Purple Rumor Mill: Asante Samuel Jr., Coveted UDFA, Andrew Van Ginkel
The Minnesota Vikings rumor mill has actually died down a bit after the 2025 NFL Draft, but that doesn’t mean it’s quiet altogether.
Vikings Rumors: Asante Samuel Jr., Coveted UDFA, Andrew Van Ginkel
We provide the purple team’s top rumors each week, and this is the Saturday, May 3rd edition.
So, with no further ado, here’s the Vikings’ current rumor mill.
Rumor: Asante Samuel Jr.’s medicals are suspect, and Minnesota will not take the plunge on his free agency.
Asante Samuel Jr. has been a mainstay in the purple rumor mill for about a month.
But KSTP’s Darren Wolfson joined SKOR NORTH’s airwaves this week and mentioned his likelihood of joining the Vikings: “I will tell you this much. I reached out to a prominent agent, an agent I’ve had a really good relationship going back a while. He represents, not Asante, but another relatively high-profile, available cornerback. This agent told me on Monday, the Vikings just aren’t interested. And this agent thinks nothing is going to happen anytime soon.”
The Samuel Jr. rumor mill actually gained legs at SKOR North in the first place after a wacky and anonymous tip, so it seems the gossip originated and died from the same source.
Of course, Samuel Jr. could still end up in Minnesota, but it might’ve already happened by now if the rumor was accurate.
If he does not turn purple, Minnesota has a CB2 battle shaping up between Isaiah Rodgers, Jeff Okudah, and Dwight McGlothern. A trade for Jalen Ramsey or Greg Newsome II cannot be ruled out, either.
Rumor: Nebraska cornerback Tommi Hill will attend Vikings rookie minicamp, a player who should’ve been drafted in Round 5, 6, or 7 last week.
This is the guy whom Travis Hunter recently hyped.
Nebraska Football’s X account tweeted last week:
Most draft pundits expected Hill to be drafted somewhere late in the event last Saturday, but he struck out. Instead, he’ll get a chance to showcase his skills at Vikings minicamp, which gets underway in four days.
With any luck, Hill could make the 53-man roster as a depth cornerback or the practice squad if the depth chart is too full.
Rumor: Minnesota initially sought to sign Andrew Van Ginkel for three years last offseason.
General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah told KFAN about Van Ginkel: “In free agency last year, we actually tried to sign him to a three-year deal. There was another team that came in and offered a two-year deal that we had to compete with. You always want the longer-term deal as much as possible, knowing that if he plays well, this is the type of thing you’re gonna be able to do.”
“We were excited to add a year and really to reward him for the year he had, so he would make more money this year.”
As a full-circle solution, Adofo-Mensah inked Van Ginkel to a one-year extension this week, so he got his man for three years altogether in the end.
Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell also spoke about Van Ginkel this week.
He told Kay Adams, “I can remember Brian Flores and I sitting in my office after the 2023 season, talking about bringing a guy like Andrew Van Ginkel to Minnesota, what his fit would be in our defense, what the master plans were from Flo and his staff. And then watching it play out with him being a second-team All-Pro, Pro Bowl starter, so many impactful plays, and really such a perfect fit. We felt it was the right thing to do, based on his performance last year.”
“He was still under contract for this year, but we felt it was fitting for Gink to not only know he’s going to be here beyond this season, but make sure he felt appreciated for taking a risk, coming to Minnesota, signing with us a year ago.”
Van Ginkel revealed a few months ago that the Philadelphia Eagles pursued him via 2024 free agency, but ultimately chose Minnesota. For some reason, he apparently sought a shorter-term deal, and Minnesota had to adjust its three-year vision to box out other suitors, like the Eagles.
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