Tigers reciever Malik Nabers 8 after a touchdown as the LSU Tigers take on Georgia State in Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, November 18, 2023. © SCOTT CLAUSE/USA TODAY Network / USA TODAY NETWORK.
A weekend publication from VikingsTerritory, we present to you: the Vikings Nopedy Nopes of the week.
The nopedy nopes are weekly Minnesota Vikings-themed items that we’re not buying. It’s a spin-off of our rumor mill, and we hope you enjoy. Here is the eighth batch of Vikings nopedy nopes in the series’ history.
This theory came from ProFootballTalk’s Mike Florio. He said after Round 1 of the draft, “At No. 5, the Chargers, when they took Joe Alt, they passed on an opportunity to trade out of that spot. The team that wanted to move up to that spot, I’m told … the Minnesota Vikings. And not to take J.J. McCarthy. The Vikings, I’m told, were trying to move up to No. 5 to get Malik Nabers.”
One of the most outrageous Vikings-themed theories we’ve seen in a while, this one has to be a miscommunication or something of the sort. There’s no way Minnesota would trade the farm for another wide receiver, holstering only Sam Darnold on the roster as a QB1 option.
Verdict: Nopedy nope.
Payton tried to price gouge the Vikings by feigning interest in J.J. McCarthy with the New York Jets.
“I was actively involved in trying to pretend we were moving forward. It’s this time of the year, and it’s difficult … Man, you just don’t want others to know our focal point,” he excitedly told media members on Thursday night.
The antic likely caused Minnesota to spend an extra 5th-Rounder, while Payton ended up with Bo Nix. For some reason, he thought the extra draft pick really affected the Vikings front office. 🤡
Verdict: Nopedy nope.
ESPN reported Thursday that the Patriots and Vikings tried to nibble at a Justin Herbert trade this offseason. And then reporters asked Adofo-Mensah about it on Thursday.
He denied that the inquiry occurred: “I wish I could tell you how much joy we get from seeing the stuff that gets written. Those aren’t things that come out of this building. I don’t know what to tell you. I don’t know where this stuff comes from. Sometimes it works out in our favor. I can’t even respond.”
So, either Adofo-Mensah is lying, or ESPN’s facts are off-kilter. No matter what, Minnesota was never going to get Herbert. The Chargers would’ve been silly to trade him and eat $63 million in dead cap.
Verdict: Nopedy nope.
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.