Salary cap space: $58 million

The Vikings have a metric ton of valuable players headed into unrestricted free agency. The left side of their offensive line for the entire second half of the season — midseason tackle acquisition Cam Robinson and guard Dalton Risner — are impending UFAs. Productive running back Aaron Jones signed a one-year deal in 2024 and could be gone. The defense could be absolutely gutted with Harrison Smith, Byron Murphy, Stephon Gilmore, Camryn Bynum, Jonathan Bullard, Shaquill Griffin and Jerry Tillery, among others, all on expiring contracts.

The biggest question: What do they do at quarterback? If they want to bring back Pro Bowler and midseason MVP candidate Sam Darnold, it’s going to cost them. And with J.J. McCarthy, the 10th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, waiting in the wings, they could save a ton of money by letting Darnold walk. But that’s a tough call with McCarthy returning from a serious knee injury and after Darnold was resplendent for most of the year.

The good news for Minnesota is that it’s in decent shape on the cap, with $58 million in space, seventh-most in the league. That space is going to tighten up real quick, and they will face some difficult decisions to maintain a roster capable of competing in the NFC North.