Move No. 4
Reworking a couple of veteran contracts
It would have been extra scary if the Minnesota Vikings would have moved on from every single one of their veteran players to leave young, inexperienced players to take on big roles during the 2023 NFL season.
Thankfully, Minnesota was able to work out a deal with safety Harrison Smith and linebacker Jordan Hicks to have some familiarity in those defensive units and help the young players to grow and develop into their roles.
Although youth and speed are great things at the NFL level, having someone familiar with what is expected and able to be plugged in with concerns will provide new defensive coordinator Brian Flores with a bit of stability in a new-look defense.
Football fans used to joke that "the salary cap is a myth" and things like that, but a contract has to not only match the player's production but not hurt the vision for the team's future. Smith and Hicks were able to make it work out.