49ers, Vikings Gain Over $24M Combined NFL Salary Cap Space

The San Francisco 49ers and Minnesota Vikings are both set to gain salary cap relief through post-June 1 designations of released players, helping them manage their financial commitments as they adjust their rosters. The 49ers will free up $5.6 million by designating defensive linemen Javon Hargrave and Maliek Collins as post-June 1 cuts, deferring a significant portion of dead money to 2026, and are finalizing a trade for pass rusher Bryce Huff with a manageable cap hit. This move boosts the 49ers' cap space to over $50 million, positioning them well for future roster moves. Meanwhile, the Vikings will gain $5.25 million in cap space by designating former center Garrett Bradbury as a post-June 1 cut, decreasing his 2025 cap charge significantly while pushing some dead money into 2026. This action increases Minnesota's cap space to about $19 million, which can be used for free agent signings or carried over to address their challenging cap situation next year. Both teams utilize the June 1 designation strategically to spread out dead cap charges, improve immediate cap flexibility, and set up for future roster investments.