2025 offseason, on paper, was a total success.
The Minnesota Vikings fired up many notable moves in the 2025 offseason, but not all of them may work out. Here’s a glance at the choices they might regret.
The team emphasized the trenches, promoted J.J. McCarthy to QB1, added speed in Tai Felton, Rondale Moore, and Isaiah Rodgers, and extended contracts of the current leadership regime, in addition to other measures.
But here’s what the franchise might regret, with items listed in ascending order (No. 1 = biggest regret).
The Vikings’ Decisions That Could Backfire
4. Setting the 2026 Salary Cap Up for Massive Debt
Remember the build-up to 2025 free agency, when websites like this one routinely bragged about the glorious cap space the Vikings could spend? They spent it.
And they spent it at such a breakneck pace that Minnesota is already -$54 million in the hole for next offseason. That’s right: before even pondering any new free agents in March 2026, general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah must embark on a contractual restructuring spree with several highly-priced players just to get in the green by a whisker.
He wrote, “Of course, Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has many levers that he can pull to get the cap back into decent shape. The GM knows what these options are and likely already can make some educated guesses about what he’ll want to do to climb out of salary cap debt.”
“In other words, there’s no reason for despair. The salary cap will get back into compliance with the league rules and life will go on. The issue is simply that the Vikings’ free agency approach seems likely to change next offseason. Gone will be the buffet of deals for high-end players. Just consider, for instance, the most prominent contracts.”
Just don’t expect 2026 free agency to feel like 2025 — at all.
Joudry added, “All of Ryan Kelly, Will Fries, Jonathan Allen, Aaron Jones, Byron Murphy Jr., Isaiah Rodgers, Harrison Smith, Javon Hargrave, and Jordan Mason came at a cost that exceeds $10 million in total commitment over the course of years ranging from one to five. Much more common, perhaps, will be deals for players like Justin Skule, Eric Wilson, Jeff Okudah, and Rondale Moore, none of whom exceeded $3 million on single-season contracts.”
“The other factor to consider is that Kwesi Adofo-Mensah will be looking to the 2026 NFL Draft for lots of reinforcements. Unlike 2025, the 2026 draft haul looks ample, in no small part due to the incoming compensatory picks.”
3. Betting It All at CB on Isaiah Rodgers
Minnesota had — and still has — plenty of chances to upgrade at cornerback this offseason. However, Adofo-Mensah made Isaiah Rodgers his very first free-agent signing in March, evidence that he trusts Rodgers with a starter’s job in 2025.
 reacts during a kickoff during the first half against the Jacksonville Jaguars at TIAA Bank Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Pendleton-USA TODAY Sports.</p>
<p>” data-medium-file=”https://vikingsterritory.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=788,height=444,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/USATSI_17478384.jpg” data-large-file=”https://vikingsterritory.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=1180,height=787,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/USATSI_17478384.jpg” src=”https://vikingsterritory.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=788,height=444,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/USATSI_17478384.jpg” alt><figcaption>Jan 9, 2022; Jacksonville, Florida, USA; Indianapolis Colts cornerback Isaiah Rodgers (34) reacts on kickoff during the first half against the Jacksonville Jaguars at TIAA Bank Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Pendleton-USA TODAY Sports.<span></span></figcaption></figure>
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<p>But what if Rodgers is just a run-of-the-mill cornerback who does <em>not </em>manufacture a breakout season like Andrew Van Ginkel last year? The Vikings need at least two stellar starting cornerbacks if they’re serious about making a push at the Super Bowl.</p>
<p>There’s a small chance that Rodgers is just average, and fans look back and wish the club had added another key free-agent CB or a rookie like Will Johnson from Michigan.</p>
<h3>2. Not Signing Jaire Alexander for $6 Million</h3>
<p>The Green Bay Packers cut Jaire Alexander loose about two weeks ago, and because the Vikings employ Mike Pettine as an assistant head coach, Minnesota felt like a real landing spot for Alexander. Pettine served as the Packers’ defensive coordinator for three years with Alexander at the top of his CB depth chart.</p>
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Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily … More about Dustin Baker
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