Breaking down how the Vikings are spending their money on offense

G.M. Rick Spielman and the Vikings may still do some tinkering before the start of training camp next month. But barring the unexpected, we have a very good idea of what the team will look like down in Mankato.

So now, one of the rare quiet moments in the NFL offseason, seems like a good time to take our annual look at how their salary cap breaks down.

Let's tackle their offensive spending today and talk defense tomorrow.

According to the fine folks at OvertheCap.com, the Vikings' total cap number, not accounting for the top 51 rule, is $153.8 million. Only three teams have more cap room allocated to offensive players than the Vikings, who are at $79.8 million. That is $15 million more than on defense.

The three teams spending more on offense this year are, in order, the Eagles, Falcons and Broncos — all top-10 offenses last season. The Vikings were 27th in total offense, but that was without their highest-paid player.

They are presently paying a premium for a trio of skill position players and their offensive line is well compensated, too. But because they are able to be so cheap at the game's most important — and expensive — position, they have tremendous flexibility should they need to pull out the checkbook.

Quarterbacks ($5.47 million, 27th in the NFL): The Vikings are in a sweet spot when it comes to paying quarterbacks. Because they have a young stater in Teddy Bridgewater, they are in the second year of a five-year window during which Bridgewater will play under his team-friendly rookie deal. That allows them to spend elsewhere without the burden of a monster quarterback contract. The Saints, for example, have about five times as much cap space tied up in the position because of what they are paying Drew Brees. And the team that is paying quarterbacks the least right now? The Seahawks, who have played in the last two Super Bowls in part because they got excellent QB play for relative peanuts. Note that trading backup Matt Cassel to the Bills helped free up more cap space for the Vikings.

Running backs ($18.53 million, most): Once again, the Vikings are paying more money to running backs than everyone else. Given how much we have had to write about Adrian Peterson and his contract situation, you probably don't need me to tell you that he has a $12.75 million salary in 2015 and will count as a $15.4 million cap hit. Peterson's cap hit alone is more than any other NFL team has allocated to the position as a whole.

Wide receivers ($16.46 million, 13th): Mike Wallace, acquired via trade in March, has a cap number of $9.9 million. That is one of the NFL's highest figures at the position, though it's actually less than the cap hit that Greg Jennings, released after the Wallace trade, would have carried. Charles Johnson, likely the other starter, will make just $510,000 this season.

Tight ends ($9.83 million, ninth): Only two teams were spending less on tight ends than the Vikings were this time a year ago. But then they went out and made Rudolph one of the league's highest-paid tight ends with a five-year contract extension worth $36.5 million. Rudolph knows he has to stay on the field to live up to his $6.55 million cap number in 2015.

Offensive line ($30.52 million, fifth): Here lies the biggest problem with how the Vikings have spent their money. In theory, it made sense for them to use a premium top-five pick on left tackle Matt Kalil and give out nice extensions to right tackle Phil Loadholt and guard Brandon Fusco. But when the offensive line struggled in 2014 due to a myriad of reasons, including injuries, it made it prohibitive for them to pour more money into the position group this offseason. The talent is there, though, and if this group plays like it is supposed to and allows Bridgewater and Peterson to do their jobs, no one will say the Vikings had spent too much money on linemen.

Remember to check back tomorrow around lunchtime for our breakdown of the Vikings' defensive and special teams spending.