With the Vikings swapping out Bryant McKinnie for Charlie Johnson at left tackle, the numbers show that the Vikings got a pretty good deal.
By cutting McKinnie, the Vikings avoided $5.65 million in salary and bonuses for 2011. And to snag Johnson from the Colts, the Vikings had to offer $10.5 million over three years.
Per a source with knowledge of the deal, Johnson received a $3 million signing bonus, along with a base salary of $1 million in 2011. That translates to a cap number of only $2 million in 2011.
The salary increases to $2.95 million in each of the next two seasons, with a $500,000 roster bonus due in 2013.
It ended up being more than the Colts wanted to spend, and it probably ended up being less than it would have cost the Vikings if McKinnie had been cut before Johnson had been signed.