Minnesota Vikings take an unexpected hit to their offseason plans with latest NFL news
The Vikings’ salary cap situation took a step back on Friday.
One of the biggest Minnesota Vikings storylines this offseason is how they in a salary cap conundrum. Going into the offseason, the Vikings were in dire straits when it came to the salary cap, being projected at least $43 million over. They needed to make significant moves to get under the salary cap, and those discussions have already begun.
Rumors have been coming from the NFL Scouting Combine fast and furious. The biggest one being that the Vikings are exploring a trade with defensive tackle Javon Hargrave. Being able to facilitate one would save them an extra $4 million.
NFL sets salary cap for 2026 season
The NFL has informed teams that they will be increasing the salary cap by $22 million, up to $301.2 million.
That’s a significant increase for the NFL at a whopping 7.3%. It is, however, less than the increase we saw in 2025, which was $23.8 million and 8.52%. It may be a smaller increase year/year, but it’s a good increase nonetheless.
Over the last five years, the salary cap has gone up 60.5% from $182.5 million to $301.2 million.
Minnesota Vikings lose cap space
Going into this weekend, Over The Cap had the Vikings had the second-least cap space at $43,206,353 over the salary cap. Their projections were based on a salary cap at $303.5 million. With the salary cap announced at $301.2 million, the Vikings have lost salary cap space, and are now $45,506,353 over the salary cap.
Not all hope is lost for the Vikings. They may be significantly over the salary cap, but they have a lot of flexibility within that. They have very little dead money and no atrocious contracts like they did when Kwesi Adofo-Mensah took over as the general manager in 2022. With their situation currently, they have really good contracts, and a lot of movable money with players like Justin Jefferson and Christian Darrisaw due big salary cap hits.
It’s not all doom and gloom for the Vikings, but they now know what their goal numbers are.
Minnesota Vikings News
Minnesota Vikings have a bevy of salary cap issues, and general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has many avenues to fix it
Despite being $56 million over the salary cap in terms of effective cap space, the Minnesota Vikings have a multitude of paths to fix it.
Minnesota Vikings News
4 Hypothetical Trade Offers For DT Javon Hargrave: Minnesota Vikings could have multiple suitors for the talented defensive tackle
The Vikings need to clear salary cap space, and a Javon Hargrave trade could get that done.
