Phil Loadholt will return to the Vikings for 2016 on a new contract worth up to $3.5 million.
The Minnesota Vikings are bringing back oft-injured right tackle Phil Loadholt on a new contract. KSTP’s Darren Wolfson has reported the details.
Told Phil Loadholt is a done deal. Back to #Vikings. $2M base. Can earn up to $3.5M with incentives.
— Darren Wolfson (@DWolfsonKSTP) March 7, 2016
Loadholt was set to count $7.75 million against the Vikings’ salary cap for 2016 but obviously that number has been greatly reduced.
The 30-year-old Loadholt can still be a solid player at right tackle but injuries have become a major issue for him.
Loadholt missed all of the 2015 season after tearing his Achilles during preseason. He missed five games in 2014 after tearing a pectoral muscle.
Missing that much time robbed Loadholt of just about all the leverage he had in negotiations with the Vikings.
Now that the Loadholt decision is out of the way, the Vikings can turn their full attention to left tackle Matt Kalil who is set to make $11.1 million for 2016.
The Vikings have until Wednesday to either cut Kalil or negotiate a new contract or the $11.1 million becomes fully guaranteed.
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Loadholt’s return could give the Vikings a little leverage against Kalil. With Loadholt in the fold, the Vikings could conceivably flip second-year tackle T.J. Clemmings from the right side to the left.
The Vikings could also dip into free agency to address their offensive line, possibly making a run at top prize Kelechi Osemele.