Every offseason, the Minnesota Vikings extend at least one player’s contract earlier than expected. For example, Minnesota handed outside linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel an extra $23 million in 2025. That will happen again in 2026. The following is a list of candidates.

Vikings extension talks could heat up quickly, because a few core starters already sit at the intersection of timing and roster need.

Free agency will get underway in three weeks, so between now and the end of May, expect these four men to be in line for possible extensions.

Early Extension Candidates for the Vikings in 2026

Who’s due for more years and money a bit early? These are the candidates in alphabetical order.

1. Blake Cashman (LB)

If Cashman hadn’t missed four games due to injury in 2025, his 11.07 tackles per game pace would’ve translated to 188 in a full season, which would be the eighth-most in a season in NFL history. Somehow, Cashman’s 2025 campaign flew under the radar, even for the most ardent Vikings fans.

Now, he has one year left on his contract. The Eden Prairie just feels like a guy who will spend the rest of his career in Minnesota, and the fantastic production does little to refute that theory.

Cashman earns $7.5 million per season. Before too long, interim general manager Rob Brzezinski will probably extend his contract by two years and $20 million or so.

2. Jonathan Greenard (OLB)

The Vikings signed Greenard to a four-year contract during the 2024 offseason, which is wonderful — but his guaranteed money ran out last season. Seeking to restructure some players’ contracts to ease the salary cap pain, Minnesota will probably extend Greenard, pay him fair market value, and let him continue his run in Minnesota.

Some have floated Greenard in fancy trade theories to Cincinnati for Joe Burrow, but in reality, Burrow probably isn’t for sale, and the Vikings value Greenard. It’s not wise to get rid of EDGE rushers when a team is plotting a path back to the postseason.

Greenard was the butt of “almost sack” jokes in 2025 because so many of his pressures failed to bring down the quarterback; he’ll seek a bounce-back campaign in 2026, at least for the sack numbers. All the rest of the stats for Greenard were top-notch.

Look for Minnesota to add $23 million to $25 million to Greenard’s deal, likely spreading the money out over future years.

Star Tribune‘s Ben Goessling wrote about Greenard’s contract this week, “Greenard is coming off shoulder surgery, and given how important he’s been to the Vikings’ defense, it seems unlikely the team would release him when he’s still only 28.”

“They’d save $12.25 million if they released him before a $4 million base salary guarantee on March 13. Given the fact he’s got two void years on his deal, it’s possible the Vikings would convert part of his $18.39 million base salary into a signing bonus to lower his cap hit for 2026. Doing so would save them up to $12.96 million.”

3. Brian O’Neill (RT)

O’Neill will probably encounter a similar fate to Greenard.

Minnesota may restructure his contract and add $20 million per year in guaranteed money. Considering performance and durability, O’Neill is the Vikings’ single-most effective lineman and has arguably held that title for seven seasons.

He’s 31, so he’s not bursting with youth. But the league’s best offensive tackles can play well into their 30s, and fans should expect that for O’Neill.

Minnesota will almost assuredly re-do O’Neill’s deal; adding more money only seems fair, as O’Neill is tentatively slated to test free agency in 2027.

4. Jay Ward (S)

Ward balled out when afforded the opportunity last year. He was a rookie in 2023, meaning the upcoming season will be the final year of his deal. He’s done enough to merit a modest extension. He hits hard and represents youthful pop that Minnesota needs.

Our Kyle Joudry recently noted on Ward, “Lining up directly across from a shifty, explosive receiver isn’t for the faint of heart. Making a mistake is incredibly easy to see, even for an untrained eye. Ward’s capacity to get over the top of a receiver’s toes before then traveling with the receiver down the field is to be valued even if he’s not a shutdown option out there.”

“Consider, as well, being the deep safety. Being tall and having long arms helps — game of inches, right? — since there’s a greater chance of swatting deep passes away. Again, though, there’s the blatantly-obvious possibility of losing the rep. Any deep safety who gets beat deep is bound to get an earful from a coach (or two) alongside the scorn from onlookers.”

Too, down the stretch of 2025, defensive coordinator Brian Flores seemed to prefer Ward in the lineup over fellow safety Theo Jackson.

Joudry added, “Seeing Ward prove capable of doing both — being a corner and a safety — is encouraging, especially within a Brian Flores defense that’s predicated on disguise, chaos, and being unpredictable.”

Ward will turn 26 this summer. Now’s the time to explore his second contract. He won’t break the bank.