Three seasons remained on Xavier Rhodes‘ five-year, $70.1MM contract. Instead, the Vikings will remove that deal from their books in an effort to create cap space.
Minnesota made its expected move Friday, cutting Rhodes, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com tweets. The Vikings, however, are also releasing defensive tackle Linval Joseph. The former enjoyed a seven-season Twin Cities tenure, while the latter spent six seasons in the middle of Minnesota’s defensive line.
These cuts will create over $18MM in cap space for the Vikings, who entered the day barely $1MM below the projected salary ceiling. This also marks a major shift for the Vikings, who spent years crafting extensions and adding to Mike Zimmer‘s veteran defense. But the team’s payroll, headlined by a fully guaranteed quarterback contract, became flooded with veteran contracts in recent years.
Rhodes’ play had declined considerably, although Joseph remained one of the league’s better interior defenders. The Vikings will need to fill holes at these spots, likely with cheaper and younger cogs. Minnesota has Trae Waynes and Mackensie Alexander as free agents as well, so the franchise that has drafted three first-round cornerbacks since 2013 will need to have a plan at this priority position.
Joseph, 31, and Rhodes, 29, were two of the best players at their respective positions as recently as 2017. Both made the 2016 and ’17 Pro Bowls, and Joseph graded as one of Pro Football Focus’ top players in both 2015 and ’17. They will head to free agency, with Joseph joining a strong defensive line group.
Peace out boys.
Ok, that’s a start. Now cut Reiff, Elflein, Gedeon, Conklin, Mata’afa, Beebe, Brooks-James, Mark Fields and Kemon Hall. This will open up about another $16 million. Then trade Diggs for a 1st and other picks. Another $5 million in cap space. Then dangle Harrison Smith to see if they can get a 1st Rd pick+ for him as well. If the package is good enough for Smith, that open another $8.75 million. That gives the Vikings almost another $30 million on top of the $18 million that they got from cutting Rhodes and Joseph. Then draft the QB of the future THIS DRAFT, with approx amount of $12 million going to draft picks, including the 1st Rd pick for Smith.
This sounds like a rebuild
Not really. Rhodes, Reiff, Elflein, Gedeon and Conklin were all being replaced already this year. I think the Vikings would have rather had Joseph for 1 more year, but cap-wise, they just couldn’t. The rest of the players being cut is just small cap space moves of backup role players. The hope is Watts can replace the play of Joseph and Reiff is replaced by O’Neill. Yeah, I know, robbing Peter to pay Paul, now RT needs to be filled. 1st and 2nd Rd picks (if Smith was traded) should bring decent enough to replace Diggs, Rhodes, Smith and a RT. Remember, this is a running team and there is still Thielen and Irv Smith. Not a rebuild in my eyes, more of a reload.
Gus Gus Gus, Take a
breath or go get a drink !
MM, I did both! A few Red Stripes and a few Jamisons. And the air isn’t all that cold tonight, so a deep breath felt good.
Sign Gus the kicking mule while they’re at it
Hahaha!!! YES!
Hey Gus did you slip and fall and hit your head in a chunk of Ice ? I’m sure additional moves are on the way but get in the real World . No way they get 1st round picks for Diggs or Smith (Dream on ) !
I should have prefaced that I don’t WANT to trade Smith, just think he could bring back a decent 1st Rd pick. As for Diggs, he would fetch not only a 1st, but probably a 4th and 5th rd picks as well. Just look to the history of recently traded receivers like Amari Cooper and Brandin Cooks.
You said…cut all these guys. They consist of mostly backups…You still have to fill a team roster..just sayin.
Who would give a 1st for Diggs ? Guy is always hurt.
Good luck on Diggs for a 1st +
Keep Harris. You crazy Jettison cousins after this year bring in Fromm in the third round
Meant keep Harrison Smith my bad
If you are drafting a QB in the 3rd Rd, it should Jalen Hurts. Fromm is the next Ponder…has no arm strength.
Gus, I agree with the Hurts pick ! Maybe we are on a roll ??
Rhodes will get overpaid this FA, Corner Backs are getting bags this year
The Vikings have been trying to extricate themselves from bad cap management decisions for a while now so this isn’t a major surprise. It will be interesting to see how the changes impact the dynamics of the locker room though.