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3 Vikings Veterans Who Could Be Cap Casualty Cuts This Offseason

By David Kaestle

Xavier Rhodes could very well be cut by the Vikings this offseason.
Xavier Rhodes could very well be cut by the Vikings this offseason. / Stephen Maturen/Getty Images
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The Minnesota Vikings rank No. 31 in the NFL in salary cap space as we head into the heart of the 2020 offseason. With a number of key defensive players hitting the free agent market and a potential Dalvin Cook holdout on the horizon, it seems the Vikings have no other choice but to find ways to trim some fat in order to gain some additional cap flexibility.

With that in mind, here are three players the Vikings could cut to free up some cap space heading into free agency.

1. Xavier Rhodes

Xavier Rhodes had a disappointing year in 2019.
Xavier Rhodes had a disappointing year in 2019. / Stephen Maturen/Getty Images

Xavier Rhodes took a huge step back on the field in 2019. Despite somehow making the Pro Bowl, Rhodes allowed a completion on more than 80 percent of balls thrown his way. Basically, he may as well not have even been out there. Cutting Rhodes would bring back roughly $8 million in cap space this offseason, which would open up a ton of breathing room.

2. Pat Elflein

Pat Elflein blocking for Kirk Cousins during a game in 2019.
Pat Elflein blocking for Kirk Cousins during a game in 2019. / Rob Leiter/Getty Images

Pat Elflein switched from center to guard this past season and things didn't turn out so well. While this wont free up nearly as much money as releasing Rhodes, cutting Elflein would provide an additional $2 million in space. Minnesota could be better served finding a veteran replacement for Elflein in free agency, or even using a middle-round draft pick to shore up the offensive line on the cheap.

3. Linval Joseph

Linval Joseph during a game against the Washington Redskins.
Linval Joseph during a game against the Washington Redskins. / Stephen Maturen/Getty Images

Linval Joseph was a part of a defense that ranked No. 17 in the NFL in rushing yards allowed per game in 2019. While he was a team captain, Joseph is 31 years old and is set to carry a $12.9 million cap hit in 2020. The team could recoup about $10.5 million of that if they cut him. In what should be a decent free agent defensive line class, that money could go a long way to allowing the Vikings to make at least a couple of impactful additions outside of the draft.

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David Kaestle is not a FanDuel employee. In addition to providing DFS gameplay advice, David also participates in DFS contests on FanDuel using his personal account, username davekaestle. While the strategies and player selections recommended in his articles are his personal views, he may deploy different strategies and player selections when entering contests with his personal account. The views expressed in their articles are the author's alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of FanDuel.