:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/59047681/904956768.jpg.0.jpg)
A short while ago, Vikings ESPN reporter Courtney Cronin first reported that RB Latavius Murray had re-structured his contract:
Latavius Murray has restructured his contract with the Vikings ahead of Friday's deadline where $5.15 million of his $6.35 million cap hit would have become guaranteed, sources told ESPN. https://t.co/7jDSJ8yHZe
— Courtney Cronin (@CourtneyRCronin) March 16, 2018
It was widely rumored that the Vikings would ask Murray to re-structure his deal, and if he balked he would be released. By agreeing to new terms, the Vikings have more cap relief, and more room to make moves for in free agency. Prior to the re-structure, the Vikings had just a little over $26 million in salary cap room left after the Kirk Cousins deal (per Spotrac), and although no terms of the new deal have been released, this should get them at or close to $30 million under, depending on how they re-did his contract. That means they have room for a couple more big free agent signings, several mid-level depth signings, or a combination of both.
It’s a good move for both the Vikings and Murray. With Jerick McKinnon signing a deal with San Francisco, the Vikings would have been suddenly thin at a position that had been one of strength, as the Vikings would only have Dalvin Cook returning, and he’s coming off a torn ACL.
Now, the Vikings have the best of both worlds as Murray is back, and they have more cap space to boot.
EDIT: Ted got this story while I was typing up another version of it, but I wanted to throw this in as well, as Murray apparently got engaged today!
So, Murray gained something a whole lot more important than money today. Congratulations to him and his fiancee on their engagement!