Vikings will likely part ways with some big names in 2020

During the 2020 offseason, the Minnesota Vikings will likely have to let go of some talented players in order to free up some salary cap space.

Over the past few months, the front office of the Minnesota Vikings has lived up to their reputation of being so-called “salary cap gurus”.

Entering the 2019 offseason, the Vikings had very little salary cap space and yet they still found a way to make some impactful moves like re-signing linebacker Anthony Barr, extending wide receiver Adam Thielen, and signing free agent offensive lineman Josh Kline.

Despite Minnesota figuring out how to keep most of the core talent on their roster this year, the 2020 offseason seems like it will present an even tougher challenge for the team’s front office.

As of right now, the Vikings are set to open the 2020 offseason with at least $12 million more than what the current salary cap allows. Minnesota has to be under the salary cap by the start of the new league year in 2020, so some roster moves will have to be made before then.

Even with the league’s salary cap expected to increase again next year (as it has for the last six years), the Vikings will still need to make some roster moves in order to free up money next year to add free agents, sign their rookie class, and have extra money available for injuries.

For 2020, Minnesota currently has 12 players scheduled to have a cap hit of at least $9 million. One should assume that a few of these players probably won’t be on the Vikings’ roster when they open the 2020 season.

Some of the guys who could be on the chopping block next offseason include Everson Griffen, Riley Reiff, Linval Joseph, Xavier Rhodes, Eric Kendricks, and Kyle Rudolph. Of this bunch, Griffen ($13.9 million) and Reiff ($13.2 million) have the highest cap hits in 2020.

Minnesota’s front office is likely going to do whatever they can to keep most of these guys around after the upcoming season. But Vikings fans should just start preparing now for some of their favorite players to be let go in 2020.