Purple Rumor Mill: Justin Herbert Trade, Trading for Star WR, Cousins
Dustin Baker
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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 April 27th edition.
Purple Rumor Mill: Justin Herbert Trade, Trading for Star WR, Cousins
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 first batch of the week.
Rumor: The Vikings reportedly checked on Justin Herbert’s trade availability.
Hebert, as a trade rumor for the Vikings, certainly isn’t new.
But ESPN’s Kris Rhim wrote Friday, “In the weeks leading up to the NFL draft, the Los Angeles Chargers received trade inquiries for star quarterback Justin Herbert from the New England Patriots and Minnesota Vikings but quickly turned down both requests, sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter.”
However, general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah denied that the inquiry occurred: “I wish I could tell you how much joy we get from seeing the stuff that gets written. Those aren’t things that come out of this building. I don’t know what to tell you. I don’t know where this stuff comes from. Sometimes it works out in our favor. I can’t even respond.”
It’s a matter of who you believe on this one.
Rumor: Minnesota also inquired about trading up for WR Malik Nabers.
This one came from ProFootballTalk’s Mike Florio. He said after Round 1 of the draft, “At No. 5, the Chargers, when they took Joe Alt, they passed on an opportunity to trade out of that spot. The team that wanted to move up to that spot, I’m told … the Minnesota Vikings. And not to take J.J. McCarthy. The Vikings, I’m told, were trying to move up to No. 5 to get Malik Nabers.”
We’re willing to bet Adofo-Mensah would deny this one, too, if given the chance.
Rumor: Kirk Cousins was disgruntled over the Falcons’ selection of Michael Penix Jr.
The Falcons’ brass informed Cousins that it would draft Penix Jr. mere moments before the pick.
Cousins’ agent, Mike McCartney, revealed via text message Thursday: “It was a big surprise. We had no idea this was coming. The truth is the whole league had no idea this was coming. We got no heads up. Kirk got a call from the Falcons when they were on the clock. That was the first we heard. It never came up in any conversation.”
It’s hard to believe Cousins would enjoy this pick, so it’s probably accurate that Cousins wasn’t enthused.
These Are the Vikings’ Remaining Draft Picks
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 MIN 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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