Vikings Rumors Circling Jonathan Greenard, Aaron Jones’s Next Team, Andy Dalton
Free agency begins Monday with the NFL’s legal tampering window, and the Minnesota Vikings rumor mill is spinning at full velocity. Speculation has flooded the landscape, per usual, as the offseason reaches a key inflection point.
Three fresh Vikings rumor threads cover pass rush, running back, and quarterback.
This round of chatter focuses on a possible EDGE trade, Aaron Jones’ future in Minnesota, and a veteran quarterback angle involving Andy Dalton.
Trade Buzz, RB Movement, and QB Insurance Shape Minnesota’s Rumor Mill
Free agency will, alas, put some rumors to bed.
Rumor: The Vikings don’t want to trade Jonathan Greenard, but Adam Schefter claims it will probably happen in the end.
For starters, Greenard has a massive market. According to reports, “half the league” has checked in on his availability, which tracks because pass rushers who pressure quarterbacks and hold their own against the run rarely linger on trade boards. Greenard fits that modus operandi.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter also said about the Greenard trade sweepstakes on The Pat McAfee Show Thursday, “I think that there’s a case where I don’t think the Vikings really want to deal him, but it’s one of those cases where, if there’s a team that offers enough to go get him, and I think it would be a Day Two pick, so a second or a third, I think Minnesota, because of the financial questions and issues there, is gonna have to consider.”
“My guess is, in the end, when these things usually happen, when you hear about a player that a team is open to trading, when there have been discussions, when that happens like usually a trade happens, so I would say it’s probably more likely than not, but Minnesota knows how good he is, and I can tell you, isn’t going to be thrilled about giving him up.”
The takeaway: Minnesota values Greenard and understands his impact. The salary cap squeeze tied to decisions from former general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah could still push the Vikings toward a difficult call — and Schefter seems to think Greenard will be shipped out.
Rumor: The best fit in 2026 for Aaron Jones is the Washington Commanders.
Jones appears headed toward cap-casualty territory in Minnesota, and Bleacher Report’s Alex Kay recently mapped out potential landing spots for players in that category.
On Jones, Kay explained the Washington fit, “Jones would fit well with the Washington Commanders as an early-down, tone-setting rusher who can identify holes and hit them with power, generating consistent offense and moving the chains.”
“The Commanders may have Jacory Croskey-Merritt in the mix, but the breakout rookie is best deployed as a dynamic change-of-pace option who can provide the lightning to Jones’ thunder in a backfield platoon.”
Another Vikings connection already landed in Washington this offseason: coach Daronte Jones, who secured his first NFL defensive coordinator job in Washington a few weeks ago.
Kay added about Jones, “Washington was missing a competent running mate for Croskey-Merritt last year, having traded Brian Robinson Jr. before the 2025 season kicked off and subsequently losing Austin Ekeler to a season-ending injury in Week 2. Jones would be an ideal starter who could handle approximately 10 touches a game to keep defenses honest and set the table for Croskey-Merritt home runs.”
As of now, Jordan Mason is the frontrunner for the Vikings’ RB1 role in 2026. However, that could easily change early in the offseason. Minnesota might pursue a veteran running back in free agency; potential targets include Travis Etienne, Kenneth Walker III, or Rico Dowdle.
The draft also offers a chance to strengthen the position. Should Jeremiyah Love from Notre Dame be chosen before pick No. 18 — a distinct possibility — prospects like Jadarian Price (Notre Dame), Emmett Johnson (Nebraska), Jonah Coleman (Washington), Nick Singleton (Penn State), and Mike Washington Jr. (Arkansas) should be available in Rounds 2 through 4.
Minnesota will likely draft a rookie running back, as they haven’t selected a productive one since Dalvin Cook and Alexander Mattison in 2017 and 2019, respectively.
Rumor: Andy Dalton could be a fallback plan at QB2 for Minnesota.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter pointed to another name entering the quarterback rumor circuit last week: Andy Dalton.
Schefter wrote, “Another available QB: Carolina has been getting calls about Andy Dalton for a potential trade, per sources.”
The Athletic’s Daniel Person added, “The Carolina Panthers have not disguised their plans at the backup quarterback position — with the outside world or with Andy Dalton, whose time with the Panthers could be nearing an end.”
“General manager Dan Morgan said Tuesday that he informed Dalton the Panthers intend to add another quarterback to compete for the backup spot behind Bryce Young — the job Dalton held for Young’s first three seasons.”
Dalton will not headline the Vikings’ wish list, yet the appeal is easy to understand. He brings experience, knows how to manage an offense, and could become readily available for a 7th-Round pick.
Person also noted on Dalton, “ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Wednesday that the Panthers have fielded calls about Dalton. That does not guarantee they will find a robust market for the 38-year-old quarterback. Two landing spots that could make sense are the Minnesota Vikings and New York Jets, both of whom have assistant coaches with ties to Dalton.”
Dalton to Minnesota feels like the kind of transaction that Minnesota would’ve entertained last offseason when it had no real interest in adding a quarterback to compete with McCarthy.
He’s probably not a serious option this go-round.
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