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It’s only a matter of when. No matter what, the Minnesota Vikings have to release some players this offseason to become salary cap compliant, and according to credible sources, running back Aaron Jones and defensive tackle Javon Hargrave will be the odd men out if interim general manager Rob Brzezinski cannot finagle any trades.
More moves could follow as Minnesota clears space and tweaks depth ahead of free agency and the draft.
The news is rather expected and won’t be the last of the roster cuts.
Aaron Jones, Javon Hargrave, and the Next Names To Watch
.Sources: Jones & Hargrave Out
March arrived, and so did the incoming roster transactions for Minnesota.
ESPN’s Kevin Seifert wrote Sunday, “The Minnesota Vikings have begun whittling down their salary cap deficit by informing veteran running back Aaron Jones Sr. and defensive tackle Javon Hargrave that they will be released later this month barring a trade, sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Sunday. The moves will save the team $18.65 million in cap space.”
“Entering the weekend, the Vikings were roughly $43 million over the NFL’s $301.2 million cap, the result of two consecutive years of heavy free agent spending. Other candidates for contract termination include defensive tackle Jonathan Allen and center Ryan Kelly. It’s also possible that the Vikings could lower the cap number of other players — including receiver Justin Jefferson, right tackle Brian O’Neill and tight end T.J. Hockenson — via either contract extensions or restructures.”
A Jones or Hargrave trade is somewhat unlikely, as other general managers know they’ll be released.
Who to Replace Hargrave?
Minnesota already has a fairly deep DT room. Without Hargrave, these men are under contract in 2026:
- Jalen Redmond (ERFA, likely to be re-signed)
- Jonathan Allen
- Levi Drake Rodriguez
- Tyrion Ingram-Hawkins
- Elijah Williams
- Taki Taimani
The franchise could just roll with that group. Otherwise, interior linemen like John Franklin-Myers, Levi Onwuzurike, and D.J. Reader, among others, will be available next week in free agency.
From the first couple of rounds of the draft in seven weeks, the Vikings would snag a Hargrave replacement like this:
- Peter Woods (Clemson)
- Caleb Banks (Florida)
- Kayden McDonald (Ohio) State
- Lee Hunter (Texas Tech)
- Christen Miller (Georgia)
The Viking Age‘sNik Edlund noted on Banks last week, “The one player who may have separated himself from that pack is Florida defensive tackle Caleb Banks. His wingspan was the longest recorded at the Combine for a defensive tackle since 1999. The dude is a sasquatch. He also moved pretty well for a big man, logging a 5.04 forty-yard dash with a 1.76 10-yard split. He showed nice lower-body explosion with a 32″ vertical jump and a 9’6″ broad jump.”
“There’s no doubt Banks is a specimen and a guy who would fit in nicely on the Vikings’ defensive front, being the creator of ruckus and disruption. Banks definitely helped his stock at the Combine, but he’s still a risky prospect. There are some staminda concerns, and he missed almost all of last season with a foot injury, and many believed he lacked the explosion he showed the season before. With those risks come immense rewards if Banks is able to develop into the dominating presence his physical traits indicate.”
How about Jones?
In-house, Minnesota might replace Jones with Jordan Mason, who performed well in 2026. Yet, there are plenty of options from free agency and the draft. The free-agent board will look like this:
- Travis Etienne
- Kenneth Walker III
- Rico Dowdle
- Isiah Pacheco
- Tyler Allgeier
- Rachaad White
And from the draft, if the Vikings use a pick in the first four rounds on a tailback for the first time since Alexander Mattison seven years ago:
- Jeremiyah Love (Notre Dame)
- Jadarian Price (Notre Dame)
- Emmett Johnson (Nebraska)
- Jonah Coleman (Washington)
- Nick Singleton (Penn State)
- Mike Washington Jr. (Arkansas)
- Kaytron Allen (Penn State)
It’s worth noting that Washington Jr. electrified the masses with a 4.33 forty-yard dash last week. He’s 6’1″ and 225 pounds.
The Next Cuts?
Meanwhile, Minnesota’s roster cuts may not be over, as Seifert noted. Most expect center Ryan Kelly to retire or be released, though there’s a distant chance he returns despite three concussions last year. Tight end T.J. Hockenson is scheduled to have the highest cap hit at his position in 2026, while the Vikings used him as a blocking tight end last year. And Jonathan Allen signed a hefty contract in 2025 free agency, but didn’t fully live up to his contract.
Those players are also eligible for contractual restructuring if Minnesota doesn’t fancy outright releases.
The Vikings have about nine days to be cap compliant; more releases and/or restuctures will be plentiful.
Oddmakers expect Minnesota to win eight or nine games in 2026.