2025 Vikings Offseason

[gunnarthor]

32 minutes ago, nicksaviking said:

I imagine Nailor is going to be ahead of anyone they trade for. It's likely going to be a roster bubble player.

But what I'm seeing is the Vikings have 26M in salary cap space. Next year they are in trouble but a 1-year deal of any kind shouldn't impact that.

I could be wrong but as I understand cap, unused cap space can be rolled over to next year. I think the Vikes want to move that 26m to next year, if they can. Again, I could be completely wrong here but that's was my understanding. 

[nicksaviking]

25 minutes ago, gunnarthor said:

I could be wrong but as I understand cap, unused cap space can be rolled over to next year. I think the Vikes want to move that 26m to next year, if they can. Again, I could be completely wrong here but that's was my understanding. 

I've never heard of that. It would fit with how deep they are into the red in 2026 though.

[Vanimal46]

We got enough cap space to acquire Tyreek Hill. Go full 1998 on this season. JJ, Tyreek, Addison by week 4? Good luck, opposing defenses. 

[nicksaviking]

10 minutes ago, Vanimal46 said:

We got enough cap space to acquire Tyreek Hill. Go full 1998 on this season. JJ, Tyreek, Addison by week 4? Good luck, opposing defenses. 

As excited as I am for McCarthy, I think in year one his target distribution is going to be too small to maximize the productivity of a ton of weapons. And then you'll have Hill and Addison publicly whining about not getting targeted enough. 

If McCarthy looks good this year though, I'd definitely go that route in year 2. Or even use another top pick on another stud WR.

[Mike Sixel]

7 hours ago, nicksaviking said:

Per Tom Pelissero, the Vikings unsurprisingly are looking for a WR trade:

https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/report-vikings-exploring-trade-options-at-wide-receiver

This is way too late in my book. Adam Theilen is the only one who makes sense, not because I'd like a reunion, but there's not enough time for a new guy to get up to speed.

Everyone knew Addison was going to be suspended, if they were going to bring someone in, why didn't they sign Amari Cooper or Gabe Davis or someone two months ago?

I think it is the hand injury that is causing this looking?

[Cap'n Piranha]

4 hours ago, nicksaviking said:

As excited as I am for McCarthy, I think in year one his target distribution is going to be too small to maximize the productivity of a ton of weapons. And then you'll have Hill and Addison publicly whining about not getting targeted enough. 

If McCarthy looks good this year though, I'd definitely go that route in year 2. Or even use another top pick on another stud WR.

They have -$36M in cap space for next year, even if they roll the full $28M they have available for this year over.  Unless the cap takes a massive leap (which of course also benefits every other team), the team we have now is likely the team we'll have next year, other than in two aspects.

1. Drafting--if KAM can draft well next year, that would be very helpful.
2. Cuts--cutting BO, Greenard, and Hockenson opens up $42M, but there's almost no way Greenard gets cut, and cutting BO and TJ opens up holes that will be hard to fill on the cheap outside of being very confident in 2026 draft picks.

There's (on paper) a lot of talent on this team, and there's certainly an open window for this year and next (assuming JJ can be at least decent at QB); but given the age and cost of this roster, that window might very well be closed by 2027 regardless of what JJ does, unless KAM can figure out how to find 1-2 stars in the draft yearly, and another 2-3 contributors.

[Mike Sixel]

Harrison Phillips traded......a 6th next year, and teh Vikes send a 7th in 27 and get a 6th.

Not sure I get this, but they must love the young guys.

[Vanimal46]

16 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

Harrison Phillips traded......a 6th next year, and teh Vikes send a 7th in 27 and get a 6th.

Not sure I get this, but they must love the young guys.

Trading a team captain away for scraps? What the hell?

[Mike Sixel]

19 minutes ago, Vanimal46 said:

Trading a team captain away for scraps? What the hell?

Seems odd ....

[TheLeviathan]

48 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

Harrison Phillips traded......a 6th next year, and teh Vikes send a 7th in 27 and get a 6th.

Not sure I get this, but they must love the young guys.

Yeah, wow....they just re-upped him too.  That trade is shocking.

[Vanimal46]

Only way this makes sense is if they target a more expensive WR for a trade with the freed up cap space. Immediate reaction is I don’t like this trade one bit. 

