Last week , the NFL announced that the projected 2019 salary cap would be between $187 - $191 million, an increase of anywhere from $10-14 million, depending on where the final number lands.

That is keeping with recent trends, which has seen an annual increase of about $10 million a year, give or take, since 2013.If anyone cares, the initial NFL salary cap, which was instituted in 1994, was $34.6 million. How times have https://www.minnesotavikingsshop.com/George-Iloka-Jersey changed.So, how will that affect the Vikings? According to Spotrac, if you roll all 2019 contracts and project them for next year, Minnesota is about $7.5 million under a projected cap number of $190 million as I write this (I’m rounding to the nearest million, because math is hard). It seems like the Vikings are already hard up against the cap, but let’s look at just a few contracts that are prime candidates to be adjusted, which will give the Vikings room to maneuver for free agency and the draft next year.Andrew Sendejo, S: Sendejo is scheduled to make $5.5 million in 2019, with no dead money if he is released. He’s been a starter next to Harrison Smith since 2015, but was injured in week five, and was put on IR a couple weeks ago. In that time, Anthony Harris has emerged as a bona fide starter, and I just don’t see Sendejo returning at that salary. Heck, I’d be surprised if he’s back at all.Harris will be an unrestricted free agent, so I can see them taking the savings from Sendejo’s salary and putting it towards a new deal for Harris, but that’s just me.Everson Griffen, DE: This is a difficult paragraph to write for me, as Griff is one of my favorite Vikings, and his well documented struggles with his mental health this year have me really rooting for him. That said, he’s got a 2019 salary of $11.9 million, with only $1.2 in dead money. Griff only has 4.5 sacks this year, and Stephen Weatherly has played well in his place. With the emergence of Danielle Hunter as a pass rushing force, Griffen’s salary is a luxury at this point. I hope the Vikings don’t release him and they find a way to keep him at a lower cap number, but I would be stunned if he’s back at his full projected salary next year.Kyle Rudolph Dalvin Cook Color Rush Jersey , TE: Rudolph has been a productive player for the Vikings, but he is on the hook for $7.2 million next year, with no dead money against the cap. He’s still a big part of the Vikings offense, and even though I’d be surprised to see the Vikes outright release him, I wouldn’t be surprised if they re-do his contract.Mike Remmers, RG: I think Remmers’ future is tied to what the Vikings do in the draft and free agency. He’s scheduled to make $6.3 million next year, but has a dead cap number of $1.8 million. The Vikings have one of the lowest dead cap numbers in the NFL, so absorbing that much dead money would be an unusual move. Still, though, it would be a $4 million savings.Riley Reiff, LT: Reiff’s 2019 salary is $11.7 million, with a dead cap number of $6.6 million. If cutting Remmers and absorbing $1.8 million in dead money is unusual, then taking $6.6 million would be the salary cap equivalent of The Elephant Man unusual; it’s simply not happening. But is it conceivable the Vikings can re-do Reiff’s contract and wring out a saving of $5 million? Yes, it is, and I believe they’ll do just that.Laquon Treadwell, WR: The player everyone can’t wait to get rid of will be sticking around next year. He is still on his rookie deal, and his 2019 salary is fully guaranteed. I highly doubt the Vikes exercise his fifth year option, a decision they will have to make next May, but next season he’s making $3.1 million, which means cutting him would cost the Vikings $3.1 million in dead cap money.So, let’s say the Vikings cut all these guys, minus Treadwell. The Vikings will see a savings ofover $27 million dollars, giving them an estimated cap space of $40.5 million just by addressing these five contracts. Like I mentioned, I don’t see them cutting all these guys, but I do think they’ll restructure two or three guys, if the players are willing to do so. I have no idea what those modified deals will look like, but it’s not unreasonable to think that when it’s all said and done, Minnesota will save about $30-35 million in cap space just dealing with these contracts alone, giving them enough money to do what they need to do in free agency and the draft. Sunday Night Football at U.S. Bank Stadium got underway with the Minnesota Vikings winning the coin toss and deferring to the second half. That meant that Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints’ offense would get to take the field first. The kickoff from Dan Bailey was fielded by Taysom Hill, who brought the ball out of the end zone and was stopped at the 20-yard line to set up the first drive for the visitors.Mike Zimmer got to throw the challenge flag early, as a catch by Michael Thomas on the game’s first third down was called a completion, and Zimmer challenged the play as it appeared he may have gone out of bounds. The call of a catch was upheld Pat Elflein Jersey , and the Saints picked up a first down to their own 47-yard line.The Saints then inserted Taysom Hill at quarterback, and he immediately went deep for Thomas, who beat Harrison Smith and made the catch down at the 8-yard line to set up a first-and-goal for New Orleans. That quickly became third-and-goal, and they found their way into the end zone on a little flip from Brees to Alvin Kamara, who dove in for a score. Will Lutz connected on the extra point, and the visiting team was quickly on top by a score of 7-0.The kickoff from Lutz was fielded by Roc Thomas, and thanks to a penalty by the Vikings, the home team took over at their own 9-yard line. Kirk Cousins got things started with a pass to Adam Thielen for 13 yards and a first down, and Latavius Murray followed that up with a nice run for six yards. Cousins then had a pass knocked down, but the Saints were called for illegal contact to give the Vikings five free yards and a fresh set of downs. Mike Remmers was then flagged for a holding penalty of his own, moving things back to a 1st-and-20.Murray got a nice chunk of that back, pick up 12 on first down to make things more manageable. Murray then picked up the first down with a nine-yard run and suddenly the Vikings were near midfield. Roc Thomas then ran for a short loss on first down, and Cousins hit Rudolph to set up a 3rd-and-5 for the Vikings at the Saints’ 49. Cousins then found Thielen for another ridiculous catch, picking up 14 and a first down for Minnesota.Cousins picked up a bad snap and ran for a short gain, and then hit Stefon Diggs all the way down to the 1-yard line! It then appeared that Cousins found Kyle Rudolph for a 1-yard touchdown, but it was ruled that Rudolph had gone out of bounds and didn’t re-establish himself before the catch. Cousins then threw one incomplete on third down, and the offense stayed on the field for fourth down. Cousins took the shotgun snap, rolled to his left, and hit Stefon Diggs right on the left sideline for a 1-yard touchdown! Dan Bailey drilled the extra point, and we were tied at 7-7.Bailey booted the ball away again, and Taysom Hill stayed in the end zone this time for a touchback, giving Brees and company the ball at their own 25. Linval Joseph flattened Alvin Kamara on a screen on the first play for a nice loss, and Jayron Kearse stopped Kamara on second down to set up third and long. The Saints couldn’t get to the sticks on third down, and Thomas Morstead came on for his first punt of the night. Marcus Sherels fielded the punt, and was stopped at the Minnesota 20-yard line.Thielen showed he could get it done on the ground, too, as he took a jet sweep for 15 yards and a first down on the first play of the drive. As we move to the second quarter of play, the Vikings are looking at 2nd-and-9 from their own 36-yard line.After one quarter of play at U.S. Bank Stadium, the Vikings and the Saints are tied at 7-7. Come on in and join us for the second quarter of play!