Cost-cutting season is in full swing, and the Vikings are parting ways with a mainstay of their defense. Minnesota is releasing linebacker Eric Kendricks, reports Tom Pelissero of NFL Network (Twitter link). A team announcement has confirmed the move.
The 31-year-old has spent all eight seasons of his career in Minnesota, putting up consistent numbers throughout his tenure. He has started 113 of his 117 appearances with the Vikings, and racked up at least 100 tackles in all but his rookie campaign. He earned Pro Bowl and All-Pro honors in 2019 after he notched a career-best 12 pass breakups, and remained a key contributor in the middle of the Vikings’ defense through the 2022 season. 
That includes being on the field for over 1,000 snaps in each of the past two campaigns; over that stretch, Kendricks totaled 280 tackles, six sacks and a pair of interceptions. Those numbers speak to his value on the open market, which will likely see him earn a notable short-term deal in his next NFL home. They were not, on the other hand, sufficient for the Vikings’ front office to turn away significant cap savings brought on by this move.
Kendricks had no guaranteed money due for 2023, the final year of his $50MM extension signed in 2018. That contract was restructured one year later as Minnesota battled cap issues. As a result, the former second-rounder was set to count for $11.43MM on the books this season. By releasing him now, Minnesota will open up $9.5MM in cap space and incur a dead cap charge of only $1.93MM.
The Vikings entered Monday in the second-worst financial position in the league, so more similar decisions will likely be made. Minnesota, like all other teams, must become cap compliant by the start of the new league year (March 15), and have a number of other priorities this offseason. Those include new contracts for wideout Justin Jefferson and defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson; the former could feasibly command the largest WR deal in the history of his position, which would obviously require significant flexibility on the team’s part.
It also comes as little surprise that the Vikings’ defense will look significantly different in 2023, with Kendricks (and, likely, a number of other veterans) absent. The unit ranked near the bottom of the league in many categories last offseason, and a rebound on that side of the ball will be needed to improve on the team’s overall 2022 performance. Kendricks, meanwhile, will join a LB free agent class which also includes the likes of Bobby Wagner, Tremaine Edmunds and Lavonte David, as he looks to start the next chapter of his NFL career.
And it begins… not a good start. Quarterback money sucks.
Having one of the oldest defenses in the NFL also be one of the worst also sucks.
Ed Donatell was a huge contributor to our defensive woes. Forced a system that was incompatible with our players.
One down. Keep the line moving.
Yet another guy who would look good as a Steeler
Welcome to Phillt
Vikings are also releasing Adam Thielen as another cap casualty.
Thielen hasn’t played to the level of his new contract and that money will soon be needed for Jefferson.
This is not a certainly. A restructure is in the cards. We Minnesotans love Thielen and the FO knows that. Hopefully they’ll work it out. But I can’t argue that he’s not nearly worth his 23 cap hit. Also had his fewest targets last year since he first came into the NFL…
The #1 problem in Minny is Cousins. He’s an average QB. Management think’s he’s the answer. Over a decade of marginal seasons should be proof enough, guess not.
Are we sure they think he’s the answer? As of now, they’re only really tied to him for this season, with some void years at the end. It’s possible that that last restructure was like what the Raiders’s new regime did with Carr–prelude to a way out.
Kirk has been in Minny since 2018 & this will mark year 2 under the GM and HC. I believe they extended him last year as well.
That’s the extension I’m talking about. The Raiders’ new regime came in and restructured Carr’s deal so that they’d have an off ramp after one year if they wanted it. I think the Vikings’ new regime did the same, but for after two years–which I think they may also have had to do in order to make short term ends meet. It’s technically an extension, but more for restructuring purposes than long-term commitment.
31 points agaisnt the GIANTS in the WC round isn’t on Cousins.
Always excuses for Kirk. Eagles gave up 7 points to him. Dallas held them to a FG & the Pack whipped them 41-17. When Manny loses, they get blown out.
I mean, it takes failures on both sides of the ball to get blown out. Again, Cousins isn’t playing defense. What’s that side of the ball’s excuse?
Obvious Answer.
DC was let go and replaced.
Not sure I buy into “average”.
You like this!!!
Top 10 offense last year with one of the worst defenses, but yea it’s totally Cousins fault. Tell me you know nothing about Football without saying you know nothing.
People rag on cousins for being overpaid, but Rodgers didn’t live up to his $50mil and don’t get me started on Watson or Kyler Murray or Wilson
Daniel Jones is about to get more money than Kirk and I bet Carr will get more from the Saints too, I’ll take Kirk.
Jones will never get that much money from NY. They’d have to be crazier than the Vikings to overpay an average QB, which leaves no money to build a consistently successful team. The second worst cap situation and no playoff wins.
Well he’s asking for it so we’ll see what they do. I was right about Carr getting more than Kirk.
Let’s ignore the fact that the DC took a 4-3 defense and forced a 3-4 and then played soft zone all year