Vikings Reality Check: The Chris Olave Trade, Ty Chandler, and Anthony Richardson Speculation
The staff at VikingsTerritory keeps close tabs on Minnesota Vikings-themed theories that are outlandish, wrong, and wild.
Vikings nopedy nopes: The Chris Olave trade buzz, a Ty Chandler trade theory, and Anthony Richardson speculation … why these don’t make sense.
This week revealed some doozies.
Have a look at this week’s Nopedy Nopes.
Vikings Rumor Rejections: Chris Olave Trade, Ty Chandler, Anthony Richardson
VikingsTerritory isn’t buying the following takes.
The Nopedy Nope: The Vikings could trade for WR Chris Olave.
As soon as it became evident that Minnesota was in the market for a wide receiver via trade, social media popped off with Chris Olave trade fodder.
A to Z Sports’ Tyler Forness tweeted, “I’m going to manifest it, Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Chris Olave.”
VikingsCentral on X posted a picture of Olave with a caption of “Gimme.”
Dustin Antoine on Twitter: “Possible Vikings WR trade rumors that I like: Adam Thielen and Alec Pierce. Possible Vikings WR rumors that I LOVE: Chris Olave and Jordan Whittington.”
And from The Purple Persuasion, a social media aggregator: “The NFL would be forced to investigate New Orleans for tanking if they made this move. Two years of team control on Olave won’t come cheap either. Jettas, Addison, and Olave…. That’s an ELITE room.”
Here’s the argument(s) against it:
- He’s not verifiably available via trade.
- New Orleans has very few decent WRs after Olave.
- He’ll need a giant new contract in 2027.
- Olave would be the third wide receiver in Minnesota; Olave is a WR1 on his current team.
- Minnesota must compensate Jordan Addison next offseason or in 2027, while already investing in Justin Jefferson $35 million per season.
- Olave has a lengthy injury resume.
It’s a fun video game idea, but it doesn’t add up in reality.
The Verdict: Nopedy nope on the realism of an Olave trade for Minnesota.
The Nopedy Nope: Ty Chandler could be shipped to the Houston Texans.
CBS Sports‘ Cody Benjamin brainstormed running back trades around the NFL this week, and Ty Chandler was mentioned. He envisioned a trade by the Vikings of Chandler to the Houston Texans.
Benjamin wrote, “There was a time, not long ago, when Chandler was considered the electric change-of-pace man in Minnesota’s backfield, scampering for more than 450 yards as a second-year reserve while helping succeed Dalvin Cook.”
“He saw a big dip in playing time after Aaron Jones’ arrival in 2024, however, and now he’s on the roster bubble thanks to Jordan Mason’s entry and Zavier Scott’s strong summer. His breakaway upside could have value elsewhere. Prediction: Traded to Houston Texans.”
Twenty-five rookie running backs joined the league from the draft in April. The market was flooded. Chandler is not a hot commodity, and if anything, he will probably be released in the next few days.
The Verdict: Nopedy nope on the likelihood of a Chandler trade.
The Nopedy Nope: Anthony Richardson is a viable QB2 option for Minnesota this year.
Richardson did not win the Colts’ QB1 job. Former Viking Daniel Jones took care of that task.
Accordingly, Richardson’s demotion propelled the masses to talk about his immediate future, and the crew at Fansided put together a list of trade landing spots for him. Minnesota made the cut.
Cody Williams wrote, “The tools are there and I would trust anyone with that type of talent in Kevin O’Connell’s tutelage. Hell, look what he just did with Sam Darnold last season! Therein lies a big problem for the 2025 Vikings when you look back at last year. The Vikings still went on to compete for an NFC North title and comfortably make the playoffs in spite of McCarthy’s season-ending injury in the preseason because they had a high-upside backup.”
“Darnold was in place as the contingency plan, but now that plan behind McCarthy is either Sam Howell, Brett Rypien or Max Brosmer. That’s not exactly the same. And it’s also worth noting that Minnesota furthered that vision by picking up, incidentally, Daniel Jones for the back half of last season.”
Richardson has battled injuries and egregious inconsistency through two seasons in the pros.
Williams added, “Is Richardson as seasoned as Darnold or even Jones? Absolutely not. At the same time, if there’s a head coach and offensive mind that I do believe could get that to work, it would absolutely be O’Connell and this Vikings staff.”
“He offers substantially more upside than Howell or any quarterback currently on the roster, and to help protect that, Minnesota should explore upgrading the QB room behind McCarthy with such a trade.”
Richardson, as a Viking down the road, makes sense. But not this year. Indianapolis won’t get rid of him just yet, not with a mediocre passer like Jones headlining the billboard.
The Verdict: Nopedy nope on Richardson to Minnesota in 2025. That’s a 2026 or 2027 talker.
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