Purple Rumor Mill: Stephon Gilmore, Vikings Position Changes, Lewis Cine
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 3rd edition.
Purple Rumor Mill: Stephon Gilmore, Position Changes, Lewis Cine
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: The Vikings aren’t done signing defensive backs and could still even sign prized free agent Stephon Gilmore.
The Minnesota Vikings have signed four new defensive backs in the last 10 days — and that could be a starter kit for the main event.
According to The Athletic’s Alec Lewis, Minnesota may not be done signing cornerbacks, and onlookers shouldn’t rule out one high-profile free agent in particular.
“The Vikings are well aware of their cornerback issues. On Monday, they signed defensive back Bobby McCain, who has played the position, and they also moved safety Jay Ward out to cornerback for the first time. On Tuesday, they agreed to terms with 30-year-old cornerback Fabian Moreau. Moreau started 11 games last year for the Denver Broncos,” Lewis wrote. “He has one thing many of the Vikings’ backup cornerbacks don’t: experience. Does this rule out additional cornerback signings? No. The free-agent market is not filled with high-end options, but Stephon Gilmore is the most intriguing.”
Vikings fans have contemplated Gilmore for the 2024 roster since the draft. He played remarkably well in 2023.
“He played for Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores in New England. He has started 33 games at corner over the last two seasons, and his production has remained. Adding him is a no-brainer, but the Vikings aren’t the only team thinking this way,” Lewis added. “Gilmore’s market is going to be robust, and the longer he waits, the more likely it is teams could need his services. Not to mention, the longer he waits, the less time he has to spend at training camp.”
This one is evidently still alive.
Rumor: Safeties Camryn Bynum and Jay Ward could switch to cornerback or play at the cornerback position in 2024.
Some have suggested safeties Camryn Bynum and Jay Ward could try cornerback on for size. It began last week when Paul Allen, the voice of the Vikings, said on KFAN, “I saw Murphy and Shaq Griffin with DB’s coach, Durante Jones. And then Cam Bynum was waved over. And this was early in practice. And Cam Bynum, a former corner at the University of California, he was doing some work with the corners yesterday.”
Folks cited Bynum’s college cornerback resume — he played the position at California, 42 games worth —as evidence that Allen could be onto something.
Fast forward to the second week of Vikings training camp, and Ward received the cornerback-to-safety treatment, too. The Athletic’s Alec Lewis tweeted Monday, “Vikings second-year DB Jay Ward was mixing in at corner today. Has played mostly safety since getting here, so definitely interesting given position depth.”
Both theories make sense for a team ravaged by cornerback injuries. Yet, Bynum is an established safety in the NFL. He could help out a corner but don’t expect a full position change. Ward, on the other hand, would make sense in the slot.
Ward over Bynum for a position swap is more likely.
Rumor: Lewis Cine didn’t practice for a few days, meaning he could be traded.
“Lewis is dealing with a little bit of a lower leg, some soreness, little strain there. I would classify him as day-to-day,” head coach Kevin O’Connell told reporters. “We just want Lew to feel ready to roll and get out there with his teammates as fast as possible. We’ll get him back rolling as soon as possible.”
Some thought Cine was held out of practice because of an impending trade. The theory was incorrect.
While he could still be traded, his brief absence was pretty standard and non-trade-related.
One New Viking Appears to Have Taken a Backseat
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 Vikings 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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