Vikings Rumors: Adding a Wide Receiver, Saying Goodbye to Danielle, & 2024 to the Rescue
K. Joudry
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Though we’re now into the portion of the year when Vikings rumors aren’t as abundant, we’ll still be highlighting some of the purple rumblings.
The “Vikings Rumor Wrangle” is a series that keeps readers informed on what’s being whispered about in Vikings Land. In this iteration, we discuss the need to add a wide receiver, the upped potential to move on from Danielle Hunter, and how the Vikings have a treasure trove of assets in 2024.
The Vikings Rumors — 10.11.2023
1) Minnesota is in the Market for Wide Receiver Help
A strong possibility, though nothing is for certain.
Jalen Nailor is on the IR. In what’s likely a season-ending move, the Vikings have moved Justin Jefferson to the IR, as well. For the record, being cautious with #18’s health is undoubtedly the best move. He is the cornerstone player on the roster. Ensure he gets back to 100% and build for the future.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler is reporting that Mecole Hardman is available. The proud owner of two Super Bowl rings, Hardman is just 25. As a rookie, he averaged more than 20 yards per reception and for his career he’s sitting at 13.8. He ran a 4.33 forty, the kind of speed that offensive masterminds covet in their deep threats.
Otherwise, keep an eye on Trishton Jackson, N’Keal Harry, and Thayer Thomas to get promoted from the practice squad.
2) The Vikings Will Soon Say Goodbye to Danielle Hunter
Combining the 1-4 start with the Jefferson news makes the possibility more likely, especially since we’re discussing a (soon to be) 29-year-old pass rusher playing on an expiring deal.
On October 29th, Danielle Hunter will turn 29. He’s still playing football at a high level, picking up 6 sacks and 9 TFLs through Minnesota’s opening five games. The issue simply rests in how much longer he’ll be able to maintain that production and how much it will cost to keep him in town.
We broke down the issue previously on PurplePTSD.
Prying away a 1st seems unlikely unless there’s a vigorous bidding war taking place behind the scenes (though the Chase Claypool for the 32nd pick reminds us that anything is possible). What’s more likely is a 2nd, a pick that still contains significant value.
For the record, I’m of the opinion that Minnesota would be wise to sign him to a new deal, keeping him in town well into his 30s. Examples like Von Miller, Cameron Jordan, and Brandon Graham have proven that the NFL does allow for older edge rushers to continue thriving as their 30s march on. What remains to be seen, though, is whether Minnesota’s leadership agrees with the widespread desire to keep Hunter in The State of Hockey.
Hunter is a player capable of propelling a team toward success in the here and now. The Vikings are nowhere close to achieving meaningful team success in the here and now. Do those twin facts mean the pass rusher will be playing elsewhere soon?
3) The Team’s Future Involves Cap Space and Picks Galore
Folks, that’s not too far off from the truth.
Currently, Kwesi Adofo-Mensah is scheduled to have eight draft picks in the 2024 NFL Draft. If things proceed in an expected manner, the Vikings will pick up one or two more by the time November arrives. The league’s trade deadline arrives on Halloween and the expectation should be that Kwesi Adofo-Mensah won’t stay on the sidelines.
Meanwhile, the cap space is looking to be in pretty good shape even though the dead money pile will once again be large. Over the Cap lists the Vikings as having nearly $56 million in 2024. That’s a budget that is already including sizable cap charges for Kirk Cousins, Justin Jefferson, Danielle Hunter, and Harrison Smith.
The team is going to have a pile of money to work with even if they only have 39 contracts for next season.
When achieving success slips away for the present moment, the focus shifts toward the future. In Minnesota, that means continuing to add onto the cap space and draft picks. But, of course, we shouldn’t discount the possibility of the GM bringing in a player who embodies his competitive rebuild philosophy (e.g. T.J. Hockenson). Or, put differently, someone capable of helping the team right now while being young enough to help for years to come.
Personally, I’m keeping an eye on Chase Young in Washington.
Editor’s Note: Information from Pro Football Reference and Over the Cap helped with this piece.
K. Joudry is the Senior Editor for Vikings Territory and PurplePTSD. He has been covering the Vikings full time since the summer of 2021. He can be found on Twitter and as a co-host for Notes from the North, a humble Vikings podcast.