The Minnesota Vikings have quietly built themselves a useful cushion under the salary cap, and that opens the door to more than one kind of move.
Since the start of June, the team has added breathing room by releasing Jonathan Allen after June 1 and extending Brian O’Neill, a deal that lowered O’Neill’s cap hit this season by $8.3 million. That sequence pushed the Vikings to more than $21 million in cap space, and they’ve already dipped into the market by bringing in Jamal Adams.
Still, the feeling around the team is that there’s room for one more swing.
“If there’s a good football [player] out there, somewhere, we’re actively discussing and pursuing it, finding ways to improve our roster,” said new general manager Nolan Teasley. “Every day of the week, every day of the month, and every day between now and the trade deadline and the end of the season.”
That kind of flexibility gives Minnesota a few different paths.
One obvious route is edge-rush help. Since the Vikings traded Jonathan Greenard, the group has been thin at the position.
Jake Golday is being viewed as an edge rusher in the NFL, and Dallas Turner is in the mix, but the room is short on experience. Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins has also been shifted to the edge and is being used both there and as a hand-in-the-dirt defensive lineman because of the situation, but he’s another player without much seasoning.
The market still offers some names, even if they’re no longer in their primes. Joey Bosa, Von Miller, and Kyle Van Noy are all still available, and each has a track record of producing double-digit sacks.
They’d also bring the kind of leadership and big-game experience this defense could use. Among that group, Kyle Van Noy looks like the cleanest fit for Minnesota when you weigh versatility, experience, and scheme.
There’s also the Harrison Smith question, and that one seems to be trending in a positive direction. The longer the offseason goes, the less likely retirement feels.
Brian Flores already put the message out there last week, flashing Smith the bat signal and saying he wanted him back. Smith, meanwhile, has reportedly stayed in shape while he weighs his next move.
Last season made the case pretty clearly: the Vikings were better on defense when Harry was on the field than when he wasn’t, even if age and workload would mean fewer snaps. Minnesota didn’t do much to fortify safety this offseason, either, with Jakobe Thomas the only notable addition there after being selected in the third round. Thomas could be a future answer, but Flores’ defense asks a lot of its safeties, and rookies usually have a hard time mastering all of that right away.
Even if Smith returned for only 60 to 70% of defensive snaps, the impact would be significant.
And then there’s the most familiar use for cap space: keeping powder dry for a trade. The Vikings have done this kind of thing before, including the Cam Robinson move two years ago when they filled the hole at left tackle after Christian Darrisaw went down. This season, they could end up needing the same kind of flexibility if a trade target appears.
For now, there isn’t a long list of obvious names on the block. Outside of Vita Vea, no true household stars seem likely to move.
But that can change fast. All it takes is one big name becoming available, and the Vikings have positioned themselves to be ready.
In Other News...
Kevin O'Connell Just Added New Tension To The J.J. McCarthy Debate
Kevin OConnell spent part of his latest public turn trying to steer the conversation back to the bigger picture around the Vikings quarterback plan after Kirk Cousins left, but the timing only added more intrigue to the J.J. McCarthy discussion. Cris Carter had already thrown gasoline on the fire by saying former general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah wanted McCarthy in 2024, and OConnells comments on local radio did little to quiet the matter around how the rookie wound up becoming the choice for Minnesota.
The Vikings were in the market for a young quarterback and came away with McCarthy after another target never materialized, which is why this debate still hangs around the organization. OConnell framed the situation in terms of the teams overall search, but the silence around Carters specific claim leaves room for the kind of lingering tension that tends to follow a franchise quarterback decision, especially when the coach and front office are being measured against each other. [Read more 🡒]
Vikings Camp Standouts Are Turning Up The Heat On This Roster Race
The Vikings have only just opened padded practices at training camp, but the early buzz is already centering on players trying to force their way into the conversation. Nick Pace Jr. has been active on defense, Taivon Felton has flashed better route running and cleaner hands, and rookie cornerback Chuck Demmings has caught attention with the kind of physical, confident coverage coaches tend to notice quickly.
For a roster with jobs still up for grabs, that kind of start matters because these are the kinds of reps that can reshape a depth chart before preseason games even begin. Feltons growth as a receiver and Demmings poise in coverage are giving the Vikings more to evaluate on both sides of the ball, and the early camp standsouts are making this one of the more interesting battles to watch as the roster race tightens. [Read more 🡒]