ESPN Identifies Vikings’ Most Underrated Offseason Move
· Yahoo Sports
When free agency began in March, the Minnesota Vikings’ dealings were quieter than usual, especially compared to the 2024 and 2025 offseasons. And according to ESPN, that was one of the team’s underrated outcomes of the last few months: resetting the salary cap while staying in the mix as a playoff contender.
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Minnesota improved its roster while keeping enough cap room to stay aggressive.
The Vikings made quarterback Kyler Murray their crown jewel from free agency, but that was about it in March.
The Cap Sheet Tells the Real Story
Minnesota will not be in cap hell next offseason or in 2028.
Minnesota Vikings Executive Vice President of Football Operations Rob Brzezinski participates in a discussion with KFAN host Paul Allen and analyst Pete Bercich during the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine on Feb. 25, 2026, in Indianapolis. Brzezinski discussed roster construction, contract strategy, and the Vikings’ offseason outlook during the interview from the annual scouting event. Mandatory Credit: YouTubeESPN: Vikings’ Cap Reset Is Underrated
ESPN defined one underrated move from each NFC North team this week, and for the Vikings, Kevin Seifert wrote, “Interim general manager Rob Brzezinski, the Vikings’ longtime contract negotiator and salary cap analyst, took dramatic steps to reset the team’s financial ledger while also preserving competitiveness.”
“The Vikings aren’t anyone’s pick to win the Super Bowl, but typically when a team makes as big of a cut as the Vikings did — their cash payroll could be roughly $100 million less in 2026 than it was in 2025 — it can decimate a roster.”
In some ways, the philosophy mirrors the team’s “competitive rebuild” mantra from 2022 to 2024.
“But the Vikings managed to retain their core talent, including some key veterans, such as tight end T.J. Hockenson and running back Aaron Jones Sr. via pay cuts — and used free agency to acquire good players on relatively small deals. They will pay newcomers Murray, cornerback James Pierre and receiver Jauan Jennings a combined $13.63 million,” Seifert added.
Who MIN Added
So, on a condensed budget, who did the Vikings onboard? Here’s the list from free agency:
- Johnny Hekker (P)
- Jauan Jennings (WR)
- Eric Johnson (DT)
- Isaiahh Loudermilk (DT)
- Kyler Murray (QB)
- James Pierre (CB)
- Ryan Van Demark (OT)
And from the draft:
Round 1 — Caleb Banks | DT
Round 2 — Jake Golday | LB
Round 3 — Domonique Orange | DT
Round 3 — Caleb Tiernan | OT
Round 3 — Jakobe Thomas | S
Round 5 — Max Bredeson | TE
Round 5 — Charles Demmings | CB
Round 6 — Demond Claiborne | RB
Round 7 — Gavin Gerhardt | OL
Minnesota also traded Jonathan Greenard and a 7th-Round pick to the Philadelphia Eagles in April in exchange for two 3rd-Rounders. That transaction paved the way for the Vikings to sign Jennings, the new WR3, and created salary cap flexibility in 2027 and 2028.
The Temptation to Spend Big … Ignored
When the offseason began, no one was too sure if the Vikings would once again be big spenders in free agency. There was a path to have that luxury, but it would’ve involved backloading new free agents’ contracts with large cap hits in 2027, 2028, 2029, and 2030. It’s often called “kicking the can down the road” and is a practice currently used by the Eagles (and the New Orleans Saints, until recently). A team basically spends at will and puts the pressure on future years when an evident rebuild becomes mandatory.
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray watches the action during the second quarter of a game between the Dallas Mavericks and Phoenix Suns on Jan. 28, 2020, at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. Murray attended the NBA matchup during the NFL offseason after completing his rookie campaign with Arizona earlier that month. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images.The Vikings could’ve chosen that route, too. But they didn’t. The signed value-based free agents, especially Murray as the QB1 at $1.3 million, and did not partake in the sweepstakes of premier free agents, such as Tyler Linderbaum (C) and Trey Hendrickson (EDGE).
Minnesota strategically chose 2026 as the offseason to “take it easy” and reset the cap. Therefore, when the 2027 offseason rolls around, the budget won’t look like total hell.
Other Underrated Moves
Two main offseason moves stand off the page in an underrated sense — if one assumes that the whole world already knows about Murray’s affordability.
Pierre, the new cornerback from the Pittsburgh Steelers, fired up an 86.8 Pro Football Focus grade in 2025. He’s in town to play CB3, and based on his 2025 output, the guy could damn near start anywhere in the NFL. Fans will hope that he carries over his 2025 majesty to 2026. He signed a two-year deal worth $8.5 million.
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jauan Jennings lines up during the second quarter against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sep. 28, 2025, at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California. Jennings continued his role in San Francisco’s passing attack as the 49ers hosted Jacksonville in an early-season interconference matchup. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images.Then, landing Jennings after the draft was a game-changer. Jennings allegedly wanted “WR2 money” in free agency, which can reach up to $25 million. The Vikings signed him for $8 million, with incentives expandable to $13 million. He replaces Jalen Nailor, who signed a $35 million contract over three years with the Las Vegas Raiders.
The Vikings went from Nailor at WR3 and his new $12 million price tag to Jennings at $8 million — a masterclass.
Minnesota also may not be done adding budget-friendly newcomers. The team could use an OLB3 upgrade, and players like Jadeveon Clowney and Leonard Floyd are still on the open market.