Vikings Rumors Circling Malik Willis, a New Linebacker, Jalen Nailor’s Future
The Minnesota Vikings’ rumor mill has run rampant since the club fired general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah three weeks ago, with buzz ranging from quarterbacks, free agency, and cap casualties. This week’s rumor focuses on Malik Willis, Nakobe Dean, and Jalen Nailor’s value.
Three Vikings rumors to track: Willis as a QB competition play, Dean as a blitz-fit target, and Nailor’s market climbing fast.
Free agency is about two weeks away, and answers on all things rumors should arrive fast and furious.
The Purple Rumor Mill with Free Agency 15 Days Away
Vikings rumors for Sunday, February 22nd, 2026.
Rumor: SI.com has endorsed Malik Willis as the Vikings’ next quarterback.
Gilberto Manzano of SI.com theorized the main offseason move for each NFC North team, and on Minnesota, he circled a Malik Willis signing as the big swing.
He explained, “Sign QB Malik Willis. It might be tough for them to splurge for Love’s backup, perhaps making Willis available at the start of free agency. Coach Kevin O’Connell can’t hand McCarthy the starting job again unless he proves it by beating out real competition in training camp.”
“Willis, a 2022 third-round pick, showed vast improvement in the games he appeared last season for Green Bay and his determination to make the most of his latest opportunity after how poorly it went for him in Tennessee could bring out the best in McCarthy in a fierce summer battle. It was a small sample size, but Willis completed 85.7% of his passes in four games last year.”
A Willis addition would formalize a true summer showdown between J.J. McCarthy and Willis.
Manzano continued, “For comparison, McCarthy struggled by completing only 57.6% of his passes in 10 starts. Willis could have other options and maybe an easier path to a starting job, but not many teams can offer a wide receiver as good as Justin Jefferson.”
“The Vikings have no reason to commit to McCarthy’s first-round status after the team fired GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah. There’s no more time to waste in Minnesota after the disastrous quarterback results in 2025.”
Willis is the Vikings’ most straightforward quarterback solution this offseason because they don’t have to trade anything to get him. They can just … sign him. Therefore, he is in play.
Rumor: Eagles linebacker Nakobe Dean is a free-agent fit for Minnesota.
In ESPN’s Matt Bowen’s rundown of the league’s Top 50 free agents, Minnesota surfaced only once — as the premier landing spot for Nakobe Dean. That’s a pretty specific endorsement.
Bowen opined, “Best team fit: Minnesota Vikings. The Vikings have cap issues heading into free agency, but I really like the fit for Dean in coordinator Brian Flores’ defense. Dean, who had four sacks with the Eagles in 2025, is the league’s best blitzing linebacker, and he would join a system that led the NFL in blitz rate at 46.8%.”
For roster construction, the appeal is obvious. Dean’s downhill burst and timing mesh naturally with Flores’s modus operandi. The financials appear mostly manageable as well. Dean’s projected market hovers around $8 million annually, which could translate to a three-year deal in the $24 million range — a number that interim general manager Rob Brzezinski could structure creatively.
It all boils down to whether the Vikings are comfortable with re-signing Eric Wilson to partner with Blake Cashman in 2026 — or if they want more youth. Dean is the youth.
Rumor: Jalen Nailor’s next contract will pay him $12 per season.
This week, Nailor’s free-agent valuation has raised eyebrows. Daniel Popper of The Athletic ranked Nailor No. 29 overall in his free agency rankings, ahead of established players like Rashid Shaheed, Romeo Doubs, Aaron Rodgers, and Keenan Allen.
He wrote about Nailor at No. 29, “Contract projection: 3 years, $36 million. Nailor’s production does not jump off the screen. The 2022 sixth-round pick had a career-high 444 receiving yards in 2025. But Nailor was playing behind Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison, and he dealt with poor quarterback play last season.”
“More importantly, the tape shows a player who is ready to take a big jump in the right environment. Nailor has the spatial awareness to weave through zones and find soft spots. He was predominantly a slot player in Minnesota but has inside-outside flexibility. He flashes late hands to prevent defensive backs from turning and locating the ball.”
Nailor’s on-field performance reflects his statistical profile. He consistently created separation, even when facing tight coverage. Comfortable in the slot, Nailor also demonstrated excellent timing with J.J. McCarthy, often appearing to be McCarthy’s go-to receiver when plays broke down. It’s just that he’s never tallied over 500 receiving yards in a season.
Popper added, “Nailor is not a burner, but he can push vertically out of the slot on fades, wheels and corners. He is a compact ball carrier who is capable after the catch, and he is also a quality run blocker for his size.”
“Nailor can get bogged down at the line of scrimmage against bigger, more physical corners. He is not a household name right now, but he could be in the future.”
If Popper has Nailor’s price tag correct at $12 million, the Vikings likely cannot afford him.
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