The Minnesota Vikings’ salary cap situation over the last two months has been the biggest story with the team.

They went into the offseason $46 million over the cap and had some difficult decisions to make. Over the last two weeks, the Vikings have made those, with multiple restructures, a couple of pay cuts, and players being released. Going into the second wave of free agency, the Vikings only have $9.5 million in salary cap space to work with, and they can get more with an extension for right tackle Brian O’Neill and the rumored trade of edge rusher Jonathan Greenard.

Minnesota Vikings set to get massive salary cap benefit in 2027

Two of the biggest decisions the Vikings had to make were with defensive tackles Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave. Both were signed to big deals in the 2025 offseason, with Allen getting $51 million over three years and Hargrave $30 million over two years.

The key with both players that was tough for the Vikings was that they each had guaranteed money remaining on their contracts. Allen had a whopping $8 million guaranteed, and Hargrave $4 million. That guaranteed money was a big reason many believed Allen would be on the team next year.

Because of that guaranteed money and an over-$16 million salary cap hit, they likely had a discussion about a pay cut. Interim general manager Rob Brzezinski likely believed they could get a deal worked out with Allen not having the year he was expecting. That didn’t happen because the free agency market for him was solid.

The contract details for Allen are in on Over The Cap on his two-year deal worth $25 million, and the key was going to be him getting at least $8 million in cash to offset the guarantees the Vikings owed him. Luckily, that is going to be the case, as he will be getting $13.5 million in cash this year from the Bengals.

That will give the Vikings a much-needed salary cap credit in 2027, while also voiding out the cash the Vikings have to pay. They are also getting $4 million in salary cap credits from Hargrave signing with the Green Bay Packers. Getting those credits will offset the $11.2 million in dead salary cap that Allen will carry in 2027.

Brzezinski is playing chess, not checkers, and it’s going to pay off in 2027.