[Mike Sixel]

1 hour ago, Vanimal46 said:

Only way this makes sense is if they target a more expensive WR for a trade with the freed up cap space. Immediate reaction is I don’t like this trade one bit. 

That was my theory . But I just read they are paying half his salary. 

[Vanimal46]

5 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

That was my theory . But I just read they are paying half his salary. 

If Nick was right they had $26 mill before this now it’s closer to $30. Are we trying to go 1998 on the season and trade for Scary Terry McClauren or Tyreek? I’m in on either option. Get a needle mover and surround McCarthy with an embarrassment of riches. 

[Mike Sixel]

5 minutes ago, Vanimal46 said:

If Nick was right they had $26 mill before this now it’s closer to $30. Are we trying to go 1998 on the season and trade for Scary Terry McClauren or Tyreek? I’m in on either option. Get a needle mover and surround McCarthy with an embarrassment of riches. 

I'm all in on trying to win the next two years with Addison..... And TJ. 

[Fatbat]

They don't need a new guy.  It should be next man up. Bring your A game for the skilled guys and don’t look back.

[Danchat]

I definitely did not see this coming. They just gave Phillips a 2 year extension last September and they trade him before even playing on it? Hmmm. Given the return is only 2 6th round picks and a small amount of cap savings, it seems to me that this is more about opening a spot on the DL so as to not lose somebody. It makes the most sense to keep Taimani as he's the only true NT left, or it might be for the unheralded Elijah Williams.

Funnily enough, the trade was originally reported as a swap of picks, but the Vikings seemingly ate some more salary to up the price and instead get 2 6th round picks. Exactly the opposite of what the Twins were doing at the deadline.

So the Jets get Phillips for 2 years at about $11-12M for 2 6ths? That's a good move for them, in a vacuum they win the trade easily. Clearly the Vikings are going to make some moves and use some of their 2026 draft capital as ammo, but this seems like an unnecessary hit to the run defense and the locker room.

[gunnarthor]

I think the trade means that the Vikings like the young DL talent. Redmond and Tryion Ingram Dawkins were both locks to make the roster but maybe this lets Elijah Williams sneak on or maybe a LB like Chambliss? Secondly, I think they must really like TID, he looked good at times in the pre-season games and he seems to be the power run-stopper they want. 

[Danchat]

4 hours ago, Cap'n Piranha said:

They have -$36M in cap space for next year, even if they roll the full $28M they have available for this year over. 

Yeah, I dunno how much of their current cap space they want to spend. We are in position to have the least amount of cap room in 2026 in the whole league.

24 minutes ago, Vanimal46 said:

If Nick was right they had $26 mill before this now it’s closer to $30. Are we trying to go 1998 on the season and trade for Scary Terry McClauren or Tyreek?

Terry wants $32+M per year on a new deal, that's just not happening. There definitely is a WR move coming (amongst other moves), but it's not going to be a guy who wants to be paid now.

[gunnarthor]

10 hours ago, nicksaviking said:

I've never heard of that. It would fit with how deep they are into the red in 2026 though.

I think I figured out part of my not understanding. After the Super Bowl but before the new season begins, the cap money still available (26m or whatever) can be used to restructure contracts for 2026 and beyond. Which makes it very useful. Perhaps there is more to it than that but that's one big plus, for sure. 

[Vanimal46]

11 minutes ago, Danchat said:

Terry wants $32+M per year on a new deal, that's just not happening. There definitely is a WR move coming (amongst other moves), but it's not going to be a guy who wants to be paid now.

I’d only view Terry as a rental… then let him walk and get a comp pick. Same with Tyreek I would release him after the season when he has an out per spotrac. We are gonna have a tough time as it is to retain Addison once his rookie contract is over. 

[Mike Sixel]

23 minutes ago, Fatbat said:

They don't need a new guy.  It should be next man up. Bring your A game for the skilled guys and don’t look back.

Their number three has a week to week injury, and Addison is out three weeks ...

[Mike Sixel]

15 minutes ago, gunnarthor said:

I think the trade means that the Vikings like the young DL talent. Redmond and Tryion Ingram Dawkins were both locks to make the roster but maybe this lets Elijah Williams sneak on or maybe a LB like Chambliss? Secondly, I think they must really like TID, he looked good at times in the pre-season games and he seems to be the power run-stopper they want. 

Agreed. 

