Shamar Stephen is a former seventh-round pick of the Vikings who returned to the team in 2019 after a one-year stint with the Seattle Seahawks. He received a nice three-year, $12 million deal the second time around.
The defensive tackle finished 2019 with 21 tackles and just one sack. He should be safe for 2020, but his status remains in question for 2021 with a $5 million cap hit and a dead cap value of $1.3 million.
There are major cap raises elsewhere along the defensive line. Danielle Hunter’s figure is going from $9 million in 2020 to $17 million in 2021 and Michael Pierce’s cap figure will see a jump from $5.1 million to $10.5 million. Both are also under contract beyond 2021. The Vikings could speed up the inevitable by cutting Stephen loose before the 2021 season when he will be 30 years old.
The Vikings could also dangle Stephen in a trade for a late-round draft pick. He doesn’t stand out as a top player being let go, but he is still a veteran and the third-highest paid defensive lineman on the roster in 2020.