Bengals help vikings get money

Former Viking Jonathan Allen headed to the Bengals

Defensive tackle Jonathan Allen, who was officially released by the Vikings on Wednesday, is signing with the Bengals, according to an NFL Network report. It will be a two-year, $26 million deal that can be worth up to $28 million with incentives.

STRIB

The Viking1987isback wrote:
Bengals pay Jonathan Allen so much money vikings get 8 million extra cap space

MaroonBells mentioned this earlier. 
Source of the “offset language” (great!  If true) is Thor Nystrom’s source. 

OverTheCap has not adjusted the numbers (as yet https://overthecap.com/salary-cap-space)
But prolly after June 1?
https://thevikingage.com/minnesota-vikings-jonathan-allen-signs-cincinnati-bengals
(Actuall relief is > 8 mil?)

’Whether Minnesota gets to take advantage of this newfound spending money now or after June 1st is currently unknown, but at the very least, Allen's reported contract with Cincinnati is expected to give the Vikings some additional salary cap flexibility at some point this offseason.’

Chinese math is simpler,lol

Should be applied once the new contract is finalized.

Kentis wrote:
Should be applied once the new contract is finalized.

over the cap now has a cross out over Allen’s name (wasn’t there 2 days ago)   But the “dead money “ amount hasn’t changed, even if you change icon to “post June 1 cut”. 

https://overthecap.com/salary-cap/minnesota-vikings

Just a little nervous that a source to Thor Nystrom is what everyone is basing this on. Hope it’s true, would be Yuge. Would double our cap amt/flexibility.

Interesting that they signed Hargrave under very similar timing/conditions, but that signing didn’t include similar offset language.

Edit: another new “cross out” is through Harrison Smith (wasn’t there 2 days ago).

I am so confused. How in the world does that allow us to lower our cap?

FLVike wrote:
I am so confused. How in the world does that allow us to lower our cap?

When we signed Jonathan Allen, we apparently (according to Nystrom/source) had "off-set language" in the contract that if we released him (we did) with a post-June 1 designation (we did), the new "signing team" (Bengals, as it happens) guaranteed money  would  reduce (offset) our dead-cap.  

I think.
8-11 million. (double our current cap space)
Which is big, imo, as that $ would sign a nice FA.

Any cap gurus out there, please clarify.

savannahskol wrote:

When we signed Jonathan Allen, we apparently (according to Nystrom/source) had "off-set language" in the contract that if we released him (we did) with a post-June 1 designation (we did), the new "signing team" (Bengals, as it happens) guaranteed money  would  reduce (offset) our dead-cap.  

I think.
8-11 million. (double our current cap space)
Which is big, imo, as that $ would sign a nice FA. 

Any cap gurus out there, please clarify.

Why don't we just put that "off-set language" in every contract?

FLVike wrote:

Why don't we just put that "off-set language" in every contract?

Hargrave should've had the same offset language . 

  Christian Wilkins is still out there for a one year  prove it deal?

 With no cap and Flores connection  it'd make sense.

Kentis wrote:
Should be applied once the new contract is finalized.

I don't think anyone fully understands this offset thing, but I'm fairly certain whatever savings we see is applied to next year's cap and not this year's.

MaroonBells wrote:

I don't think anyone fully understands this offset thing, but I'm fairly certain whatever savings we see is applied to next year's cap and not this year's.

Yep, you’re probably right.

Not only is the Allen offset confirmed, but the #Vikings are also fully cleared on Javon Hargrave’s $4M guarantee now that he’s getting $13M in 2026 cash from Green Bay

That’s $12M total in future cap credits banked between the two of them #BrzezinskiSZN https://t.co/7sEzFDG3rD

— Sean Borman (@SeanBormanNFL) March 17, 2026

FLVike wrote:

Why don't we just put that "off-set language" in every contract?

Agents don't want it because it allows players to "double dip" if they are cut.  They collect from both their new and old team.  In this case, Allen would have collected his $8M plus his new contract.  It also makes it easier to cut players if you believe they'll get picked up for a significant part (or all) the money owed.  From an agents point of view, you'll also get longer and more lucrative contracts (on paper) because the offset language helps mitigate risk for a team if a player doesn't perform to contract.  It's essentially betting on the player for a bigger chunk of money.