3 Moves That Will Get Vikings Back to Super Bowl Contention

The Minnesota Vikings shocked the world this season by eliminating the heavily-favored New Orleans Saints in the Wild Card Round. Despite seemingly having momentum as the No. 6 seed, they were instead stomped by the San Francisco 49ers in the Divisional Round.

Considering how they started their campaign, the Vikings ended it on a relatively high note. However, if they want to contend for the Super Bowl next year, they need to make these three moves.

3. Cut Xavier Rhodes

The Vikings need to cut their biggest liability on their defense: Xavier Rhodes. / Rey Del Rio/Getty Images

With the Vikings $10 million over the cap, they need to make some roster decisions to help get them under in order to sign free agents and draft picks. The easiest decision they can make is to cut ties with cornerback Xavier Rhodes. This year, Rhodes was one of the worst at his position, and was Minnesota's biggest weakness on the defensive side of the ball. Releasing Rhodes straight up will free up approximately $8 million in cap space. Do it, Vikings, for your own sake.

2. Extend Kirk Cousins

The Vikings need to extend Kirk Cousins in order to alleviate cap space. / Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images

The Vikings are in a bit of a cap crunch due to the fully guaranteed contract they gave quarterback Kirk Cousins. While he was viewed as a bust in his first season, he redeemed himself by upping his game and leading the Vikings to their aforementioned upset victory in New Orleans. The best way to free up additional flexibility moving forward is by granting Cousins a contract extension, preferably a three-year deal, and spreading his money around. Then you'll have stability under center, you'll have locked in your franchise signal-caller before another potential bump in counting stats, and you'll be able to more fully plot out future long-term deals to other parties.

1. Sign Anthony Castonzo

The Vikings need a blindside tackle for Kirk Cousins. Anthony Castonzo is the obvious fit. / Wesley Hitt/Getty Images

The Riley Reiff experiment is over in Minnesota. The Vikings are in desperate need of a dominant and consistent left tackle. Look no further than Anthony Castonzo. There are rumors of the longtime Indianapolis Colt opting to retire this offseason. However, that can change if the Vikings show him the money. With the cap space created in the two moves above, the Vikings can strengthen a previous weakness and take the offense to even greater heights. And that can all be done by signing Castonzo.