The 2021 offseason — the Vikings' 10th with Rick Spielman in full control of their roster — could differ in some significant ways from any they have experienced during his time as general manager. Fresh infusions of cash from the NFL's television deals had allowed the Vikings to operate with few major cap repercussions during a decade of drafting their own players, paying many of them handsomely and making a few splashy free agent acquisitions.
The cap in 2012 was $120.6 million and has climbed each year since then, jumping by at least $10 million every season since 2014.