Purple Rumor Mill: Kevin O’Connell’s Next Contract, a New RB, Daniel Jones’ Role with Vikings
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 December 7th edition.
Purple Rumor Mill: Kevin O’Connell’s Next Contract, a New RB, Daniel Jones’ Role with Vikings
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: Minnesota will extend Kevin O’Connell’s contract soon — and double his salary.
Minnesota will wrap up head coach Kevin O’Connell for the long haul. The only question(s) is when — and how much. And thanks to Pioneer Press’ Charley Walters, more information is available about the specifics of the impending agreement. Long story short — O’Connell will be paid handsomely.
“It’s probably still too early to offer Vikings QB Sam Darnold a contract extension now. The same for coach Kevin O’Connell, although it seems certain he’ll eventually receive a deal that could nearly double his current salary, estimated at $5 million a year. O’Connell, 39, is signed through 2025,” Walters wrote last weekend.
O’Connell ranks third in NFL Coach of the Year odds through 13 weeks with a +400 moneyline, trailing Dan Campbell of the Detroit Lions (+120) and Mike Tomlin of the Pittsburgh Steelers (+400).
The Vikings won’t let O’Connell coach on the final year of his deal — that’s next season — so onlookers should expect an extension sometime in the offseason, probably in January or February. What folks didn’t know was the price tag — O’Connell will apparently receive a sweet raise, which is deserved.
Rumor: The purple team should pursue San Francisco 49ers running back Jordan Mason in 2025 free agency.
According to Bleacher Report, general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah should explore San Francisco 49ers tailback Jordan Mason for 2025 and beyond. He’s the primary backup to Christian McCaffrey, a man who will see ample action down the stretch of this season because McCaffrey appears headed to injured reserve.
BR’s collective staff wrote last week, “Aaron Jones and Cam Akers are impending free agents, so Minnesota will likely be in the market for a new running back this offseason. Mason is a restricted free agent, so San Francisco could match any offer he receives in free agency, but the 49ers also have several other players whose contracts are expiring and might be higher priorities than their backup running back.”
BR added about the possibility of Mason to the Vikings in March: “Meanwhile, the three-year pro proved earlier this year he can be productive when called upon, and Kevin O’Connell comes from the Kyle Shanahan/Sean McVay coaching tree. In other words, the back would be playing in a similar offense as the one he’s had success in this fall.”
Other notable running backs like Najee Harris, Nick Chubb, Javonte Williams, JK Dobbins, and Clyde Edwards-Helaire are scheduled to hit free agency. The options won’t be limited to Mason if San Francisco lets him walk.
For what it’s worth, Mason is also injury-prone. He’s on injured reserve at the moment.
Rumor: Daniel Jones on the Vikings’ roster right now … is really about 2025, not 2024.
Thanks to reporting from NFL Network, onlookers learned a bit more about Minnesota’s plan for Jones in the last couple of days — he’s primarily an option for QB2 in 2025, with the possible 2024 upside if something injury-wise happens to Darnold.
Tom Pelissero explained, “It might be another week, or two, or three before Minnesota adds Jones to the active roster. This is a long-term play by the Vikings. It gives them optionality in the event that Sam Darnold does not return next season.”
“Short-term the focus for Jones is just getting into the game plans, learning the language, learning the protections. He’s spending extra time every day with Kevin O’Connell, Grant Udinski, as well as Josh McCown. He’s just learning how they want him to play the position,” Pelissero continued.
Darnold can probably grab a large contract elsewhere next offseason.
Pelissero concluded, “So, no rush having Daniel Jones up as the No. 2. But if something were to happen to Darnold in the coming weeks, Jones very well could be starting, and he’s preparing every day as if that’s a possibility.”
Jones, as the Vikings’ QB2 in 2025, makes all the sense in the world.
Vikings Dealt Brutal News
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.
You must be logged in to post a comment.