Vikings Poised for Historic Free Agency Splurge After NFL’s Announcement

For the first time in recent memory, the Minnesota Vikings will be big-game hunters in free agency. Plagued by cap limitations during the Kirk Cousins era, the Vikings bit the bullet last offseason by parting ways with the veteran quarterback. That came at the cost of accelerating $28.5 million in dead cap onto the 2024 cap sheet, contributing to $70.4 million in sunk cap space — which was the fifth-most in the NFL. These decisions were all part of the plan of building a contender roster that can elevate a quarterback on a rookie-scale contract. Minnesota already had ample cap space to spend in the upcoming offseason, but the NFL announced major news that will bring even more of a boon to Minnesota’s finances ahead of free agency. According to ESPN’s Dan Graziano, the NFL sent a memo to teams on Feb. 19, noting that the 2025 salary cap would be set in the range of $277.5 million to $281.5 million — roughly $6 million to $10 million more than projected last year. With the cap coming closer to being finalized above previous projections, the Vikings could have up to $65 million in cap space — ranking seventh in the league — to spend in free agency. This offseason, the Vikings are poised to have the largest amount of cap space to spend in franchise history.

Inflation is a factor, but the Vikings rarely had the spending room to sign top-of-the-market free agents with Cousins under contract. Related: Vikings’ Justin Jefferson Sends Myles Garrett a Message Amid Browns Trade Rumors Last year offered a glimpse into the type of talent Minnesota could secure without a veteran quarterback contract on the cap sheet. The Vikings had $32.9 million to spend the eve before free agency, per Pro Football Focus (PFF).

They made a trio of major signings — eventual Pro Bowl edge rushers Jonathan Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel and inside linebacker Blake Cashman — and filled the roster with more affordable, short-term veteran deals afterward. Minnesota also signed Justin Jefferson and left tackle Christian Darrisaw to lucrative long-term extensions, both ideal moves to make at the time with the cap expected to skyrocket in the coming years. The boost in cap space should bolster Minnesota’s efforts to re-sign or replace 24 impending free agents this season with better talent. Five starters in the secondary are on expiring contracts along with three of their top four defensive linemen

Sam Darnold and Aaron Jones are the most notable free agents at premiere positions, however, with J.J. McCarthy and a deep running back draft class incoming, the Vikings could invest elsewhere.