If the discussion at the Omni Viking Lakes Hotel was the beginning of an effort that changes the NFL’s salary cap system during the next set of collective bargaining agreement negotiations in five years, it could have a profound effect on how the ownership group that hosted the meeting does business.

To parse through Goodell’s comments, team owners — while dealing with rising operations costs that eat into their profits — seem to be looking for ways to keep costs in line. It’s particularly interesting that the commissioner raised the integrity of the salary cap, given the fact the NFL has a "hard cap" that teams cannot exceed at any time. The social media truthers who insist the salary cap is a myth are technically incorrect; every dollar a NFL team spends on players eventually does hit the cap.

But for teams who are willing to spend cash above the cap, the salary cap is malleable. That’s where the Vikings have used the current system to their advantage.

The Vikings are spending $362 million in cash on their 2025 payroll; that’s $19 million more than any team in the league, according to Over the Cap. Their cash commitments are 25% higher than their salary cap figure, which is the third-highest rate in the NFL. It’s entirely legal under the NFL’s current system, and Vikings executive vice president of football operations Rob Brzezinski, the team’s longtime salary cap manager, told me in December the Wilfs’ approach to payroll gives the Vikings an edge over other teams.

"It’s a competitive advantage. There’s no question," Brzezinski said. "We take a lot of pride in our budget and the way we plan, so we’re not surprising them. But there are times when unique opportunities present themselves. If we think it’s a good decision and it gives us a chance to win, they always support it."

Because signing bonuses hit the cap in annual installments over the life of a contract, teams can use them to give big cash figures to players while still keeping the cap hits in check. Since 2021, when NFL teams were scrambling to keep rosters together under a salary cap that shrunk because of revenue losses from empty stadiums during the pandemic, clubs have made heavier use of void years to defer costs into future years, particularly as money from the NFL’s new TV deals has pushed the cap above pre-pandemic levels by $81 million per team. The Vikings rarely used void years before Covid; they’ve since incorporated them into contracts regularly, believing them to essentially be an interest-free loan given the league’s surging salary cap.

But the current system does create a spending disparity between teams in a league that prides itself on parity. The Vikings’ $362.8 million cash figure, for example, is more than $100 million larger than that of the Packers, Rams, Seahawks and Jets. Three of those teams are owned by three of the richest families in the NFL; the fourth is a publicly owned franchise that has built a national brand and has a season-ticket waiting list more than a generation long.

Nobody is going door-to-door in search of donations in the fabulously wealthy NFL; the Wilfs, whose net worth is estimated to be north of $1 billion, are never thought to be among the NFL’s richest owners. They certainly need not apologize for spending a larger share of their profits on their roster than some of their competitors might. But if some owners perceive the system as inequitable — or are bothered by having to spend more of their cash on players — it’s possible the next CBA will come with a tighter set of salary cap accounting rules.

https://youtu.be/-zSIPmGPX3Q?si=UBbiyrV0IB8BAIq7

We get the Vikings at home in the cold. I feel we’re going to beat you guys twice this year.

Vikings Sign General Manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah to Contract Extension
May 30, 2025 at 09:00 AM
Author Image
Craig Peters
Senior Editor

 

ContractExtension_KAM_2560x1440
EAGAN, Minn. — The Vikings and General Manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah have agreed to a multiyear contract extension, the team announced Friday.

"Kwesi's leadership, vision and collaboration with our coaching staff has positioned the Minnesota Vikings for sustained success," Vikings Owner/President Mark Wilf said. "His dedication and forward-thinking approach have been instrumental in shaping our roster and future, and we are confident that under the guidance of him and Kevin O'Connell, we will continue to compete at the highest level as we pursue a championship for Vikings fans."

Vikings Owner/Chairman Zygi Wilf added: "We are extremely excited to continue this journey with Kwesi in this role and confident in the direction he and Kevin are leading our organization. Kwesi's commitment to building a championship-caliber team and his ability to collaborate effectively and make bold, calculated decisions has positioned the Vikings for long-term success."

Adofo-Mensah was entering the final year of his four-year contract he signed upon his hire in January 2022. He said he is "beyond excited to continue this journey" with the Vikings and with O'Connell, who signed an extension with Minnesota in January.

