Vikings Rumors: Highly Unusual QB Plan, Being Everywhere Always, and Trade Hint
Since we’re officially into the portion of the year when Vikings rumors are ramping up, we’ll 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 Minnesota pursuing a highly unusual plan at quarterback, a backup defender being all over the place at training camp, and the Vikings’ past trade that offers a clue about the future.
Vikings Rumors: 08.07.2024
Rumor #1 — The Vikings Could Pursue the Unusual Path of Carrying 4 QBs on the Roster
Not likely, but possible.
Right now, the QB crew is led by Sam Darnold and J.J. McCarthy. Neither are going anywhere for 2024. Backing up the top twosome are Nick Mullens and Jaren Hall. Kevin O’Connell has commonly sent praise in Mullens’ direction while Hall was drafted just a year ago. Seeing either depart would thus be at least somewhat of a surprise.
Another factor to keep in mind is that Mullens and Darnold only have 2024 on their deals. In 2025, each will be a free agent. Moving on from Hall would thus set up a scenario where McCarthy is the lone quarterback scheduled to be on the roster for 2025, a bit of a disconcerting reality.
One wonders, then, if the 53-man roster will be large enough for four passers. Last season, Minnesota started four different quarterbacks — Kirk Cousins, Joshua Dobbs, Nick Mullens, and Jaren Hall — so maybe they play it ultra safe by ensuring the QB room is well stocked.
Rumor #2 — A Backup Vikings Defender Has Been Shining
That’s the word from Alec Lewis, the Vikings beat writer for The Athletic.
Per Lewis, Theo Jackson has been all over the place. “Nobody has had a better camp than [Theo Jackson],” Lewis notes, “He’s literally everywhere every day.” Keep in mind that the praise from Lewis coincides with DC Brian Flores sending some praise in Jackson’s direction recently.
“There’s been an incredible amount of growth,” Flores says when asked about Theo Jackson, “an incredible amount of just improvement. That’s probably the best term to use for him, improvement.”
Further thoughts from Flores: “Anyone who watches Theo work, from a meeting standpoint, from a training standpoint, from just an understanding of concepts and a knowledge of the game, I think he’s starting to put a lot of things together. And he’s growing in confidence, which that comes with preparation and he prepares the right way. And it’s showing up on the field.”
Last season, Theo Jackson picked up 126 defensive snaps and 260 special teams snaps. He was rewarded with 21 tackles to stand alongside the sensational interception and then a QB hit. His deal to get him back in a Vikings uniform came at just $985,000.
He is 25 and could be in store for a strong season.
Rumor #3 — A Past Vikings Trade Helps to Decode Future Vikings Trades
Potentially. That’s the theory, anyhow.
Ezra Cleveland wasn’t going to get paid some major money in Minnesota. Rather than lose him for nothing, Minnesota shipped him out at the trade deadline. Doing so allowed Minnesota to recoup a draft pick while being able to seamlessly elevate Dalton Risner into the starting job. Plus, Kwesi Adofo-Mensah could continue being frugal at iOL, a spot where he doesn’t like to spend.
Is there another Ezra Cleveland on the roster?
Essentially, we’re thinking of players who are operating on the final year of their deal and are looking to get a hearty raise. The roster needs to have built-in replacements so that there isn’t a drop off in play. Or, at least, the drop off is fairly negligible. Bonus points get awarded if Adofo-Mensah has shown a reluctance to dish out major money at that specific position. Any players fit that criteria?
As strange as it may sound, the first name to come to mind is Camryn Bynum. He, too, is entering Year 4 and is a Rick Spielman draft pick. He’s likely looking for a hearty raise and the track record with the current GM is one of modest spending at safety. Josh Metellus got a pair of years at $8 million in total money and Harrison Smith has been slashing dollars off his contract to stick around.
The cherry on top, at least for the criteria we’ve discussed, is that the presence of guys like Lewis Cine, Jay Ward, and especially Theo Jackson make a replacement somewhat plausible. Recent add Bobby McCain could even get factored into the mix.
Now, even after writing all of that out, a trade involving Bynum does seem quite unlikely. He’s a versatile defender who is well liked by his teammates and coaches. He works hard and is smart. Minnesota, in short, should be looking to keep those players, not send them out. But, in fairness, much of the same logic may have been applicable to Cleveland.
Trading picks up around the end of August and then prior to the in-season deadline. So far, Adofo-Mensah hasn’t been one to sit out when the NFL trades, so we’ll see what the GM has up his sleeve.
Editor’s Note: Information from Pro Football Reference and Over the Cap helped with this piece.
The Vikings Trade that Offers a Hint about Minnesota’s Future Swaps
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.