When It Comes To The Dollars And Cents, The Vikings Will Need To Be Ready For All Options

Eagan MN

04 February, 2021

4:45 AM

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Press release from purplePTSD: February 3, 2021 As of now, the NFL has yet to determine what each team's overall budget will be in 2021. Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio recently reported that it's possible teams won't know the official numbers until hours before the new league year begins at 4:01 p.m. on March 17. For those of us worried about what the Minnesota Vikings will do with their salary cap, this news is fairly frustrating. What gives? Florio's Report We know for certain that the number can't dip below $175 million. We've known that for a long time. Previously, Florio suggested that the number would actually be around $180 million. For context, this past season's cap was at $198.2 million, and the expectation (in the Before Times) was that 2021 would result in another substantial jump. Covid-19 entered the equation, and now the league's billionaires are trying to sort out how to distribute the smaller mountain of money. One encouraging thing to note is that the players will have a say. Florio explains: "Ultimately, however, a negotiation between the NFL and the NFL Players Association will drive that decision, as it always does." The player's union isn't perfect, but we should be encouraged that the people who actually, you know, play football have a say in what football players will get paid. Both sides will likely acknowledge that they're in-between a rock and hard place financially. It's the players, though, who will inevitably be the ones pushing for a larger salary cap. Not only is that what's right, it also helps the Vikings' situation. Where Things Stand on the Minnesota Vikings' Salary Cap We can't go below $175 million, but we aren't going to get back to $198.2 million this season. Our range is likely around $20 million. There just doesn't seem like there is any way we get back to $198.2, so let's cap our hypothetical cap at $195 million. At this point, then, we have both our floor and our ceiling. Over the Cap indicates that Minnesota currently sits at a little under $197 million on their 2021 budget. In other words, the best case scenario involves a little finagling. The best case, though, really wouldn't be an issue. Gone are concerns about absolutely needing to make really tough decisions. Instead, Minnesota's front office could proceed by shifting around money through restructures and extensions, if that's what they want to do. For the NFL, finding a couple million is akin to us mere peasants finding a quarter in the couch cushions. The worst case, in contrast, likely involves some cuts to players who can still play. We've already considered Minnesota's top-5 cut candidates, and Nick recently made his case for moving on from Riley Reiff. In all likelihood, the Vikings would need to move on from some good players because of the finances. The NFL has always been a ruthless place, but Covid makes things increasingly so. The Vikings will need to be ready for this option. Conclusion In times of uncertainty, the teams with the best preparation often get rewarded. Of course, this isn't always the case; time and chance affect us all, so even the best prepared teams fall victim to bad luck. That said, fans should feel confident in the leadership in Minnesota. By no means are they without fault, but they've repeatedly shown their commitment to winning. Indeed, the Minnesota Vikings – come hell or high water, as they say – will have a plan in place for their salary cap. Heck, it may involve giving that Kirk guy a brand new extension. This press release was produced by purplePTSD. The views expressed here are the author's own.