Nov 20, 2022; Denver, Colorado, USA; Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Davante Adams (17) during the first quarter against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports.
The following questions are about current Minnesota Vikings topics, answered by VikingsTerritory. Today is the October 3rd edition, addressed in a from-the-hip fashion. If you have questions, please email them to DustinBakerNFL@gmail.com.
Also, please note: These are opinion-based responses. Some answers will be incorrect from time to time. But we’ll try to keep that to a minimum.
Answer: Not really.
The Vikings would have to pony up a 2nd- or 3rd-Rounder for Adams’ services, and they just don’t have much draft capital right now. They spent it all sans a 1st-Rounder, at least for the 2025 class, on the trade that landed outside linebacker Dallas Turner.
Adams could make Minnseota’s offense insanely rich — Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, Davante Adams, T.J. Hockenson, and Aaron Jones would be sweet — but it’s just not too realistic to expect general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah to take the plunge.
We’d love it, but we don’t expect it to occur. Dexter Lawrence, on the other hand, would be marvelous — if the Giants shop him this month.
Answer: Unfortunately not.
Cook’s prime expired rather quickly after the 2021 season, and he doesn’t quite have the longevity gene like Aaron Jones. The Cowboys will split rushing attempts among Rico Dowdle, Ezekiel Elliot, and Cook — meaning even if he still has some juice, he’s a member of an underwhelming committee.
We hope Cook blasts off in Dallas, but it probably won’t happen.
Answer: Yes — but he’s downplaying it.
The Jets drafted Darnold with the third overall pick in 2018, and by 2021, that organization offloaded him to the Carolina Panthers. Darnold didn’t pan out in New York, but he’s thriving now as a member of the Vikings.
But for a revenge game, Darnold simply doesn’t see it that way. “I had a lot of opportunities in New York, and I always felt like I could’ve played better there,” Darnold said this week.
In Minnesota, Darnold leads the NFL in touchdown passes through four weeks and ranks third per EPA+CPOE, an efficiency metric measuring expected wins added.
“I’m not really thinking about that, to be honest. A lot of new faces over there. Still know a few players. I’m sure before the game, maybe after the game, seeing some of the people that I’ve built really good relationships with, that’s always the fun part about this league, being able to see people that you’ve worked with in the past,” Darnold continued.
He’s probably fibbing a bit, and we think he’ll play well against his old squad.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The show features guests, analysis, and opinion on all things related to the purple team, with 4-7 episodes per week. His MIN obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band). He follows the NBA as closely as the NFL.
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.