Could the Minnesota Vikings trade for Jalen Ramsey and mirror the Philadelphia Eagles’ Super Bowl blueprint? In this episode of The Real Forno Show, hosted by Tyler Forness with producer Dave Stefano, a Vikings 1st & SKOL production partnered with the Fans First Sports Network, the duo breaks down the financial feasibility of acquiring the Miami Dolphins’ star cornerback. Recorded on June 26, 2025, this Minnesota Vikings podcast explores how option bonuses and cash-over-cap spending can reduce salary cap hits over time, maximizing roster talent. By leveraging Ramsey’s contract structure, the Vikings could build a championship-caliber team, just like the Eagles. Packed with NFL trade rumors, salary cap analysis, and Vikings news, this episode is a must-listen for fans in Minneapolis, St. Paul, and beyond. Discover how strategic financial planning could propel the Vikings to a Super Bowl run!

The Vikings’ Cornerback Conundrum

The Minnesota Vikings face a significant challenge at the cornerback position as they head into the 2025 season. After losing two of their three starting cornerbacks and a starting safety in free agency, the team’s secondary is notably thin, as noted by Yardbarker. While they secured Pro-Bowl cornerback Byron Murphy Jr. with a substantial contract, the depth behind him remains uncertain. Young players like Mekhi Blackmon show promise, but the CB2 and CB3 positions are far from settled, according to Daily Norseman.

Defensive coordinator Brian Flores has expressed confidence in Isaiah Rodgers, a speedy playmaker with high football IQ, describing him as a “great addition” who meshes well with Murphy, Harrison Smith, and Josh Metellus. However, as Tyler Forness noted on The Real Forno Show, “If they stay healthy, I think they’re gonna be okay. Now, a lot of people don’t think that. The national media definitely doesn’t think it.” This skepticism has fueled speculation about a potential trade for Jalen Ramsey, a three-time All-Pro who could transform the Vikings’ defense. Ramsey’s versatility, with 24 career interceptions and a career-high 12 pressures as a blitzer last season, makes him an ideal fit for Flores’ system, per Daily Norseman.

Understanding Option Bonuses: The Key to Cap Flexibility

At the heart of the Ramsey trade discussion is his contract structure, which utilizes option bonuses to spread cap hits over multiple years. Unlike signing bonuses, which are paid upfront and prorated, option bonuses can be paid at any point, offering teams flexibility to manage their salary cap. As Forness explained, “It works like a signing bonus, but you can give it to players whenever you want.”

According to Over The Cap, Ramsey’s contract includes significant option bonuses due on August 31 each year:

Year — Option Bonus — Annual Cap Hit Impact

• 2025 — $18.98M — $3.796M/year
• 2026 — $8.135M — $1.627M/year
• 2027 — $8.835M — $1.767M/year

These bonuses result in the following cap hits for the Vikings if they acquire Ramsey before August 31, 2025:

Year — Cap Hit

• 2025 — $9.916M
• 2026 — $18.288M
• 2027 — $20.055M
• 2028 — $31.19M
• 2029 (void) — $12.351M

With the Vikings’ 2025 cap space at $23.54 million, per Spotrac, adding Ramsey would leave $13.62 million, a manageable figure for a player of his caliber. Forness emphasized the long-term benefits: “$5 million now is probably gonna be around $3 million in four years. So you can push it down the line and it will be a less expensive cost for you to pay later.” This strategy leverages the NFL’s rising salary cap, which increased from $255.4 million in 2024 to $279.2 million in 2025, a 9.32% jump, per ESPN.

Cash-Over-Cap: A Strategic Advantage

The NFL salary cap for 2025 is $279.2 million, but teams often spend far more in cash. The Vikings, for example, have committed $362 million in cash for 2025, the highest in the NFL, according to Forness. This cash-over-cap approach, facilitated by option bonuses and void years, allows teams to front-load cash payments while deferring cap hits to future years when the cap is expected to rise.

Dave Stefano summed it up: “It’s a good way to invest in the team… You’re betting on salary cap going up, and it should, and you’re paying less percentage of cap on your dollar. That’s smart. It’s like investing.” Historical data supports this optimism, with the salary cap rising from $224.8 million in 2023 to $255.4 million in 2024 (13.61% increase) and $279.2 million in 2025, per Pro Football Network. Assuming a conservative 10% annual increase, the cap could reach approximately $307 million in 2026, $338 million in 2027, $372 million in 2028, and $409 million in 2029. This means Ramsey’s $31.19 million cap hit in 2028 would be about 8.38% of the projected cap, and the $12.351 million dead cap in 2029 would be just 3.02%, making the contract increasingly affordable over time.

The Vikings have already employed this strategy with players like Christian Darrisaw, whose $22.25 million option bonus is spread over five years, resulting in a 2025 cap hit of $9.6 million, per Over The Cap. This approach allows the Vikings to retain star players while maintaining flexibility to pursue additional talent.

