Dec 24, 2023; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Broncos running back Javonte Williams (33) carries for a two point conversion score in the fourth quarter against the New England Patriots at Empower Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
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 November 3rd edition.
Remember — rumors are rumors. What you read on weekends in these pieces is what the world is talking about pertaining to the Vikings, not necessarily items that will come to fruition.
Here’s the second batch of the week. Yesterday’s can be read here.
Brian Asamoah could evidently be offloaded.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler tucked Asamoah’s name into a trade speculation article this week with a few others and explained, “Veteran Buffalo safety Mike Edwards is available and would like to go somewhere he can play (he has been a steady inactive). Washington’s Darrick Forrest is in a similar situation, a former starter who’s out of the rotation and could need a fresh start elsewhere. Vikings linebacker Brian Asamoah II, a former third-rounder who hasn’t made an impact in Brian Flores’ defense, is a trade candidate, too.”
Sending Asamoah elsewhere for a fresh start makes all the sense in the world for a couple of reasons. Firs, he doesn’t play on defense. The Vikings rotate off-ball linebackers Blake Cashman, Kamu Grugier-Hill, and Ivan Pace Jr. on Sundays, leaving Asamoah on the sidelines.
And last year, when former Viking Jordan Hicks battled compartment syndrome and missed a month, Minnesota did everything in its power not to get Asamoah on the field, subbing in Troy Dye and signing Anthony Barr.
Minnesota could probably fetch a 7th-Round pick for Asamoah. Stay tuned.
Per SI.com, the Vikings should conduct a third trade before the NFL’s deadline, November 5th, for Denver Broncos running back Javonte Williams. Matt Vederame from that site theorized trades for each NFL team, and for the Broncos, the deal involved a 7th-Round pick from Minnesota for Williams, a running back on an expiring contract.
“The Broncos are fighting for a playoff spot and ought to be commended. That said, Denver isn’t a contender and the running back room has been weak all year. Meanwhile, the Vikings are in the mix for the NFC North and have been relying heavily on Aaron Jones to carry the ball,” Vederame explained.
These are the Vikings RBs:
Verderame added, “Jones, 30, has been terrific, but Ty Chandler is a middling backup. The move makes sense for both sides.”
Williams has banked 345 rushing yards on 90 carries in 2024 (3.8 yards per rush), with 27 receptions for 174 yards. He’s also scored 2 touchdowns.
Fans would enjoy this move if it came to fruition.
According to CBS Sports, Minnesota should evidently aim to improve at defensive tackle, too, spitballing a deal for Las Vegas Raider defender Adam Butler. That’s the latest and greatest idea from Tyler Sullivan.
“The Vikings have already addressed a key need on offense by acquiring Cam Akers in a deal with the Houston Texans. That said, GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah hasn’t been shy about making deals throughout his tenure, so they may not be done. One area they could look to shore up is the defensive line with Raiders tackle Adam Butler,” Sullivan wrote this week.
Sullivan added, “The 30-year-old has a relationship with defensive coordinator Brian Flores back when he was the de facto DC with the Patriots and then signed on with the Dolphins in 2021 when Flores was the head coach.”
A deal for Butler would make sense if the Vikings did not have Jerry Tillery on the roster or if a man like Jonathan Bullard fell injured. Otherwise, Butler is a middle-of-the-road contributor, evidenced by his Pro Football Focus resume:
If acquired, Butler would likely join the Vikings and sit on the bench until an injury arose.
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.