Purple Rumor Mill: Cousins to NFC South, Dalvin on the Move, Michael Penix Jr.
VikingsTerritory’s Purple Rumor Mill is a two-day chronicle each week. All the week’s rumors are lassoed and plopped in two spots — articles on Saturday and Sunday — for review. Today is the January 6th edition.
Purple Rumor Mill: Cousins to NFC South, Dalvin on the Move, Michael Penix Jr.
Remember — rumors are rumors. What you read on weekends in these pieces is what the world is talking about about the Vikings, not necessarily items that will come to fruition.
Here’s the first batch of the week.
Rumor: Kirk Cousins could join the Atlanta Falcons in free agency.
This rumor appeared from an aggregator account on social media, sourcing KSTP’s Darren Wolfson.
JPA Football tweeted Thursday, “The Falcons are a team to keep an eye on for free agent quarterback Kirk Cousins this offseason, says Darren Wolfson. There are other teams expected to be in the mix, but Atlanta is viewed as a logical landing spot for Cousins if he doesn’t end up staying in Minnesota.”
Cousins has family ties to Georgia through marriage, and the Falcons may need a quarterback if they’re not interested in drafting one a few months from now.
If the Vikings do not re-sign Cousins, the 35-year-old ending up in Atlanta makes all the sense in the world after the Falcons presumably move on from Desmond Ridder and Taylor Heinicke.
Rumor: Dalvin Cook is poised to help the Baltimore Ravens reach the Super Bowl.
Dalvin Cook was on the NFL free-agent market for a few minutes.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweeted Thursday afternoon, “Four-time Pro Bowl RB Dalvin Cook will sign for the playoffs with the Baltimore Ravens; per his agency LAA Sports Ent. The Jets paid Cook $6.8 million this season and now he will get a chance to pursue a Super Bowl appearance with the Ravens.”
Cook joins this RB room in Baltimore:
- Gus Edwards
- Justice Hill
- Melvin Gordon
- Dalvin Cook
The Ravens have the NFL’s second-best odds to win the Super Bowl and the league’s top rushing attack per DVOA.
Cook might get a chip.
Rumor: Michael Penix Jr. is a new draft darling for the Vikings.
Michael Penix Jr. will play in the National Championship on Monday night. His Washington Huskies will take on Jim Harbaugh’s Michigan Wolverines in Houston.
And before too long, Penix Jr. should play for the Vikings if some folks get their wish.
Penix Jr. enchanted the masses on Monday night, helping the Huskies defeat the Texas Longhorns in the College Football Playoff. Washington prevailed 37-31, as Penix Jr. delivered 461 all-purpose yards and two touchdowns. His draft stock climbed, and many believe he’d fit beautifully inside the Vikings’ 2024 offense.
That performance propelled the NFL community to fall in love with the idea of Penix-to-Minnesota. WGR550 host Nate Geary tweeted Tuesday, “All I want for 2024 is for Michael Penix to be playing for the Vikings next year. Could you imagine?”
CBS Sports’ Chris Trapasso also posted to X, “Let’s get Michael Penix Jr. on the Vikings.”
The Vikings might even be able to draft him at their organic spot without trading up. We shall see.
Vikings Hope to Avoid Doomsday Scenario on Sunday
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sal Spice. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band).
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
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