings released center Garrett Bradbury on Monday with a post-June 1st release, which saved about $5 million on this year’s cap. The maneuver turned heads because most believed Minnesota would prefer the cash next year when money is already slim.
7. Something Sneaky … Like a Kyle Pitts Trade
Thinking outside the box, perhaps Adofo-Mensah has a contrivance to add a player no one expects.
In this case, it could be tight Kyle Pitts, who, despite in-your-face raw talent, has not taken off with the Atlanta Falcons. For years, Vikings fans have asked the franchise to invest in a tried-and-true WR3, while the purple front office has replied, “Yes. Here’s Bisi Johnson, Chad Beebe, K.J. Osborn, and Jalen Nailor.”
Maybe the Vikings will bypass WR3 altogether in favor of utilizing two incredibly talented tight ends: T.J. Hockenson and Kyle Pitts.
Pitts’ cap number in 2025 is about $11 million, which would afford the Vikings him, a free agent or two, and a draft class, per the budget.
6. WR Trade like Michael Pittman
Here, the Vikings could oblige the WR3 request from fans and trade for a player who has fizzled, to an extent, with his current team.
Pittman is 28 and has a $28 million cap number. For a 4th-Rounder or so, the Vikings could trade for Pittman, finagle an extension, and boom — J.J. McCarthy would be throwing to Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, Michael Pittman, and T.J. Hockenson on Sundays.
Not a bad forecast for a 22-year-old quarterback.
5. The Oft-Rumored Sauce Gardner Trade
The Gardner theory appeared to sprout last week from an account named “Playmaker Dave,” who boasts an impressive social media accuracy run, predicting events like Daniel Jones to the Vikings a few months ago, Davante Adams to the Los Angeles Rams, and Geno Smith to the Las Vegas Raiders, among other fulfilled prophecies.
The account tweeted last Tuesday, “SOURCE: Minnesota Vikings and New York Jets in discussions for blockbuster trade involving Sauce Gardner’ lots of movement in the last 24 hours and the cap situation makes it all work.'”
Gardner later tweeted to debunk the rumor, claiming he thought Vikings fans calling for the trade was a “joke.”
But what if Minnesota’s brass is serious? Gardner is about to receive a mammoth extension. Perhaps the Vikings will surrender their No. 24 pick this year and a mid-rounder next for Gardner, complete with a fancy extension for the NFL’s best or second-best corner.
4. Aaron Charles Rodgers
Aaron Rodgers probably won’t join the Vikings’ roster, but the club has done little to tame the rumors within the last week.
The Athletic reported over the weekend, “Rodgers is hoping to sign with the Vikings, who went 14-3 in 2024 before suffering a first-round playoff defeat to the Los Angeles Rams. Meanwhile, the Vikings have been strongly weighing the possibility of pursuing Rodgers as a replacement for 2024 starter Sam Darnold, who signed a three-year, $100 million free-agent deal Wednesday with the Seattle Seahawks.”
“The bottom line: There are a lot of people waiting on Rodgers’ decision. And Rodgers, at least for now, is waiting on O’Connell.”
Rodgers was included in this list because about 10% of fans would revolt without his name mentioned.
3. Denzel Ward Trade
Ward-to-Minnesota theories were born last month largely due to Bleacher Report.
“Ward has long been one of the NFL’s better players at a premium position. He’s headed to his fourth Pro Bowl and is in the prime of the career,” BR’s Gary Davenport recommended in February.
“But if Minnesota offers the 24th overall pick for Ward, Cleveland should pull the trigger. It would be a truly ‘all-in’ move for the Vikings, who are already short on draft picks this year. But with $57.9 million in cap space, the Vikings could make this splash trade and still have enough money to bring back Sam Darnold.”
Adofo-Mensah could send his 1st-Rounder from this year to Cleveland — his former employer — for Ward, 28, and call it good.
“Calling pass defense the Vikings’ biggest weakness this season doesn’t do it justice. They were 28th in the NFL during the regular season and got shredded by the Rams in a playoff loss. Ward would be a massive upgrade at their most vulnerable position. He’d all but surely a more impactful player in the short-term than that 24th pick,” Davenport added.
Ward’s cap number next season? $24.5 million.
The Vikings 2025 CB room would be totally solidified.
2. Roll It over to 2026
The boring one — Minnesota saves the dough for a rainy day.
With 2025 free agency about a week old, the Vikings already own 2026’s most grim salary cap allotment, projected to have negative $9 million. Yikes.
The plan may be to retain cash now and merely roll it over to next March so that the ledger isn’t so nasty. “Cash now is better than cash later,” might be the mantra.
1. Simply … More Free Agents & a Draft Class
If all the conspiracies are wrong — they probably are — then the Vikings can sign a player or two this month, pay the 2025 draft class, and save a chunk of cheddar for a rainy day in the summer.
This is the most likely option because the current roster is pretty well set after the Vikings’ nifty free-agent haul last week.
These free agents should be monitored:
- Rasul Douglas (CB)
- Joe Flacco (QB)
- Will Hernandez (G)
- Mike Hilton (CB)
- Teven Jenkins (G)
- Drew Lock (QB)
- Shaq Mason (G)
- Brandon Scherff (G)
- Justin Simmons (S)
- Carson Wentz (QB)
For example, the Vikings could sign Hilton, Lock, a draft class in May, and everything would balance.
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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