Purple Rumor Mill: Trey Smith Sweepstakes, Sweet DeForest Buckner Theory, Darnold’s Price Tag

VikingsTerritory’s Purple Rumor Mill is a two-day chronicle each week. All the week’s Vikings rumors are lassoed and plopped in two spots — articles on Saturday and Sunday — for review. Today is the February 8th edition.

Vikings Rumors: Trey Smith Sweepstakes, Sweet DeForest Buckner Theory, Darnold’s Price Tag

Remember — rumors are rumors. What you read on weekends in these pieces is what the world is talking about pertaining to the purple team, not necessarily items that will come to fruition.

Here’s the first batch of the week. All past rumors can be read here.

Rumor: Trey Smith, a guard from the Kansas City Chiefs, will actually be a Vikings’ free-agent target.

Per Star Tribune’s Ben Goessling, Smith in purple is actually realistic. KFAN’s Paul Allen asked Goessling about the realism of Smith signing in Minnesota this week, and he replied, “I think they’ll be pretty aggressive for players like that. He’s probably at the top of the guard market, which will be expensive. But I think they are going to make a big priority of going after a guard.”

One-third of the league may chase Smith in free agency, so the Vikings must use their $60 million in available cap space to box everyone out.

“And I think they would have a lot of interest in getting a guy like him in here. So I would expect they’d be involved if he makes it to the market, which he might, because the Chiefs have other guys to sign. I think it’s very possible that they get in the mix for him,” Goessling added.

Smith can reasonably be called Vikings fans’ dream free-agent target, and it appears he could be in play this March.

Rumor: Minnesota should trade draft capital to the Indianapolis Colts for DT DeForest Buckner.

Per Bleacher Report, general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah should be in the market for defensive tackle DeForest Buckner. Minnesota needs some interior defensive line enhancements, and per BR’s scouting collective staff, Buckner should be the trade target.

Here’s the trade in their estimation:

BR explained, “The Vikings took a big step up in scoring defense this season. They finished fifth with Flores conducting a defense that had the highest blitz rate in the league. With a little more talent up front, they could be the best defense in the league. That’s the kind of ceiling they would have by adding a player like Buckner into the mix.”

This is just one website’s theory, but it’s excellent. Most Vikings fans would rejoice at this trade.

Rumor: Sam Darnold will earn about $40 million per year on the open market.

Darnold’s next contract might have some clarity per dollars and cents. ESPN’s Dan Graziano forecasted Darnold’s eventual soon-to-be deal late last week: “Prediction: Three years, $120 million, $75 million guaranteed — which would tie for 15th among quarterbacks in average annual value.”

The 27-year-old threw 35 touchdown passes and 4,319 passing yards in 2024 as the leader of a 14-win team.

$40 million annually sounds about right.

---

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.