The Falcons have reduced quarterback Matt Ryan‘s record cap hit of $48.66 million. The Packers presumably will chop down quarterback Aaron Rodgers‘s $46.66 million cap number, once a new contract is “signed.”
Then, Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins will be the purple-rinded cheese that stands alone, with a one-year cap number of $45.166 million, via spotrac.com.
Cousins has shown no inclination to extend his contract. The Vikings thus may be showing some inclination to trade him. That would immediately create $35 million in cap space, by virtue of the dumping of his base salary.
The Colts make the most sense, if they’re serious about getting someone better than Jimmy Garoppolo (a/k/a likable Carson Wentz). The Vikings would need to have a strong Plan B, and a trade for Deshaun Watson would be the only true upgrade over Cousins, based on the available options. (Unless Tom Brady would like to play home games in the state where his mother grew up.)
It’s a mess for the Vikings…