Latest Vikings trade deadline buzz sends a different message than we’ve received, and it speaks volumes about the future
Parsing out whether to go all-in, save assets for the future, or somewhere in between is the challenge for the Minnesota Vikings.
The trade deadline is less than a week away for the Minnesota Vikings, and there are multiple paths general manager Nolan Teasley can take:
- Stand pat and focus on development within a playoff run
- Make small depth moves
- Huge splash
- Add a long-term piece
You can make a logical argument for all of them, but the one that will frustrate the fanbase the most would be not doing anything at all. The Vikings are 6-1 right now, and multiple contenders have made massive moves to improve their football teams, including the Chicago Bears adding Jeffery Simmons. His impact was massive on Monday night.
The Vikings don’t appear willing to spend
Within each of the four options, the main element at play is the salary cap. Right now, the Vikings have approximately $5.8 million in salary cap space, per Over The Cap, and there aren’t many avenues to go about creating more.
ESPN’s Dan Graziano believes that it could be a huge factor in the Vikings making a move, or not.
“Minnesota has looked around at running backs, but it doesn’t sound as if the Vikings are in position to take on much salary. If they make an addition to help their running game, it might just as easily be an interior offensive lineman or a blocking tight end.”
There aren’t a lot of moves the Vikings can make to create cap space after restructuring multiple contracts this summer. Now, the interesting thing about the options they have to maneuver with the salary cap is that all could easily be off the team.
Edge rusher Andrew Van Ginkel (base salary $15.39 million, 4 void years), right guard Will Fries ($12.61 million, 3 remaining years), linebacker Blake Cashman ($6.9 million, 2 void years) and tight end T.J. Hockenson ($7 million, 1 void year) are the only realistic options for the Vikings to restructure. The problem is: how much money do you want to push out into future years with players who may not be on the roster next year?
That is what Teasley is wrestling with. He has yet to have an offseason to define his vision after being hired right before mandatory minicamp, and 2027 will be his first free agency and NFL Draft. Will he want to define his tenure with the Vikings on a 6-1 start with an offense playing very poorly despite the resources they have?
That decision will define the Vikings’ season.
