The Minnesota Vikings are preparing for major roster changes as they work to resolve a significant salary cap crunch before the new league year begins.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Minnesota has notified veteran running back Aaron Jones and defensive tackle Javon Hargrave that they will be released later this month unless a trade materializes. The combined moves would clear $18.65 million in cap space — $7.75 million tied to Jones and $10.9 million associated with Hargrave.
The Vikings entered the weekend roughly $43–44 million above the NFL’s $301.2 million salary cap for 2026, a squeeze largely created by aggressive spending in recent offseasons. Teams must be under the cap by March 11 at 4 p.m. ET, when the new league year and free agency officially open.
Originally a fifth-round pick, Jones, 31, built a strong résumé in Green Bay, earning Pro Bowl recognition and becoming a consistent offensive threat before his move to Minnesota. Jones signed with Minnesota after seven seasons with the Green Bay Packers. His first year with the Vikings was productive: he started all 17 games and rushed for 1,138 yards with five touchdowns, adding two more scores through the air. Injuries limited him to 12 games the following season, and his production dipped to 548 rushing yards and 747 total yards from scrimmage — his lowest output since his rookie campaign. Once a featured back, Jones had slid into more of a complementary role and was scheduled to count $14.8 million against the cap in 2026, with a $10 million salary.
Hargrave, 33, is a former third-round draft pick and has twice been selected to the Pro Bowl. He arrived to reinforce Minnesota’s defensive line after stints with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Philadelphia Eagles and San Francisco 49ers.In 2025, Hargrave started 15 of 16 games for the Vikings, recording 52 tackles, 3.5 sacks and six quarterback hits. He was due $15 million next season and carried a hefty $21.7 million cap number, making him a logical cost-cutting candidate.
Minnesota’s financial reshuffling may not stop here. Additional veterans could face similar decisions, while the team might explore contract restructures or extensions for key players to lower their cap figures. For now, the expected departures of Jones and Hargrave signal a clear priority: regaining financial flexibility, even if it means parting ways with experienced contributors on both sides of the ball.
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