Garrett Bradbury and Four Other Vikings Who Could Be Cut Candidates
As the Minnesota Vikings head into the offseason, the team faces a tough financial situation with a tight salary cap. To free up space and improve their roster, the Vikings may have to make some difficult decisions. Garrett Bradbury, along with a few other notable players, could find themselves on the chopping block as the team looks to make moves that improve both the cap situation and the overall competitiveness of the squad for the 2025 season.
Here are five players, including Bradbury, who could be cut candidates due to cap concerns, performance inconsistencies, and the need for the team to make significant roster changes:
1. Garrett Bradbury (Center)
Garrett Bradbury, the former first-round pick from 2019, has had an up-and-down career with the Vikings. After struggling early in his career, Bradbury showed notable improvements in the 2023 season, especially in pass protection. However, his inconsistency over the years, combined with his sizable contract, puts him in a precarious position as the Vikings face cap-related decisions.
Bradbury’s 2025 salary is considerable for a center, and his $12 million cap hit is a number the Vikings may struggle to justify given their need to allocate resources elsewhere. While he played better in 2023, his salary may simply be too high for the Vikings to justify keeping him, especially with the team needing to upgrade other positions.
If Minnesota decides to move on, they could either look for a more affordable option through the draft or free agency or even restructure his contract to bring down the cap hit. Bradbury’s future is uncertain, and his status with the Vikings hinges on how the team weighs his performance against his cost.
2. Dalvin Cook (Running Back)
Dalvin Cook is one of the most talented running backs in the NFL, but his contract could make him a cap casualty. The Vikings have a crowded backfield, with Alexander Mattison and Ty Chandler behind Cook, and the team may find it hard to justify keeping Cook at his current salary.
Cook’s 2025 cap hit is significant, and the Vikings could look to trade him or release him to free up money. While Cook has been an essential piece of the Vikings’ offense, Minnesota could save a substantial amount of cap space by moving on from the veteran running back. With the running back position not being as financially valuable in today’s NFL, the Vikings may decide to go in a different direction and rely more on younger, cheaper options.
If the Vikings decide to cut Cook, it would also open the door for Mattison to take on a larger role, allowing the team to shift its focus to rebuilding the offensive line or bolstering the defense.
3. Adam Thielen (Wide Receiver)
Wide receiver Adam Thielen has been a staple of the Minnesota Vikings’ offense for years, but the 2025 season could mark the end of his tenure in Minnesota. Thielen, now in his early 30s, has seen his production decline in recent seasons, despite still being a solid contributor. His cap hit is also one of the largest on the team, and with the Vikings looking to get younger and more financially flexible, Thielen could be a potential casualty.
With the emergence of Justin Jefferson as one of the top wide receivers in the NFL, the Vikings may decide that Thielen’s production no longer justifies his salary. While he still has value as a veteran leader and a reliable target in the red zone, Thielen’s sizable contract could prompt the Vikings to part ways with him in favor of younger, cheaper options at wide receiver.
The Vikings could look to give K.J. Osborn a larger role, and with the draft class loaded with wide receiver talent, the team could find a more cost-effective replacement for Thielen’s production.
4. Harrison Smith (Safety)
Harrison Smith has been one of the best safeties in the NFL for much of his career, and his leadership in the Vikings’ secondary has been invaluable. However, at age 34, his play has started to decline, and his current contract is a major factor in the team’s cap concerns. Smith’s cap hit for 2025 is one of the highest on the defense, and while he’s still a solid player, the Vikings might choose to part ways with him to free up space.
If Minnesota does decide to move on from Smith, it would likely be a tough decision, as he’s been the face of the Vikings’ defense for nearly a decade. However, the team may feel that younger players like Camryn Bynum are ready to take over, and they could target a replacement either in the draft or through free agency.
Given the financial constraints, the Vikings may have to make a tough decision on Smith’s future, as they look to allocate resources to other areas of the team.
5. Blake Brandel (Tackle)
Tackle Blake Brandel has served as a swing tackle for the Vikings over the past few seasons, stepping in when injuries hit the offensive line. While Brandel has been a capable backup, he hasn’t shown enough to justify a larger role or a substantial contract.
Brandel’s salary is modest, but the Vikings may still look to move on from him to clear cap space or replace him with a younger, cheaper player. The team could look to address the tackle position through the draft or free agency, especially with the uncertainty surrounding the performance of the offensive line in recent seasons.
If the Vikings feel they have adequate depth at tackle with younger players, Brandel’s role could be deemed expendable. With an offensive line that still requires upgrades, Brandel’s departure could open the door for new competition and more room under the cap to make other moves.
What’s Next for the Vikings?
The Minnesota Vikings are in a tough spot when it comes to their salary cap situation, and difficult decisions are ahead. Cutting players like Bradbury, Cook, Thielen, Smith, and Brandel would save a significant amount of cap space, but these moves would also come with the emotional and performance-related challenges of parting ways with key players who have contributed to the team’s success.
However, the Vikings are looking to remain competitive in the NFC North and beyond, and freeing up cap space could allow them to make key additions in free agency or focus on developing younger talent. The Vikings’ front office will have to balance the desire to stay competitive in the short term with the need to set themselves up for long-term success.
Ultimately, whether these players stay or go, the Vikings will need to make smart, calculated decisions in order to maximize the cap space they have while ensuring their roster remains strong enough to compete for playoff spots in the coming seasons.