The colossus of the Vikings of a Lineman and the schedule that still has to be solved – Vikings Territory

The colossus of the Vikings of a Lineman – Brian O’Neill – is part of the solution in Minnesota.

Drawn up at No. 62 in the NFL design of 2018, Mr O’Neill has solidified himself as one of the leading attacking tackles of the NFL. He did not play Snap outside of Minnesota, so you wonder if he will be overlooked a touch because of the lack of team success. The Vikings know how good he is, which leads to the fleshy pet costs that affect the books that contribute to the mystery that is for the leadership of the team.

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Certainly, the discussion has begun Vikings Territory.

Consider the problem of the salary cap that is discussed in the linked piece: “How bad is the cap -outlook [in the 2026 offseason]? Say it this way: finding $ 60 million in an increased cap space would still mean that Minnesota has no open cap space (at least per current estimate). The Vikings are last in the NFL for open cap -space. In other words, there is No open cap space; There is rather a competition-strictest $ 60.822 million in debts for next year (again, according to the estimate). “

What does that issue have to do with O’Neill? After all, he is the right tackle, not the general manager.

View the finances. Brian O’Neill takes the biggest bite from the budgetary cake in 2025 and saved $ 26,019,114 in cap -space. The next nearest Viking is Stud Edge Rusher Jonathan Greenard, who is at $ 22,300,000. O’Neill and Greenard are the only two who are more than $ 20 million in 2025.

Things will change next year. Greenard and O’Neill are no longer a lonely pair that is more than $ 20 million. Justin Jefferson sees his CAP costs at around $ 39 million. All from TJ Hockenson, Christian Darrisaw, Javon Hargrave and Jonathan Allen see their cap hits past $ 20 million.

Add it all and the salary cap is a difficult to solve. There is more than $ 60.8 million that the books must even free up to even return. Even more will be needed to add talent by engaging trade purchases, signing free agents and putting Rookies on their contracts on paper.

Brian O’Neill, a well -paid veteran who improves as he gets older, can be part of the solution.

For example, consider a world where O’Neill marches until 2025 with the largest cap -load. He is then approached in February 2026 about an extension. The pursuit of that possibility can inhale $ 14.16 million in CAP space. Converting the problem of $ 60 million into a problem of $ 46 million has its appeal, as long as O’Neill continues to show to continue to play a ability to continue playing strong football in its thirty.

Last year Brian O’Neill finished the 16th best attacking tackle on pff. He did this from an attack where Sam Darnold sometimes held football for a long time, making the O-line life a little harder. A Vikings team from 2025 that both runs the ball better, while the faster fits for JJ McCarthy is faster, can lead to a nicer degree for Mr. O’Neill.

Standing on 6’7 ″ and with a weight of 310 pounds, the colossus of the Vikings of a correct tackle is a sneaky extension candidate in 2025 or 2026.

Editors note: information from Pro Football Reference” PffAnd Over the cap helped with this piece.

I am the senior editor for Vikings Territory & Purple . Twitter & Bluesky: @Vikingsgazette. E -Mail: K.JOUDRY[at]Vikingssterritory[dot]com. I am Canadian.