The Minnesota Vikings are poised to have one of the most formidable rosters in the NFL come 2025, even though there’s some uncertainty at quarterback with J.J. McCarthy likely taking over as the starter following a 14-win season. While McCarthy’s inexperience may raise questions, the Vikings have set themselves up for success with a flurry of significant moves during the offseason.
Minnesota made major splashes in free agency, most notably signing offensive guard Will Fries to a five-year, $88 million deal and defensive tackle Jonathan Allen to a three-year, $51 million contract. These moves were critical to bolstering the offensive and defensive lines, areas that the Vikings needed to address in order to continue their competitive push. But the most noteworthy contract came in June 2024, when the Vikings made wide receiver Justin Jefferson the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history with a $140 million, four-year deal.
Despite these costly acquisitions, the Vikings were able to make it all work, primarily due to McCarthy’s rookie contract, which only pays him $22 million over the first four years of his career. This affordable contract allows the Vikings to maintain salary cap flexibility and build a roster filled with top-tier talent while McCarthy is on his rookie deal. There’s even an option for a fifth season in 2028, providing the team with additional salary control.
However, with the Vikings having invested heavily in several players, the team will soon face the difficult task of balancing long-term contracts with keeping key players on the roster. No team can afford to pay top-tier salaries across the board forever, and that’s where difficult decisions will have to be made.
As the Vikings look ahead to the future, attention is already shifting toward players who will need new contracts in the coming seasons. According to Trevor Squire of Heavy and Athlon, wide receiver Jordan Addison could be one of the players on the chopping block. Despite his promising potential, Addison is due for a large contract in the near future, and with the Vikings’ growing salary obligations, he could become a trade candidate to create cap space for other needs.
With several stars on the roster, including Jefferson, the Vikings may need to make tough decisions to ensure their roster remains financially sustainable in the long run. Addison, who showed flashes of brilliance but could be viewed as expendable depending on how the team’s needs evolve, could be one of the first to go if the front office feels it necessary to move assets in exchange for future flexibility.
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