The Vikings' Trio of Talents Staring Down a Final Season in Minnesota
The 2026 budget is looking lean, already showing a major deficit. One wonders, then, if several well-established linemen are moving into their final season as Vikings.
Already, the Vikings are working toward a bleak financial outlook. The fine folks at Over the Cap are insisting that Minnesota’s 2026 budget is in the red by a whopping $34.7 million (rounding up a bit).
Not great.
The key caveat, of course, is that GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah happens to be adept at navigating a budget. He knows where the money stands and already has some ideas about how to liberate some precious cap space. Notable, as well, that Minnesota is moving in a 2026 offseason with draft picks aplenty, a surefire way to add talent for cheap given that all incoming rookies are on cost-controlled deals.
But while all of that is true, one still does wonder if there’s going to be significant pain on the horizon. More specifically, could there be an ironic reversal of what occurred during the most recent offseason?
Very plausibly, the Vikings could look to offload strong linemen in cap-clearing moves, a potential outcome that stems (at least partially) due to the hearty investments made along the DL and OL in the present offseason. What would that look like if the possibility calcifies into reality?
Vikings’ Trio of Cut Candidate for 2026
Brian O’Neill, Right Tackle
Cap Savings: $19,500,000
Dead Money: $3,703,892
Say it ain’t so, right?
The long-time right tackle will likely be extended, not cut. There is a world, though, where Minnesota opts to get younger and cheaper at right tackle.
Promising players like Walter Rouse and Logan Brown are in the house, but they seem like a stretch to step into the RT1 job by 2026. One also thinks of Blake Brandel, the versatile backup who can play any of the line’s five positions.
Finally, there’s Justin Skule, someone who has been added to be the swing tackle. Does he show enough in 2025 to inspire Minnesota to make a bold, controversial change at right tackle?
Something to keep in mind is that Brian O’Neill recently discussed the team looking to eventually replace him.
Ryan Kelly, Center
Cap Savings: $12,117,500
Dead Money: $0
Next offseason, Adofo-Mensah could move on from Kelly with no financial pain. There’s only financial benefit from moving on.
The key issue is that the team would need to find a new starter at center. Michael Jurgens is in the house and has previously inspired some optimistic comments from Ryan Grigson.
A critical factor is going to be health, or lack thereof. Seeing the veteran struggle to stay on the field is going to make it tough justifying the pretty large cap hit. Seeing the opposite scenario occur — one where Kelly stays on the field while helping J.J. McCarthy to thrive early — would make an extension by a year or two more appealing.
Keep in mind that the GM will have quite a bit of leverage if he asks Kelly to come back to the negotiation table. Seeing the deal untouched next offseason would be a surprise given how dicey things are financially.
Harrison Phillips, Defensive Tackle
Cap Savings: $7,500,000
Dead Money: $1,676,389
A veteran who offers leadership, ruggedness, and some nimble feet, Harrison Phillips is a fixture within the Kevin O’Connell/Kwesi Adofo-Mensah brand of football.
The problem is a financial one.
Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave — accomplished veterans who will offer leadership and intelligence in a similar manner to Phillips, but not as adept with run-stuffing ruggedness — are looking to get their careers back on track after working through injury in 2024. Doing so may make Phillips appear to be a luxury rather than a true need.
Complicating matters is the collection of young defensive tackles/ends: Taki Taimani, Levi Drake Rodriguez, Jalen Redmond, and Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins.
A Vikings future where Allen and Hargrave are at the top of the ticket while the young fellas start getting a larger portion of the playing-time pie won’t be super surprising.
Phillips chewing up close to $9.2 million on next year’s cap comes across as being unlikely.
Odds & Ends
Dad Joke of the Week
“If my name was David and I had a boy, I would have to name him Harley. That way he could introduce himself, I'm Harley, David's son.” — Dad Jokes
Vikings Links
If they Play their Cards Right, Could the Vikings Complete the Triple Play?: Consecutive offseasons have featured the Vikings getting the top compensatory selection due to a quarterback departing for major money (Kirk Cousins in 2024, Sam Darnold in 2025). Any chance a triple play occurs in the 2026 offseason?
Mere Days into Vikings Career, New Passer is Already Trash Talking: Good to see that Max Brosmer is settling in nicely. The UDFA addition has an uphill battle to get onto the final roster, but he has a chance.
The Vikings’ Young Pass Rusher and The 926 Reasons to Believe He’ll Shine in 2025: Seeing the sophomore jump rather than slump would represent a major boost for the Vikings. Dallas Turner was a costly addition, someone with ample upside but who still has much to prove. Putting together a sizzling 2025 would be met with great applause in Eagan.
Thanks for reading and take care of yourself.