"This organization means so much to me, and I've always believed in what we're building here. From the ownership to the incredible staff, there's a true commitment to creating a winning culture with the goal of competing year in and year out," Adofo-Mensah said. "I'm thankful for the trust the Wilf family has placed in me, and I'm thrilled to continue leading our football operation alongside Coach O'Connell. Minnesota has welcomed my family with open arms, and we embrace the sacrifices that come with chasing the ultimate prize, knowing what it will mean to the best fan base and this great state.

"While we've made significant strides already, our focus will remain on building a team positioned as a perennial contender," Adofo-Mensah added. "This extension signifies we are on solid ground with the long-term vision we have set, and I'm incredibly excited to work with this group of talented people as we continue to push the boundaries of what this franchise can achieve."

Kwesi-Smiling-Sideline-2560
Stacy Bengs/AP
Adofo-Mensah has helped the Vikings go 34-17 in three regular seasons as he and his department have guided the roster through significant personnel changes. His tenure includes the hiring of O'Connell, the 2024 NFL Coach of the Year, as well as contract extensions for franchise pillars Justin Jefferson, T.J. Hockenson, Christian Darrisaw and Andrew Van Ginkel.

The 2024 free agency class is one of the best in team history and helped Minnesota go 14-3 for the second most wins in a season in franchise history. The Vikings signed QB Sam Darnold, RB Aaron Jones, Sr., OLBs Van Ginkel and Jonathan Greenard, as well as LB Blake Cashman in the initial wave and continued to strategically build the roster.

The Vikings also were aggressive in the 2024 NFL Draft, trading up one spot to select J.J. McCarthy at No. 10 overall (the highest Minnesota has drafted a QB) and moving up the board to select outside linebacker Dallas Turner at No. 17 overall.


During 2025 free agency, the Vikings focused their early efforts on adding to the offensive and defensive lines.

Minnesota signed veteran interior defensive linemen Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave, as well as center Ryan Kelly and right guard Will Fries to begin this year's effort. The Vikings also re-signed cornerback Byron Murphy, Jr., and added to the position with free agents Isaiah Rodgers and Jeff Okudah.

The o-line efforts continued in the 2025 NFL Draft when Minnesota selected Donovan Jackson out of Ohio State with the 24th overall pick. Although Minnesota began with just four selections, Adofo-Mensah was able to navigate the board to add four more players and acquire backup QB Sam Howell by navigating the draft board with Day 2 and 3 trades.

Adofo-Mensah has gone beyond the advanced-planning acquisitions to execute key in-season deals just before trade deadlines. The first was in 2022 when Minnesota acquired Hockenson, who has already racked up 196 catches for 1,934 yards in 27 regular-season games played for the Vikings.

In 2023, Adofo-Mensah responded to Kirk Cousins' season-ending Achilles injury by adding QB Joshua Dobbs just before the trade deadline, and this past season, the Vikings acquired Cam Robinson to fill the large void created when Darrisaw was lost for the season in Week 8. Robinson helped Minnesota win nine consecutive games from Week 9-17.

Minnesota's regular-season win percentage of .667 during the tenure of Adofo-Mensah and O'Connell ranks sixth in the NFL behind the Chiefs (.784), Eagles (.765), Bills (.740), Lions (.706) and Ravens (.686). Only three other teams have win percentages above .600. The 49ers and Cowboys are at .608, and the Bengals are at .600 since 2022.

VIKINGS NAMED AP FIRST-TEAM ALL-PRO UNDER ADOFO-MENSAH

LS Andrew DePaola, 2022 & 2024

WR Justin Jefferson, 2022 & 2024

VIKINGS NAMED AP SECOND-TEAM ALL-PRO UNDER ADOFO-MENSAH

https://www.nfl.com/news/nfl-s-top-10-mo...ded-squads

Vikings come in at #6.

With all the lefties on this site, which one would like to come on now and assert ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, or MSNBC, the NYT, or the Washington Post Post are more reliable than the Gateway Pundit?  it’s kind of futile, because they facts say otherwise, and it’s not close. The silence of the left on this site is kind of hilarious given the leanings of the posters as a whole.

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6389202...ce-injury/

Anyone that can cut and paste this The Athletic article? Again, not sure how much he could have 'impressed' in an OTA, but would love to hear what KOC and maybe some other players said. Just glad he's back, healthy and stronger.