Purple Rumor Mill: Camryn Bynum’s Future, Sam Darnold’s Upside, Myles Gaskin
VikingsTerritory’s Purple Rumor Mill is a two-day chronicle each week. All the week’s Vikings rumors are lassoed and plopped in two spots — articles on Saturday and Sunday — for review. Today is the August 31st edition.
Purple Rumor Mill: Camryn Bynum’s Future, Sam Darnold’s Upside, Myles Gaskin
Remember — rumors are rumors. What you read on weekends in these pieces is what the world is talking about pertaining to the purple team, not necessarily items that will come to fruition.
Here’s the first batch of the week. All past rumors can be read here.
Rumor: Camryn Bynum’s contract extension may not get completed by the start of the season, making his 2024 campaign the final year of his deal.
Bynum is scheduled to hit open free agency in about six months. And according to KSTP’s Darren Wolfson, Minnesota wants the young safety back, but a deal may not come together before Week 1.
“I’m told there have been discussions on an extension but no legitimate progress. A lot would have to change for an extension to happen before the season opener,” Wolfson told SKOR North this week. “So, in this moment … I will tell you that Cam Bynum, starting on Sept. 8, will play out the final year on his contract. But mutual interest remains on having Cam here long term.”
This deal will likely get done in the end, but it’s on an eight-day clock if Bynum and the purple front office want it done before Week 1.
Rumor: ESPN claims that Sam Darnold can be … quite good in 2024.
ESPN’s Dan Graziano made the case for Darnold’s success this week, with Week 1 just around the corner.
“Darnold spent last season as the backup to Brock Purdy, learning Kyle Shanahan’s system in San Francisco. Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell, who comes from the same coaching tree, was able to pick up on the improvements that Shanahan helped Darnold make in terms of footwork and decision-making, and the Vikings believe Darnold is in a good place,” Graziano wrote.
To date, Darnold’s career has been sullied by the turnover bug — interceptions and fumbles.
“And let’s not forget that he has Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, Aaron Jones and eventually T.J. Hockenson to target,” Graziano added. “Will the Vikings’ offense be what it was with Kirk Cousins at QB? Not likely. But I don’t think it’s going to be an incompetent mess. This could be Darnold’s last chance to turn his career around, but it’s a good one.”
Now, it’s all up to Darnold.
Rumor: Myles Gaskin is the Vikings’ new RB3 and kick returner.
General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah said about Gaskin, the new RB3: “Myles just has a really diverse skill set to help us on special teams and offense.”
And this was after Minnesota cut ties with the fastest player on the team, Kene Nwangwu.
This one is cut and dried: the Vikings believe Gaskin is more valuable than Nwangwu.
Beloved Former Vikings QB Out for the Season
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.
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