” GOOD QUESTION”: What does the $30M salary cap increase imply for the Vikings in the NFL?
The NFL raised the salary limit by an astounding $30 million per team on Friday, as part of an unprecedented move.
For the 2024 season, teams will now be subject to a salary cap of $255.4 million.
According to the NFL, the “unprecedented $30 million increase per club in this year’s Salary Cap is the result of the full repayment of all amounts advanced by the clubs and deferred by the players during the Covid pandemic as well as an extraordinary increase in media revenue for the 2024 season.”
The Vikings presently have about $37.8 million in cap space, according to Over The Cap.
What does that mean, therefore, for the Vikings, who have Kirk Cousins and Justin Jefferson among their big contracts to manage?
“From the Vikings’ point of view, I don’t think it changes all that much,” Matthew Coller of Purple Insider said to Bring Me The Sports. The cost of free agents increases in tandem with cap increases, making it more difficult to negotiate a large quarterback contract. However, it might allow some other teams to offer Cousins more cap space. Regarding Jefferson, it somewhat lessens the blow of him rising to the position of highest paid receiver in the league.
After a career-high start to his career, it is highly assumed that Jefferson will sign a contract extension that resets the market for wide outs and possibly all non-QBs.
After six seasons with the Vikings, Cousins’ contract expires in March. Teams like the Pittsburgh Steelers, Atlanta Falcons, and Las Vegas Raiders are reportedly interested in the 35-year-old, making him one of the most sought-after free agents available.
Though apparently not on a completely guaranteed contract, Minnesota is also interested in getting him back.