Purple Rumor Mill: Superstar CB, the End Near for Kirk, Vikings a Frontrunner for Which QB?
Dustin Baker
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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 9th edition.
Vikings Rumors: Superstar CB, the End Near for Kirk, Vikings a Frontrunner for Which QB?
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 are in the mix to acquire L’Jarius Sneed.
USA Today’s Tyler Dragon wrote Tuesday, “As expected, the Kansas City Chiefs officially placed the franchise tag on cornerback L’Jarius Sneed. Sneed still has permission to seek a trade despite the designation. A person with direct knowledge of the situation told USA TODAY Sports that the Minnesota Vikings, Indianapolis Colts, Tennessee Titans, New England Patriots, Detroit Lions, Atlanta Falcons and Jacksonville Jaguars have expressed interest in the Chiefs corner. The person told USA TODAY Sports on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the situation.”
Naturally, that ignited Sneed-to-Vikings rumors, and they won’t stop until Sneed finds a 2024 place of employment.
Minnesota would likely have to trade a 2nd-Rounder and some deal sweetener for Sneed’s services. Overall, the Vikings are one of seven teams listed in the Sneed rumor mill.
Rumor: Kirk Cousins is in his final days as a Viking, likely joining the Atlanta Falcons next week.
Pro Football Talk reported Monday night that the Falcons were trending as the favorites to grab Cousins in free agency. Mike Florio opined, “We can’t get into the specifics, for now. But we’re getting very credible indications that Cousins is seriously considering moving his family to Atlanta. Which would mean, obviously, that he’d’ be signing with the Falcons. The Falcons have always been the top alternative to the Vikings for Cousins, who becomes an unrestricted free agent next Wednesday.”
In the same timeframe — like, the same hour — Vegas odds flipped to the Falcons as the frontrunner to sign Cousins.
Now more than ever, it feels like Cousins’ exit ramp has been paved. Vikings fans should learn a verdict on Monday or Tuesday.
Rumor: The Vikings top sportsbooks’ list to acquire Justin Fields.
These are the odds (sans Kirk Cousins) for Minnesota’s Week 1 QB1 from BetOnline.ag:
- Justin Fields = 3/1
- Trey Lance = 4/1
- Joshua Dobbs = 9/2
- Any Rookie QB = 5/1
- Gardner Minshew = 5/1
- Russell Wilson = 6/1
- Ryan Tannehill = 7/1
- Baker Mayfield = 10/1
- Sam Howell = 10/1
The price for Fields would be fascinating. He won’t cost a 1st-Rounder, instead likely attainable for a 2nd-Rounder or so. Minnesota would have to pay more than other teams due to an “NFC North tax” if Fields were traded to a division rival.
On the whole, Fields to Minnesota is unlikely to materialize.
Beloved Ex-Viking Dropped by Pittsburgh
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.
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