Vikings 2026 Cap PIcture

[Mattyman]

Due to past draft failures, the Vikings have to be active in free agency.

Missing on draft picks has far reaching effects and consequences.

My guess is they'll make enough of moves to generate the space to go get players. I hope they clean house and get young.

[supafreak84]

Due to past draft failures, the Vikings have to be active in free agency.

Missing on draft picks has far reaching effects and consequences.

My guess is they'll make enough of moves to generate the space to go get players. I hope they clean house and get young.

You could realistically make a case that the Vikings heading into the draft could have needs at;

- Tackle
- Center
- Running back
- Tight End
- Receiver
- Defensive Line
- Linebacker
- Cornerback 
- Safety

Did I miss anything? It really is an obscene list due to the cumulative draft whiffs over the last four years. Again, the best players on the roster are still Spielman guys. Our strongest position group might be the special teams unit. 

How Kwesi continues to run this operation is beyond me...

[MaroonBells]

You could realistically make a case that the Vikings heading into the draft could have needs at;

- Tackle
- Center
- Running back
- Tight End
- Receiver
- Defensive Line
- Linebacker
- Cornerback 
- Safety

Did I miss anything? It really is an obscene list due to the cumulative draft whiffs over the last four years. Again, the best players on the roster are still Spielman guys. Our strongest position group might be the special teams unit. 

How Kwesi continues to run this operation is beyond me...

If you count positions where there are players who may or may not have injury concerns, may or may not leave via free agency, may or may not be released, may or may be traded and may or may not retire, you could make a similar list for every team in the NFL.

[JR44]

You could realistically make a case that the Vikings heading into the draft could have needs at;

- Tackle
- Center
- Running back
- Tight End
- Receiver
- Defensive Line
- Linebacker
- Cornerback 
- Safety

Did I miss anything? It really is an obscene list due to the cumulative draft whiffs over the last four years. Again, the best players on the roster are still Spielman guys. Our strongest position group might be the special teams unit. 

How Kwesi continues to run this operation is beyond me...

It is amazing how poorly this team has been run from a personnel standpoint, what stands out to me with this list is that a case can be made to have QB on it.  Going into the off season are we confident that we have a QB on the roster who can stay on the field and perform at a high level consistently.  I think of everything the top priority this off season is going to find someone who can at least compete for that roll.

[comet52]

It's not hard to understand if you can be objective about our drafts since the current regime was hired.  

To be in the playoffs every year and compete for and win titles, even with a somewhat inferior HC/QB, a team has to have the horses.

[supafreak84]

It is amazing how poorly this team has been run from a personnel standpoint, what stands out to me with this list is that a case can be made to have QB on it.  Going into the off season are we confident that we have a QB on the roster who can stay on the field and perform at a high level consistently.  I think of everything the top priority this off season is going to find someone who can at least compete for that roll.

The only reason I didn't have a QB on the list is because that position will be addressed prior to the draft in some fashion, but you are correct

[medaille]

I knew what your post was before I even read it, Jimmy. Seems we have this argument every year. :-) Mine is that this is how the game is played. And it's pretty hard to argue against it when the team that leads the NFL in void year money—and by a massive amount each and every year—is the defending Super Bowl champion. Also, it doesn't take long to change that future money picture. For example, on last year's version of this list, Kansas City ranked 5th. 

I like this chart because it at least acknowledges that cap hits are flexible.  I don't think it's 100% perfect because it's still missing how much money is hidden in salaries for future years, that aren't void years, but are destined to be restructured, like Mahomes has a 2026 cap hit of $78M which will have to be restructured, but everything looks like clean living in the chart.

But the point still stands, this is a flexible cap league.  You maximize your chances by stringing together a long window of competitive years and squish as much of your cap hits into as few non competitive years as possible.  People that don't understand that, will look at the chart and think the top is bad  and bottom is good, but they won't understand that teams are in different points in their competitive/rebuild cycles.

[JimmyinSD]

It's not hard to understand if you can be objective about our drafts since the current regime was hired.  

To be in the playoffs every year and compete for and win titles, even with a somewhat inferior HC/QB, a team has to have the horses.

This is likely more the reason they are defending SB champs than their spending.

[Greylock]

If I remember correctly didn't the Vikings interview some women for GM from the Eagles front office? But we end up with Kwesi and Grigson.