The Combine serves a function for veteran players as well, with trade talks regularly commencing at the annual scouting event. One of the pieces available this year comes out of Minnesota.
The Vikings are shopping Javon Hargrave, veteran insider Jordan Schultz tweets, indicating the NFC North team has engaged in trade talks with the experienced defensive tackle. Minnesota signed Hargrave to a three-year, $30MM deal following his 2025 49ers release. That contract includes a partial guarantee for 2026.
Hargrave, who turned 33 earlier this month, is due $4MM guaranteed on his $14.2MM base salary. If the Vikings are unable to trade the 11th-year defender, The Athletic’s Alec Lewis notes lists him as an obvious cut candidate. If the Vikings release Hargrave, they will save nearly $11MM but will take on $10.5MM in dead money. A trade would create nearly $15MM in cap space, though the Vikes may need to pay down some of the D-tackle’s salary to facilitate a trade.
After stops with the Steelers, Eagles and 49ers, Hargrave started 15 games for the Vikings last season. Minnesota added proven vets on its D-line, also signing Jonathan Allen after his Commanders release. Hargrave, who missed 14 games in 2024, registered 3.5 sacks, four tackles for loss and a forced fumble last season. Pro Football Focus graded Hargrave fairly well, slotting him 36th overall among interior D-linemen.
It appears the Vikings are hoping that healthy Hargrave season will boost his trade value and allow for cap savings to emerge without a release. No guarantee trigger dates are in place for Hargrave this offseason; the rest of his 2026 salary will not lock until just before Week 1, giving the Vikings some time.
They would obviously need to move on soon if they want to use any savings toward free agency. A post-June 1 designation would divide Hargrave’s dead cap hit over two years, but the Vikes could not use those savings until June. Minnesota is projected to land $43MM-plus over the 2026 salary cap, giving the team considerable work to reach cap compliance by the start of the league year (March 11).
Minnesota has been active on its D-line over the past year, adding Allen and Hargrave and trading Harrison Phillips. The team received promising work from UDFA Jalen Redmond, who can be retained via ERFA tender next month. Allen’s three-year, $51MM deal includes an $8MM guarantee for 2026, offering the former first-rounder better protection (though, PFF ranked Allen 84th among interior D-linemen last season) Minnesota has recent Day 3 draftees Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins (2025 fifth round) and Levi Drake Rodriguez (2024 seventh) rostered at the position as well.