Vikings Nopedy Nopes: The CB Trade, Shocking Disappointment, Kirk Cousins
Often, the internet cannot resist silly Minnesota Vikings takes, whether from podcasts, articles, or quotes.
On weekends, VikingsTerritory identifies wild, false, and silly Vikings-themed takes for the world to review, most of which result in a huge “nopedy nope.”
Those wild opinions are too prevalent, so each week, we keep track of the “nopedy nopes” in Minnesota’s orbit.
These are this week’s.
The Nopedy Nope: Mekhi Blackmon should be traded for Jalen Ramsey.
A Vikings-themed aggregator account on social media, The Purple Persuasion, suggested that the purple team should trade Mekhi Blackmon for Jalen Ramsey.
TPP tweeted last weekend, “Jalen Ramsey for Mekhi Blackmon. An aging CB with a big contract for a young CB on his rookie deal. Would you do it?”
The problem? Blackmon found the tweet and disagreed. He replied, “We about to trade you.🤣.”
While Ramsey could indeed be on Minnesota’s trade radar — Miami Dolphins general manager Chris Grier confirmed in April that Ramsey is on the trade block — using Blackmon as bait is unlikely.
Even Blackmon vehemently disagreed.
Verdict: Nopedy Nope. Mekhi Blackmon said so.
The Nopedy Nope: The Vikings could be a shocking disappointment in 2025.
NFL Spin Zone claimed this week that the 2025 Vikings squad could end up as one of the NFL’s shocking disappointments.
Lou Scataglia defended his position: “With how much parity there is in today’s NFL, it is tough to sustain yearly success, especially for the more elite teams in this league. There are a few teams, right now, that simply won’t end the year nearly as good of a club as we think.”
“With one of the toughest schedules in the NFL and them essentially starting a rookie QB, why are the Minnesota Vikings held so highly this offseason? Yes, the roster is quite good, but JJ McCarthy hasn’t played a regular season game and is returning from a major knee injury — he is absolutely going to take his lumps as a de-facto rookie in this league.”
This is a nopedy nope because Kevin O’Connell’s team won 14 games last season with Sam Darnold, and if O’Connell could squeeze the regular season glory from Darnold, he probably won’t utterly fail — or become a shocking disappointment — with his handpicked passer, J.J. McCarthy.
Scataglia added, “And he’s also just 22 years old, so his youth should indicate that he might not be as far along as other young QBs in this league. I am not necessarily saying that he’s going to be bad, but the Vikes will struggle to win 10 games in 2025.”
The Vikings should be done getting the “maybe” treatment from pundits.
Verdict: Nopedy Nope.
The Nopedy Nope: Kirk Cousins dipped out of Atlanta Falcons’ organized team activities.
ESPN’s Marc Raimondi wrote Wednesday, “Kirk Cousins was not in attendance Tuesday for the Atlanta Falcons’ first practice of voluntary organized team activities. Falcons coach Raheem Morris said that he did not see Cousins around the facility Tuesday. The quarterback has been around a bit this spring. Offensive coordinator Zac Robinson said last week that Cousins has been with the team a handful of days.”
“Cousins has made it clear to the Falcons that he would like to be a starter in the league this season. But that is unlikely to come to fruition in Atlanta, with the team completely behind second-year quarterback Michael Penix Jr.”
Unmistakably, it’s the Penix Jr. era in Atlanta. Cousins will not be the QB1 in Atlanta unless an injury emerges.
Raimondi added, “Earlier this year, Cousins asked for and was granted a meeting with owner Arthur Blank to plead his case to be released. However, the Falcons have not budged on their message from the end of last season.”
“They are comfortable with Cousins as Penix’s backup, because they’d be paying Cousins his guaranteed $27.5 million in 2025 even if he were released. Atlanta could trade Cousins, though a team would need to take on some of his guaranteed money, which includes a $10 million roster bonus in 2026. Cousins also has a no-trade clause, so he’d have to approve any deal.”
Regarding OTAs, Cousins told his employer “nopedy nope.” He wants a chance to start elsewhere.
Verdict: Nopedy Nope on OTAs. Per Cousins.
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