The Minnesota Vikings still have about $21 million in cap space with the regular season less than three weeks away, and a roster arguably capable of contending for the postseason. The club also has some “discount players,” who provide a bang for the buck.
Excluding players on rookie contracts – – they’re guaranteed to be affordable — these are the best-value players for the 2026 Vikings, ranked in ascending order (No. 1 = top value player).
The Vikings’ Best Value Contracts in 2026
5. Blake Brandel (C)
Cap Number: $4.5 Million
This one will be much more justifiable if Brandel plays well as the starting center in 2026. Minnesota said “no thanks” to about half a dozen starting centers in free agency and arguably four coveted rookies at the same position during the draft.
Brandel probably won’t turn into a Pro Bowler, but if he fires up a Pro Football Focus grade in the mid-60s or better, a starting center at $4.5 million will be a steal.
4. Byron Murphy Jr. (CB)
Cap Number: $8.3 Million
The juice on Murphy Jr.’s contract starts next year – – to the tune of a $24.4 million cap number. Oofta. Next offseason is a natural time for Murphy Jr. and the Vikings to discuss an extension or off-ramp, so the $24.4 million will likely be lowered or spread out over future years.
The veteran remains the Vikings’ QB1 and has a Pro Bowl to his name from 2024. His current cap hit of $8.3 million is more than manageable for a team that hasn’t employed a fantastic cornerback since Xavier Rhodes’s heyday.
3. Josh Metellus (S)
Cap Number: $6.0 Million
Like Murphy Jr., Metellus’s cap hit balloons next year. It goes from $6 million to $14 million, and he, too, will be at a contractual point next February or March to speak with general manager Nolan Teasley about an extension.
Metellus’s importance in Brian Flores’s defense may be heightened this year for one reason: Harrison Smith has not returned and may be gone for good. All eyes will turn to Metellus as his replacement – – as a captain.
2. James Pierre (CB)
Cap Number: $3.0 million
86.8.
That’s Pierre’s PFF grade from last year across 377 defensive snaps. If you’re a fan of PFF’s scoring system, Pierre’s 86.8 mark in 2025 would’ve meant that he’d be the Vikings’ single best corner on the roster had he worked in Minnesota.
Now, he’s the Vikings’ CB3 behind the aforementioned Murphy Jr. and Isaiah Rodgers. His recent numbers suggest he can start if an injury sidelines either man. He’s also familiar with the Vikings’ new defensive passing game coordinator, Gerald Alexander, who bolted from Pittsburgh to Minnesota this offseason when Mike Tomlin left the Steelers.
Three million dollars for a man with an 86.8 PFF grade is just delightful.
1. Kyler Murray (QB)
Cap Number: $1.3 Million
Why is this number so low? Simple: The Arizona Cardinals are paying Murray $36.8 million to play for the Vikings in 2026. They preferred a quarterback trio of Jacoby Brissett, Gardner Minshew, and Carson Beck.
Murray has already toppled J.J. McCarthy at training camp for the QB1 job – – that took two weeks – – and will feature as the Vikings’ franchise quarterback at a $1.3 price point.
If you assume that Murray will be productive in Minnesota, his 2026 contract might be the best value in the NFL, NBA, MLB, and NHL (outside of rookie deals). Murray can take the $1.3 million payday with the Vikings this season and keep an eye on a deal worth $180 million over three years if he balls out.
Head coach Kevin O’Connell said in March, “We’ve played three guys in one season. We played four in another. We just feel like having the ability to get quality quarterback play throughout the circumstances that we do not control throughout the season gives our team historical data that says if we get quarterback play to a certain line, we win a lot of football games.”
O’Connell wants his damn quarterback stability.
“So we wanted to ensure that we’re able to do that, but also make it a very, very competitive room,” O’Connell added.
For this season only, Murray is outrageously cheap, thanks to the Cardinals’ front office’s decision-making.
───────────── ─────────────
VikesNow Verdict: Murray is the obvious jackpot at quarterback, while Brandel, Pierre, Metellus, and Murphy give the Vikings starting-caliber contributions without wicked 2026 cap charges.
───────────── ─────────────
About The Author
