Purple Rumor Mill: Rookie Turning Heads, Vikings’ Trade Competition, Garrett Bradbury
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 June 17th edition.
Purple Rumor Mill: Rookie Turning Heads, Vikings’ Trade Competition, Garrett Bradbury
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.
Rumor: Will Reichard is the real deal.
At minicamp, The Athletic’s Alec Lewis observed Reichard — and was impressed.
“Holy hell, in a good way. He just kicks the heck outta the ball. He was kicking 55-yarders that were going at the top of the goalposts. His 60-yard kick cleared everything and still landed in the net that was like five, seven yards behind it,” Lewis noted.
Minnesota also employs Parker Romo at kicker, but Reichard is the sure-fire frontrunner to win the job.
Because the Vikings haven’t experienced coolheaded production at kicker since Ryan Longwell, a dependable Reichard should be music to the ears of every fan.
Rumor: The Rams were the Vikings’ trade competition during the draft.
Thor Nystrom tweeted this week, “The Rams called the Jets and Vikings about moving up — ostensibly to hop the Raiders for Bowers — but KOC told McVay the Vikes were holding for their guy. Turns out Minny was the Rams’ competition for NYJ’s 1.10 pick. Minnesota’s target? JJ McCarthy.”
The Broncos — mainly Sean Payton — claimed they drove up the price of Minnesota’s trade with the Jets, but it appears the Rams were the team vying for the pick.
Consider it shocking that Payton attempted to irritate the Vikings but with little punch behind the nonsense.
Rumor: Garrett Bradbury could be extended before too long.
The Athletic’s Alec Lewis hinted last week that Bradbury could be extended because of the value he’d provide a new Vikings quarterback.
“Bradbury still has two years on his contract, although the Vikings could offload him before next season to recoup some cap space. Bradbury’s value lies in his experience which will be important to pair with what should eventually be a rookie quarterback in J.J. McCarthy,” Lewis explained. “Bradbury’s knowledge of protections is a boon. This would, in many ways, be a bet that Bradbury continues to improve. His 2023 season was his most efficient as a pass protector, according to PFF.”
We believe Minnesota will let Bradbury’s contract play out and make a decision at the last minute.
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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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