Minnesota Vikings Salary Cap Update: Jordan Addison’s fifth-year option paints a clear picture why the NFL Draft is so important
After picking up wide receiver Jordan Addison’s fifth-year option this week, the Minnesota Vikings’ salary cap situation is clearer, and it paints a major importance on April’s NFL Draft.
Earlier this week, the NFL Owners Meetings brought news that the Minnesota Vikings were planning to exercise the fifth-year option on wide receiver Jordan Addison. It was a no-brainer to make the move since it’s only $18 million for 2027.
Locking him up is a win for the future of the Vikings. He is key to unlocking Justin Jefferson down the field, as Addison thrives attacking single coverage in the same way. What his fifth-year option does is change the salary cap situation over the next few seasons.
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Minnesota Vikings have intriguing salary cap outlook
It’s important to note that this was always expected, as they had budgeted for an extension for Addison and right tackle Brian O’Neill.
“Right tackle Brian O’Neill and receiver Jordan Addison are among the upcoming deals the Vikings have budgeted for. It’s also worth noting that Brzezinski described the Vikings’ 2026 roster build as being ‘barely out of the gate here,’ implying there are other ways than free agency to make substantive roster improvements,” wrote ESPN’s Kevin Seifert earlier in March.
Having two large extensions budgeted in the salary cap is a smart move, but the fifth-year option for Addison does change things. Let’s go into where things sit.
Vikings salary cap situation moving forward
Let’s take a look at how the salary cap situation impacts the Vikings over the next few years.
The Vikings have $4.8 million in space until post-June 1st. At that time, they will get $12.5 million in space. That money will help the Vikings maneuver throughout the 2026 season with in-season signings, the draft class, and practice squad. Keep in mind that they will lose around $2 million in salary cap space when final cuts come around, as they only count the top-51 until then.
Here’s where things get really interesting for the Vikings. Next season, the Vikings currently have only 30 total players under contract. Per Over The Cap, the Vikings are projected to have $49.4 million in salary cap space. They are likely to receive around $5 million in salary cap space with four veteran contracts set to void. Plus, there will be $12 million coming back to the Vikings in salary cap credits with Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave getting big contracts in free agency.
When you add the $12 million and then subtract approximately $23 million to account for minimum contracts to get up to the 53-man limit, the Vikings will have around $38 million in cap space before any extensions come into play.
There is still a lot of maneuverability with the salary cap, especially with potential extensions. However, this is why the NFL Draft will be so important moving forward. The lack of players on rookie contracts is a problem for the Vikings. They have nine picks in April, and have more than two players make it to the final year of their rookie deal, like in both the 2022 (Ty Chandler, Jalen Nailor) and 2023 (Jordan Addison, Jay Ward), which will be a huge benefit.
It’s going to be huge for the Vikings to nail the NFL Draft this year solely to impact the salary cap future of the franchise.
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