Vikings interim GM Rob Brzezinski playing chess, not checkers with the salary cap

The best in the business is doing a great job.

Tyler Forness — NFL & College Football News Writer
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Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Jake Browning (6) is knocked down by Minnesota Vikings defensive tackle Jonathan Allen (93) as he gets a pass off in the second quarter of the NFL Week 3 game between the Minnesota Vikings and the Cincinnati Bengals at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025.
Sam Greene/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Getting under the salary cap this offseason has been huge for the Minnesota Vikings. They had to make some serious decisions to eliminate over $46 million in salary cap space.

They started by restructuring three of their top players: wide receiver Justin Jefferson, left tackle Christian Darrisaw, and cornerback Byron Murphy Jr. Then, insiders reported that running back Aaron Jones, defensive tackle Javon Hargrave, and defensive tackle Jonathan Allen would be released. Lastly, tight end T.J. Hockenson took a pay cut to stay with the team.

They ended up keeping Jones on a pay cut, but both Allen and Hargrave were cut, with the former being a post-June 1 designation.

Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave will net Vikings an intriguing benefit

Moving on from both players left a big hole on the defensive line, and the Vikings with around $28 million in dead salary cap space over the next two years. It’s a lot of dead money for just one year from each player.

Where interim general manager Rob Brzezinski did a good job navigating the dead money both incurred. Both players had guaranteed money owed to them by the Vikings when they were cut, with Allen being owed $8 million and Hargrave $4 million. The good thing with that guaranteed money is they both signed massive contracts.

With Hargrave getting $23 million over two years and Allen getting up to $28 million over the same time, it’s very likely that the Vikings will get a lot of money back in salary cap credits due to offset language.

Depending on how much cash each player gets in 2026 will determine how much the Vikings get in salary cap credit. Allen will end up getting up to $8 million back in salary cap credit, with Hargrave netting $4 million.

The interesting thing here with how Brzezinski handled the situation was the post-June 1st cut of Allen. They will save $11.2 million this year, which will help a lot with their in-season spending. Plus, the salary cap credits next season will essentially wipe out that dead money. They are currently projected to have around $78 million in salary cap space before the credits come into play, which would vault them to around $90 million.

It’s a shrewd way to maximize the Vikings’ salary cap situation this year and moving forward. Now that it’s settled, the Vikings can move forward thinking about adding talent to the team.

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