Minnesota Vikings: Everson Griffen opting for free agency leaves big hole

With Minnesota Vikings veteran Everson Griffen reportedly voiding the remainder of his contract, what exactly does that mean for Minnesota in 2020?

In what will likely be an offseason filled with multiple player personnel decisions for the Minnesota Vikings, the first domino of that busy and roster-changing span fell this week. Everson Griffen, who has been a key piece to the Minnesota defensive unit over the last handful of seasons, worked with the Vikings to restructure his contract prior to the 2019 season in order to remain in Minnesota at least one more year.

Everson Griffen, who has been a key piece to the Minnesota defensive unit over the last handful of seasons, worked with the Vikings to restructure his contract prior to the 2019 season in order to remain in Minnesota at least one more year.

Within that restructured deal, which at first glance ran through the 2022 season, Griffen had the ability to void the last three years of his contract and gave the ability to get out of his current contract following this past year if he desired.

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On Thursday, ESPN’s Courtney Cronin reported that Griffen has indeed opted to void the final years of that contract, while both sides are still open to working out a new deal this offseason.

With Griffen opting out of the last few years of his contract, what exactly does that mean for the veteran defensive end, his future in Minnesota and what does it mean for the franchise moving forward? Let’s take a dive into that.

The 32-year-old Griffen was initially viewed as a player that could potentially get cut if he opted into the final years of his contract, with him set to make $12.9 million in 2020.

Minnesota, on the other hand, entered the offseason projected to be more than $10 million over the salary cap, according to ESPN, forcing the organization to figure out how to create some salary space.

The fact that Griffen has reportedly opted out of his contract frees up around $13 million in cap space and moves the Vikings below that salary cap limit, which is a positive for the purple and gold and allows them the ability to try and retain other players.

As far as what that means for Griffen and his future in Minnesota moving forward, there’s still a belief that the two sides will try and work on retaining him at a reduced price tag, according to Cronin and ESPN.

Another team could come along and ultimately swoop in to offer the veteran more money than what the Vikings have the ability to offer, which would force Griffen to make a decision on whether or not he would like to stay in Minnesota and potentially take a reduced role this year or if he would like to continue to remain in a starting role in 2020.

According to Ben Goessling of the Minneapolis Star Tribune, if Griffen decides to test the market now as a free agent and looks to head elsewhere this year, one team to keep an eye on is the Seattle Seahawks.

As Goessling notes, Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll was Griffen’s head coach in college at USC and both parties are already familiar with each other.

When it comes to players on the defensive side of the ball for the Vikings, Griffen has been in the middle of the success Minnesota has had on that side of the ball for the last few years.

Although the news of Griffen opting out of his contract and ultimately becoming a free agent may be viewed as a bad thing, it might end up benefiting both Griffen and the Vikings moving forward. Now, if the veteran defensive end decides to return to Minnesota or go elsewhere in 2020, that has yet to be seen.