Vikings Gut Check: Arch Manning, the CB Curse, Damien Martinez
At VikingsTerritory, we track the items in a given week regarding the Minnesota Vikings that are false, didn’t work out, or are too outlandish.
Vikings Nopey Nopes: Arch Manning speculation, the lingering CB curse, and rookie RB Damien Martinez headline Minnesota’s latest roster falsehoods.
It’s a busy assignment.
These are the Vikings’ nopedy nopes with the regular season just eight days away.
Vikings Nopedy Nopes | August 31st, 2025
Vikings-themed tidbits from the week that are wrong, wild, or didn’t work out.
The Nopedy Nope: The Vikings are the best fit for Arch Manning, who is expected to enter the NFL next April.
Bleacher Report insisted this week that the Vikings are the best landing spot for Texas quarterback Arch Manning in 2026. That is — Kevin O’Connell and his offense would be the perfect fit for Manning.
BR’s Brent Sobleski broke it down, “Archie Manning may be most closely associated with his time as a member of the New Orleans Saints, but his 14-year career ended with the Minnesota Vikings. The franchise is wholly invested in J.J. McCarthy as its starting QB after spending the 10th overall pick in last year’s draft to acquire him.”
“However, everyone must remember the Michigan product has yet to do anything to warrant such status. He didn’t play as a rookie due to a knee injury, so he needs to show he’s capable of leading a team with serious postseason aspirations. If the Vikings falter with McCarthy behind center (or he suffers another injury) and the possibility of acquiring the latest Manning becomes realistic, the situation becomes real interesting.”
Minnesota would likely need a Top 3 or Top 5 pick to draft Manning next spring.
Sobleski continued, “For Manning, the Vikings have stability and a strong roster. Offensively, whoever starts behind center will be throwing to Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison and T.J. Hockenson. The Minnesota front office invested heavily in its offensive interior this offseason, and the defense is one of the league’s most creative and aggressive. Most importantly, head coach Kevin O’Connell is considered one of the NFL’s best when it comes to designing a QB-friendly scheme while understanding what the position needs.”
“Furthermore, quarterbacks coach Josh McCown played 19 seasons in the NFL. McCarthy not working out would be surprising. If that happens, though, other quarterbacks should be looking to the franchise, which is set up to succeed. The Manning family will understand what’s possible in Minnesota.”
The problem? The Vikings already have a quarterback of the future. His name is J.J. McCarthy.
Verdict: Nopedy nope on Minnesota giving up on McCarthy after one season.
The Nopedy Nope: Minnesota drafting cornerbacks, in general.
General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah traded Mekhi Blackmon to the Indianapolis Colts this week for a 6th-Round pick, ensuring the current cornerback curse stayed alive.
NBC Sports’ Charean Williams noted on Monday, “The Vikings have traded defensive back Mekhi Blackmon to the Colts for a 2026 sixth-round pick, the teams announced. The Vikings made Blackmon a third-round pick in 2023, and he played 15 games with three starts as a rookie.”
“He totaled 41 tackles, one interception, eight passes defensed and a fumble recovery that season. During the first training camp practice of 2024, Blackmon tore an ACL and missed the entire season on injured reserve. Blackmon was back for the offseason program and training camp but was behind Byron Murphy Jr. and Isaiah Rodgers on the depth chart.”
Since successfully picking Xavier Rhodes in 2013 and Trae Waynes in 2015, Minnesota cannot draft itself a cornerback. Here’s the current [bad] streak:
- Kris Boyd
- Jeff Gladney
- Mike Hughes
- Andrew Booth
- Akayleb Evans
- Mekhi Blackmon
- Cameron Dantzler
Back-to-back general managers have not solved this thing.
Verdict: Nopedy nope on the Vikings’ ability to draft a single long-term cornerback.
The Nopedy Nope: The idea that the Vikings would be interested in rookie running back Damiel Martinez.
For a day, Minnesota could’ve injected youth into its RB room, as the Seattle Seahawks dropped rookie tailback Damien Martinez amid roster cuts.
CBS Sports’ Matt Zenitz wrote on Tuesday, “The Seahawks are releasing running back Damien Martinez, sources tell CBS Sports. Was a seventh-round draft pick in April. Ran for 1,002 yards and 10 touchdowns last year at Miami.”
Martinez instantly became the most attractive rookie runner on the open market.
Or so folks thought. No team claimed him, and he reverted to Seattle’s 2025 practice squad. The Vikings will evidently roll with Ty Chandler and Zavier Scott as RB3 and RB4 options. The Martinez flirtation among fans proved to be short-lived.
Verdict: Nopedy nope on Minnesota’s would-be interest in Martinez. It was a fan-driven theory.
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