Jan 22, 2022; Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA; San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel (19) carries the ball in the third quarter against the Green Bay Packers during a NFC Divisional playoff football game at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
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 9th edition.
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.
Substantial trade interest in Justin Jefferson existed during the lead-up to the 2024 NFL Draft, as Minnesota needed a quarterback of the future, and other clubs evidently believed the young wideout was for sale.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter claimed this week that the Jets, 49ers, and Colts, among other teams, were in the mix. “Every team that called the Vikings before the draft was told ‘we’re not trading him. The conversations went nowhere with anybody,” Schefter revealed on his show this week.
Everything about this makes sense:
It also makes sense that Minnesota wouldn’t trade its best player after beginning a new era at quarterback.
Team called. The Vikings said nope.
Food for thought: Minnesota could’ve ended up with Deebo Samuel or Brandon Aiyuk if Kwesi Adofo-Mensah traded Jefferson to San Francisco. The deal, too, probably would’ve involved a 1st-Rounder pick to Minnesota, as well.
A former coworker of Kevin O’Connell in Los Angeles, Woods to Minnesota could check some boxes after roster shavedowns. This idea was born at The Viking Age this week, and though it’s just a guy’s theory right now, we could see it coming to fruition.
Woods just turned 32, so the age isn’t ideal. But let’s face it: all the Vikings really need from a WR3 is a player to grab 600-700 yards, and Woods can do it.
We like the idea and hope it gains steam at the end of August.
ESPN’s Kevin Seifert tweeted Tuesday, the first day of minicamp, “An interesting personnel idea that came to light today: The Vikings still list N’Keal Harry as a WR, but he is working with the tight ends to see if he can contribute there. A former No. 1 pick of the Patriots, Harry is listed at 6-4, 225 lbs.”
The move would be noteworthy for Minnesota because of T.J. Hockenson’s injury recovery. The Pro Bowl tight end is still recovering from a torn ACL and is not expected to be ready for the start of the 2024 season. He could shock the world and play Week 1, but that should be considered a longshot. A productive or semi-productive Harry could assist the Vikings’ offense during any portion of missed time from Hockenson.
Otherwise, Minnesota will lean into Johnny Mundt, Josh Oliver, Robert Tonyan, or Nick Muse for TE duties.
Swinging Harry over to tight end, though, is a pretty sweet idea for a team that might need TE production in September.
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.