VikingsTerritory’s Purple Rumor Mill is a two-day chronicle each week. All the week’s rumors are lassoed and plopped in two spots — articles on Saturday and Sunday — for review. Today is the February 9th edition.
Vikings Rumors: Cooper Kupp in Purple, Daniel Jones in 2025, Cam Robinson’s Next Stop
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 second batch of the week. Yesterday’s can be read here.
Rumor: Cooper Kupp is a realistic option for Minnesota via trade or free agency.
Adding Cooper Kupp this offseason is not out of left field, according to KSTP’s Darren Wolfson. “It’s not just KOC, there are other people in Eagan who think the world of Cooper Kupp,” Wolfson said on SKOR North airwaves this week.
The Vikings don’t have too many tradeable draft assets in 2025, but theoretically, general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah could dip into the 2026 reserve if Kupp became a viable trade target.
“I think the Rams would have to cut him, or eat a ton of money, the Vikings are not absorbing a big Cooper Kupp number,” Wolfson added about the feasibility of Kupp joining the Vikings’ depth chart.
In 2020 and 2021, O’Connell offensively coordinated Kupp and the Rams, even winning a Super Bowl in 2021, the springboard event that propelled O’Connell to Minnesota. Kupp won the NFL’s Offensive Player of the Year Award with O’Connell in charge during the 2021 campaign.
Kupp to Minnesota is realistic.
Rumor: Daniel Jones should play for the Las Vegas Raiders, says former NFLer Mark Sanchez.
Per Sanchez, who knows a thing or two about the quarterback position, the Las Vegas Raiders should be a landing spot for Daniel Jones.
“Do not sleep on Daniel Jones. Wherever that guy goes, if he lands in the right spot, that would be one of the best places for him, with that head coach. He has all the ability in the world. That kid would be dialed there. I love that possibility,” Sanchez said this week on The Herd about Jones ending up with the Raiders.
Ironically, that’s also the top landing spot for Sam Darnold this offseason, at least from a national viewpoint and the estimation of Vikings fans and analysts. It’s also the place Minnesota obtained Nick Mullens from 2.5 years ago, a trade with the Raiders.
Las Vegas, indeed, would make sense for Jones if he’s not the Vikings’ QB2 in 2025.
Rumor: Cam Robinson could end up with the Cleveland Browns.
For Robinson’s upcoming free agency, Cleveland received the nomination from CBS Sports.
Jordan Dajani explained, “The Browns need a new running back and wide receiver (and quarterback), but we can’t forget about the offensive line either. Most imagine Cleveland will allow Jed Wills Jr. to walk, and it’s unknown if Dawand Jones is the long-term answer on the left side.”
Robinson joined the Vikings’ roster at last year’s trade deadline after incumbent left tackle Christian Darrisaw was lost for the season due to a torn ACL.
“Robinson could be an option for the Browns if Minnesota allows him to leave, but price matters with the Browns’ cap situation being one of the worst in the league,” Dajani added.
Robinson should have a fairly decent free-agent market.
Justin Jefferson Predicts Sam Darnold’s Next Team
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The show features guests, analysis, and opinion on all things related to the purple team, with 4-7 episodes per week. His MIN obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band). He follows the NBA as closely as the NFL.
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.