Even the Vikings — a front office rarely dipping its toes into a risky proposition — needed to pinch pennies.
That’ll happen when the bills come due on a quarterback (Kirk Cousins: $84 million guaranteed) and key defenders (Eric Kendricks: $11.6 million at signing; Danielle Hunter: $40 million in at-signing and injury guarantees) in the middle of a Super Bowl push. Representatives for receiver Stefon Diggs and linebacker Anthony Barr heard last month from the Vikings, who have cap room with $14.061 million in 2018 space before signing top pick Mike Hughes, about their possible extensions.
After all that spending, which included an $8 million free-agency charge for defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson, the Vikings made minimal guarantees to round out the roster in Marcus Sherels ($500,000), Kendall Wright ($400,000), Brandon Zylstra ($275,000) and Tom Compton ($250,000).