[Danchat]

6 minutes ago, Vanimal46 said:

I’d only view Terry as a rental… then let him walk and get a comp pick. Same with Tyreek I would release him after the season when he has an out per spotrac. We are gonna have a tough time as it is to retain Addison once his rookie contract is over. 

Why would Terry play for us if he isn't going to play for the Commies before getting paid?

[Vanimal46]

2 minutes ago, Danchat said:

Why would Terry play for us if he isn't going to play for the Commies before getting paid?

Long shot for sure. Only if he thinks we’re a better team and he’s all in to win a Super Bowl this year. Him and Tyreek are the needle movers available for trade at WR. Thielen is a fine replacement to trade for. Jakobi Myers is fine too. Otherwise I’m just spending money and taking a chance that OBJ can be good for a month before he’s eventually hurt. 

[TheLeviathan]

1 hour ago, gunnarthor said:

I think the trade means that the Vikings like the young DL talent. Redmond and Tryion Ingram Dawkins were both locks to make the roster but maybe this lets Elijah Williams sneak on or maybe a LB like Chambliss? Secondly, I think they must really like TID, he looked good at times in the pre-season games and he seems to be the power run-stopper they want. 

What if the nature of this deal had more to do with Phillips?  I was trying to chew on why the team would extend a guy they see as such a great leader and culture guy....only to turn around and trade him.

So what if Phillips was staring down the reduced playing time and requested the trade?  The Vikings clearly like Redmond, LDR, and TID as rotational pieces and Phillips just wasn't comfortable with his role?

[gunnarthor]

Just now, TheLeviathan said:

What if the nature of this deal had more to do with Phillips?  I was trying to chew on why the team would extend a guy they see as such a great leader and culture guy....only to turn around and trade him.

So what if Phillips was staring down the reduced playing time and requested the trade?  The Vikings clearly like Redmond, LDR, and TID as rotational pieces and Phillips just wasn't comfortable with his role?

Very realistic possibility. 

[Fatbat]

1 hour ago, Mike Sixel said:

Their number three has a week to week injury, and Addison is out three weeks ...

I understand that. Im good with them going all in for a Tyreek Hill or similar but not a 37 yo type that just wants to have walkin around $$$. Let our young guys ball out and go heavy with the run attach for 3 weeks if need be. 

[Fatbat]

1 hour ago, TheLeviathan said:

What if the nature of this deal had more to do with Phillips?  I was trying to chew on why the team would extend a guy they see as such a great leader and culture guy....only to turn around and trade him.

So what if Phillips was staring down the reduced playing time and requested the trade?  The Vikings clearly like Redmond, LDR, and TID as rotational pieces and Phillips just wasn't comfortable with his role?

Does Phillips have links to the Jets? I am too lazy to research. He may have wanted out to play 3 downs all day long. Cant fault him for that. 

[nicksaviking]

10 hours ago, Fatbat said:

Does Phillips have links to the Jets? I am too lazy to research. He may have wanted out to play 3 downs all day long. Cant fault him for that. 

I doubt Phillips had any say in it, but Aaron Glenn is certainly familiar.

OK, so the Vikings are paying 7.5M this year and the Jets are on the hook for the rest of the contract. Also, it looks like his cap hit was 4.2M if they cut him after the season. So the Vikings are paying 3.3M extra now when they have the money to improve the cap situation next season.

https://www.spotrac.com/nfl/player/_/id/25195/harrison-phillips

Still, it's surprising considering this team has focused on beefing up the defense the past two off seasons, so I wonder if the main motivation is much simpler than that; he's 300 pounds and almost a 30-year-old man, maybe during camp it looked like time finally caught up to him.

[Fatbat]

23 minutes ago, nicksaviking said:

I doubt Phillips had any say in it, but Aaron Glenn is certainly familiar.

OK, so the Vikings are paying 7.5M this year and the Jets are on the hook for the rest of the contract. Also, it looks like his cap hit was 4.2M if they cut him after the season. So the Vikings are paying 3.3M extra now when they have the money to improve the cap situation next season.

https://www.spotrac.com/nfl/player/_/id/25195/harrison-phillips

Still, it's surprising considering this team has focused on beefing up the defense the past two off seasons, so I wonder if the main motivation is much simpler than that; he's 300 pounds and almost a 30-year-old man, maybe during camp it looked like time finally caught up to him.

The Jets are soo good at attracting aging vets. I wish them well. Phillips is a cool dude. Too bad he is now playing for such a messed up org.