The Minnesota Vikings have $76.7M in projected cap space for 2025. Right now that’s because of two things. The first being some big dead caps ending ($65.8M in dead cap in 2024 v $5.5M for 2025). The 2nd being a lot of free agents. The Vikings have signed several free agent vets to short term deals. So, that being said, there is plenty of cap space to bring back players if the team wants to. Who is the 2025 Free Agent you would prioritize?
Realizing there’s a bunch of time left in the season and injuries change everything, it’s using the info available right now.
Cam Robinson – Robnison is on an expiring deal worth $18.0M a year. He’s likely to get a nice offer and the team will gladly let him go for a comp pick. The better he plays, the better that pick will bein 2026. Darrisaw is coming back and he’s too expensive to be a backup.
Sam Darnold – He would be an excellent backup to JJ. However, you can only keep him around if he takes a small deal. Darnold is on a 1 year $10M deal signed this past offseason. There’s a chance they can afford to bring him back as a backup. The answer now might be different than it was a month ago.
Byron Murphy Jr – They way he is playing right now it’s going to be hard to let him go. He’s on the last year of a 2-year $17.5M contract signed two off-seasons ago. They way he’s playing, it might be expensive to sign him.
Stephon Gilmore – Once again a starting CB you don’t want to lose. Gilmore is getting up there in age, he’ll be 35 next season. He signed a 1 year $7.0M contract. There’s a chance he comes cheaper due to age.
Aaron Jones – Jones also signed a 1 year $7.0M contract this past offseason. He’s injured frequently, but love the way he runs. The team has no legitimate RB, but there might be plenty available. Conner, Jones, Najee Harris, AJ Dillon, Nick Chubb, and many others will be available. Also, drafting one is an option, but not many picks to use. Cam Akers will also be a free agent.
Shaq Griffin – Griffin signed a 1 year $4.55M deal this past offseason. He’ll likely be fairly cheap depth option.
Jerry Tillery – Tillery signed a 1 year $2.75M deal this past offseason. He plays around 50% of the snaps right now. Would love an upgrade here, but he could be coming back.
Dalton Risner – Risner needs to get on the field and play. OG is a position of weakness, but Risner isn’t exactly a rock either. He’s on a 1 year $2.4M deal.
Nick Mullens – Everyone’s favorite backup when Darnold is flailing. Mullens could be a cheap backup option if they didn’t want to waste $10M on Darnold. Mullens is on a 2 year $4.0M contract.
Brandon Powell – Powell signed a 1 year $2.0M contract this past offseason. He’s done nearly nothing. He currently plays around 27% of the snaps. Powell will struggle to make the roster here or someone else next year.
Cam Bynum – The starting safety next to Harrison Smith is on the final year of his rookie deal. I have no idea what the market will be for him. Theo Jackson, his backup, is also a free agent. I was down on Bynum for a long time. He’s turning me around this year. It might just be those goofy celebrations. However, if he is celebrating that much, the turnovers are coming.
Ryan Wright – Wright will be a restricted free agent in 2025. His 3 year $2.6M deal is expiring, but he hasn’t accrued the number of required years to be a free agent. The Vikings might bring him back to camp with some competition.
Theo Jackson – Jackson isn’t getting much playing time. It seems the team likes him, but he’s sitting behind Bynum right now. He’s on a 1 year deal right now and might return on the same next year. However, he might leave in search of playing time if the Vikings bring back Bynum.
Also, Khyree Jackson’s contract counts against the 2025 cap because the NFL is a brutal.