Purple Rumor Mill: The Next Trade, Stefon Diggs, New Left Guard

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 March 16th edition.

Purple Rumor Mill: The Next Trade, Stefon Diggs, New Left Guard

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’ trade with the Texans on Friday was merely a precursor to a second part — ultimately ending in the draft selection of a quarterback.

This was the trade with the Houston Texans:

So, yes, this trade could’ve waited until the draft if it were designed to fetch a non-quarterback. In fact, it would be silly to make the deal right now — for either team — without seeing how the draftboard fell on April 25th.

It only makes sense if the Vikings are looking to flip the trade fruit in another trade, presumably for a quarterback. According to Todd McShay, another deal is upcoming, “The Vikings don’t make this move unless they’ve already had serious discussions with a specific team re: what it will take to move up for the QB they desire (presumably not named Caleb or Jayden). So is it NE at 3 (for Maye)? Or a team picking a couple/few spots down (for JJ)?”

ESPN’s Jordan Reid added via tweet, “Love the move from Kwesi. The Vikings are clearly loading up for a trade up for a QB. They’re also a Dalton Risner or KJ Osborn signing away from acquiring two extra third round comp picks in 2025 (Cousins/Hunter). Giving up next year’s second rounder was an easy decision.”

The second part of the trade is coming; it’s just a matter of when.

This probably ends up in the Vikings drafting Drake Maye or J.J. McCarthy.

Rumor: Stefon Diggs is cryptic tweeting again, and he could bolt from Buffalo before too long.

Diggs tweeted Friday, “Ready for watever.”

This is classic Diggs. It could be a song lyric. It could be a vague message that he wants a new team.

Thankfully, these tweets are no longer the Vikings’ problem. If Diggs gets traded, it’ll be after June 1st, making the deal semi-feasible financially. Buffalo would still be on the hook for $31 million in dead cap.

Rumor: Blake Brandel was re-signed this week for starter’s money, indicating he could be on tap as the primary left guard for 2024.

Brandel signed a three-year deal worth $11.25 million. This is borderline starting money for a left guard, albeit an affordable veteran version.

Minnesota could still re-sign Dalton Risner or draft a rookie left guard in April. But based on Brandel’s deal, with no Risner on the current roster, all signs point to Brandel starting at LG in 2024 or competing this summer at the very least.

He might actually be a wise solution. Don’t write the man off.

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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 Vikings 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.