Vikings Staring Down $50 Million Problem as Training Camp Nears

The NFL salary cap is a fickle and frustrating beast, which Minnesota Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has managed in objectively impressive fashion since joining the franchise ahead of the 2022 campaign.

After navigating high salaries for beloved, but often aging, players from the previous regime over the past three years — and leading Minnesota to the playoffs in two of those three campaigns despite the financial difficulties and disadvantages — Adofo-Mensah finally hit an offseason in 2025 with money to spend. And by all accounts, he has spent it magnificently.

The Vikings added two starting interior offensive linemen in center Ryan Kelly and guard Will Fries in free agency, both formerly of the Indianapolis Colts. The team brought running back and locker room leader Aaron Jones, extended star cornerback Byron Murphy Jr. on a longterm contract and beefed up the defensive front with additions of linemen Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave, both of whom will likely start.

Adofo-Mensah also inked Pro Bowl edge rusher Andrew Van Ginkel, who he signed in free agency last offseason, to an extension coming off of a career year in 2024.

Moving on from quarterbacks Sam Darnold and Daniel Jones, one of whom Minnesota wanted to keep but couldn’t afford based on the offers they got from other franchises, has led to a cheap quarterback room headlined by second-year player and former No. 10 overall draft pick J.J. McCarthy. If McCarthy works out, the Vikings will have one of the greatest financial advantages in football over the next three years — a quality player at the most expensive position in the sport on a rookie contract.

However, even despite the potential McCarthy advantage, Minnesota is staring down the barrel of a fire sale one summer from now based on their projected cap situation.

Vikings May Need to Roll Over Salary Cap Space to Deal With $51 Million Deficit in 2026

GettyGeneral manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah of the Minnesota Vikings.

Judd Zulgad and Phil Mackey of the Skor NORTH podcast explained the situation on the Friday, June 20 edition of the show.

The inciting question dealt with whether Minnesota might make another trade or free-agent addition this offseason and led into a discussion about the $18-plus million in space the franchise still has at its disposal for the upcoming season.

“You can roll over cap space. I don’t know exactly if you can roll over all of it or some of it, but you can roll over unused cap space, which they are probably going to need because — as of right now — no team is further over the cap in 2026 than the Minnesota Vikings,” Mackey said. “They’re like $50 million over the cap.”

According to Spotrac, Minnesota currently sits more than $51.1 million in the hole for the 2026 season.

“Be prepared next March for a lot of deals to be … reworked, or a lot of guys to just be let go, too,” Zulgad added.

Quarterback Most Likely Spot for Vikings to Make Move This Summer

GettyQuarterback Sam Howell of the Minnesota Vikings. 

If the Vikings do spend any of their remaining $18 million this summer, it will likely be on a QB2 to replace Sam Howell.

“I think training camp will dictate some things,” Zulgad said. “I’ll go back to Sam Howell. If Sam Howell craps out in training camp, I don’t know that they’re going to just sort of hold their breath and hope that J.J. does not get hurt.”

Zulgad and Mackey also mentioned the potential addition of a second or third cornerback alongside Murphy, depending on how training camp plays out at that position.