In recent memory, the Minnesota Vikings haven’t had great luck converting draft picks to different positions, no matter how many college tackles Rick Spielman drafted to play guard. That’s why expectations were low when it was reported that the Vikings were moving Cam Bynum to safety after playing outside cornerback at Cal.
He was a smart player but lacked the speed to play outside cornerback in the NFL. I saw him as a stop-gap starter on his rookie deal — a placeholder for Harrison Smith’s next running mate. Instead, Bynum has settled into his free safety role and positioned himself for a lucrative second contract this offseason.
With most of the secondary in free-agency limbo, the Vikings have five roster spots to fill in the defensive backfield. We can expect that the Vikings want Bynum back in purple next season, but how much could it cost them on the cap sheet, and how much could the human element work in Minnesota’s favor at the negotiating table?
Entering his age 27 season, PFF projects Cam Bynum’s contract to be $14.25 million per year over three years. Spotrac does not have a market value projection for Bynum, but we can use their record of recent safety contracts to understand the range of outcomes. Percentage of the salary cap at signing is much more instructive than contract dollar amounts, so that will guide this exercise.
In 2024, the NFL salary cap was $255.4 million. NFL Network reported in December that teams are budgeting for a 2025 salary cap of $265 million to $275 million, while OverTheCap.com and Spotrac.com are operating on $272.5 million and $275 million salary caps, respectively.
Comparable safety deals from 2024 include Julian Love (4.31% of the cap at signing), Kyle Dugger (5.68%), and Xavier McKinney (6.56%).
Last offseason featured a uniquely robust crop of free-agent safeties, which depressed the market slightly, leading me to believe that Bynum’s deal will be on the higher end of this range. That said, some other prominent young safeties are hitting the market this offseason, like Jevon Holland (25, Miami), Talanoa Hufanga (26, San Francisco), Julian Blackmon (26, Indianapolis), and Andre Cisco (25, Jacksonville).
PFF’s $14.25 million Average Annual Value (AAV) contract projection would have Bynum’s deal account for roughly 5.2% of the 2025 cap. While I don’t consider this number unrealistic, we need to brace ourselves for the possibility of that figure becoming much steeper as other teams begin conversing with Bynum’s agent. If there is a reasonable outside market for Bynum, we could see that number reach $17 or $18 million, in line with the contracts of Xavier McKinney (6.56%) and Budda Baker (7.05%) by dollar amount but slightly less by percentage of the cap.
Then there’s the less calculable human element to consider.
Bynum has become a driving force in Minnesota’s locker room culture. His lighthearted, enthusiastic nature seems to permeate the team, as evidenced by the turnover celebration dance routines he organizes for himself and his teammates.
Furthermore, his then-fiancée, now wife, was denied tourist visas for the first few seasons of his career. Therefore, she couldn’t watch him play in person, even after applying for a spousal visa following their marriage in March 2023. Minnesota Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith reached out to help with the process, and by November of that year, his wife was with him in Minnesota.
In Bynum’s first season, he was the only rookie defensive back on the team and thus stuck with all the rookie duties: snack runs, DB dinners, carrying bags, etc. Much to his surprise, Harrison Smith consistently lifted some of that burden.
Minnesota’s longest-tenured player would become a mentor to Bynum. Smith has been instrumental in Bynum’s development, success, and confidence. Smith would discreetly ask Bynum, who was on his relatively modest rookie contract, if he needed money for these expenditures or to take care of the bill(s) ahead of time without seeking recognition.
Smith’s future is still uncertain as he enters his late 30s. However, if the future Hall of Famer decides to play one more season, that could influence Bynum’s decision to return — and perhaps even affect his price tag. Last year, The Athletic’s Vikings reporter Alex Lewis published an incredible article about Smith that includes more about his relationship with Bynum over their time together.
Similarly, Bynum has enjoyed significant growth under defensive coordinator Brian Flores and adapted seamlessly to his scheme. Flores has taken head coach interviews with multiple teams, but as organizations begin to announce their staff hires, it is more likely that he will return for 2025. It’s impossible to know Bynum’s intrinsic motivations without speaking with him directly, but most players value familiarity with coaches and scheme in addition to location.
A deal with any other team presents a smattering of unknowns, and thae same would be true of the Vikings if one or both of Smith and Flores don’t return. If they are back for 2025, the Vikings would have something with which no other team could compete: continuity. Continuity, in addition, perhaps, to the opportunity to chase a Super Bowl ring with Harrison Smith one last time.
Minnesota’s cap space is projected to be around $64 million, which could make the decision rather easy for the front office. If they view Bynum as an integral piece of the defense going forward, it will be within their means to retain him at a handsome market value. The return of the two men who’ve done the most to guide Bynum’s career to this point could save the Vikings some money on his extension while buying them a few more seasons with an ascending safety.
