According to ESPN 1500 Twin Cities, the Vikings will approach DE Jared Allen to restructure his contract. Allen’s 2013 contract will count is a $17 million cap hit. The Vikings have planned for this spike all along but the team is wise to ask for a restructure.
Allen is coming off of a down season in which he will have his first surgery and turns 31 this spring. Entering his final season of his six-year deal he should likely be open to the restructure. If not the Vikings could look to trade the perennial Pro Bowl player this offseason but that is doubtful and the Vikings could let Allen play out the final year of his contract.
Vikings CB Antoine Winfield and WR Percy Harvin have triggered escalators in their respective contracts.
Winfield’s salary jumped up to $7.25 million base salary for 2013 which would have “de-escalated” to $3 million in 2013 if he only played in 80 percent of the defensive snaps in 2012.
The soon-to-be 36-year old played in over 94 percent of the defensive snaps in 2012.
Percy Harvin, in line for a large contract extension, triggered an escalator in his rookie contract, raising his 2013 salary from $1.55 million to $2.9 million.
Before landing on injured reserve after nine games, Harvin amassed 62 catches for 677 yards and three touchdowns.
He will certainly be a priority to work out a new contract but, like Jared Allen, he could be traded if the market is there for him and a long-term deal/agreement can’t be worked out.