The Eagles’ Blueprint: Building a Championship Roster

The Philadelphia Eagles’ 2024 Super Bowl victory serves as a model for the Vikings. Forness highlighted that key Eagles players, including Jalen Hurts ($51 million/year), A.J. Brown ($32 million/year), Saquon Barkley, DeVonta Smith, Lane Johnson, Landon Dickerson, and Jordan Mailata, have contracts structured with option bonuses and void years. “The reason why we’re talking about this other than the Jalen Ramsey thing is this exact contract structure that you are seeing on the screen right now is how the Philadelphia Eagles have won the Super Bowl,” Forness said. “It allows the Eagles to play and maneuver around, and they have put themselves in a window to win the Super Bowl.”

This strategy enabled the Eagles to draft well, with steals like Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean, and make aggressive trades for players like A.J. Brown, per Pro Football Focus. By deferring cap hits, the Eagles maintained flexibility to build a deep roster, a blueprint the Vikings could follow by acquiring Ramsey and structuring his contract similarly.

The Risks and Rewards of Cash-Over-Cap Spending

While the cash-over-cap strategy offers significant advantages, it carries risks. Deferring cap hits can create future financial burdens, especially if a player underperforms or retires. For Ramsey, who will turn 31 in October 2025, the Vikings would face a $15 million dead cap hit if cut before 2026, and his $31.19 million cap hit in 2028 could be challenging if his performance declines, per Over The Cap. Forness acknowledged this: “Do you want to put yourself in a deeper hole with a guy that you don’t know for sure is going to be playing at this high of a level long term? I don’t know.”

The Vikings could mitigate this by negotiating a contract restructure with Ramsey, reducing future cap hits in exchange for guaranteed cash. Additionally, they could ask the Dolphins to absorb some of Ramsey’s 2025 salary, as suggested by Daily Norseman, which would further ease the cap burden.

Another risk is potential NFL rule changes. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has indicated that the league might close the option bonus loophole in the next Collective Bargaining Agreement, as it gives teams with wealthier owners an advantage, per Forness: “Roger Goodell has actually talked about it. He talked about it at the last owner’s meetings, where they are considering kind of closing this loophole when it comes to player contracts because it’s giving teams an unfair advantage.” This concern was echoed by NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, who noted ongoing discussions between the NFL and NFLPA about salary cap adjustments, per NFL.com.

Ownership Dynamics and Competitive Balance

The ability to pursue cash-over-cap strategies often depends on ownership wealth. The Vikings’ Wilf family, with an estimated net worth of $5 billion, can afford to front large bonuses, unlike teams like the Cincinnati Bengals, whose owner Mike Brown has a net worth of $925 million, per Forbes estimates cited on The Real Forno Show. The Denver Broncos’ Walton family, with $77.4 billion, set the standard for financial flexibility.

Dave Stefano highlighted the Vikings’ commitment: “They’re constantly pumping in liquidity,” referencing upgrades like Wi-Fi 6 at U.S. Bank Stadium. This financial strength allows the Vikings to compete with top teams, but it raises questions about competitive balance. Forness pondered, “How much cache can the super powerful and rich have in these meetings when you’re talking to other super powerful and rich people?” The potential restriction of option bonuses could level the playing field but might limit teams’ ability to build championship rosters creatively.

Why the Vikings Should Consider This Strategy

The Vikings are well-positioned to adopt the Eagles’ cash-over-cap strategy, with a talented core including J.J. McCarthy, Justin Jefferson, and Christian Darrisaw. Adding Ramsey could elevate their defense to elite status, opening a Super Bowl window. Forness emphasized, “This could be the key to unlocking a Super Bowl window. Not just having a young quarterback, not just having the ability to put all these pieces around him, but maximizing it even farther.”

The team’s recent draft success, including players like McCarthy and edge rusher Dallas Turner, complements this approach. By combining smart drafting with financial creativity, the Vikings can build a perennial contender. Ramsey’s contract, with its manageable 2025 cap hit and future flexibility, makes him an attractive target, especially if the Dolphins absorb some salary, as suggested by Daily Norseman.

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Conclusion: A Super Bowl Dream Within Reach?

The Jalen Ramsey trade may or may not materialize, but the financial strategy discussed on The Real Forno Show offers a roadmap for the Vikings’ championship aspirations. By leveraging option bonuses and cash-over-cap spending, the Vikings can emulate the Eagles’ success, building a roster capable of competing with the NFL’s elite. While risks remain, the potential rewards—a Super Bowl trophy hoisted at U.S. Bank Stadium—are worth pursuing. As Forness concluded, “I don’t know if Jalen Ramsey is the right player, but the structure of his contract is a perfect example of why the Minnesota Vikings can utilize the Eagle strategy in order to make a Super Bowl run of their own.”

FAN WITH US!!!

Tyler Forness @TheRealForno of Vikings 1st & SKOL @Vikings1stSKOL and A to Z Sports @AtoZSportsNFL, with Dave Stefano @Luft_Krigare producing this Vikings 1st & SKOL production, the @RealFornoShow. Podcasts partnered with Fans First Sports Network @FansFirstSN and its NFL feed @FFSN_NFL.

Question:

Do you believe using Cash-Over-Cap strategy by the Vikings has enabled the team make a Super Bowl run of their own? Share your thoughts below!