3 Vikings Rumors: “Smooth Body Control,” Linebacker Love, and MIN’s QB Twist
As we enter the portion of the year when Vikings rumors still linger, 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 the Vikings receiver with “smooth body control,” a linebacker getting some love from Minnesota, and the QB twist that could play out in the Twin Cities.
Vikings Rumors: 05.28.2025
Vikings Rumor #1 — A New Playmaker Showed Off His “Smooth” Wheels
Opting for a wide receiver at the end of the 3rd was a minor surprise. Justin Jefferson, of course, is the otherwordly talent who is anchoring the offense — and, indeed, the team more broadly. Behind him is the promising Jordan Addison, the improving Jalen Nailor, and the unlucky Rondale Moore. Oh, and T.J. Hockenson as well as Aaron Jones happen to have some silky mitts, too.
So, the Tai Felton selection may have raised a few eyebrows.
Consider an initial word from Craig Peters about the rookie wideout impressing early: “Third-round pick Tai Felton showed elements of his game that piqued Minnesota’s interest, even if the action was limited to individual receiver drills and 7-on-7 work.”
Peters continues: “Felton showed a smooth body control that accompanies his high-speed potential (he was previously clocked in the 40-yard dash at 4.37 seconds) and natural catch ability. He calmly throttled down for an adjustment on one pass and accelerated into another.”
Being able to win a route in different ways is key to success in the NFL. Very few players are fast enough to only rely on speed. Being able to adjust one’s speed up and down is a central way that receivers can create separation, the needed room to make a play of the ball. So, too, does it help to be able to elevate, time the jump well, shift directions with suddenness, and fight through contact for a catch (among other abilities).
Early on, Tai Felton may find success as a burner who finds room due to his speed and Jefferson’s magnetic pull on the secondary. Maturing in his craft is going to involve finding different ways to win, though.
Vikings Rumor #2 — Minnesota Showed Some Love to a Young Linebacker
Certainly did. The guaranteed money proves as much.
Austin Keys is a ‘backer coming out of Auburn. With $249,000 of his contract guaranteed, Keys is sitting in a tie for third for the most locked-in compensation among the Vikings’ well-paid UDFA haul. The simplest takeaway is merely that he was a coveted player following the 2025 NFL Draft and Minnesota made it a priority to get him to the Twin Cities.
The linebacker offers good size at 6’2″ and 247 pounds. He’s coming off a season where he got involved in a dozen games, picking up modest statistics: 39 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, and 2 passes defended. He is, however, an explosive athlete.
Up top, Blake Cashman is holding down the LB1 spot for at least another season. Next up are Ivan Pace Jr. and Eric Wilson, both of whom originally entered the NFL as UDFA linebackers but who are at different ends of their respective careers (Pace is a youngster, Wilson an old fella). The competition then shifts toward Brian Asamoah, Kobe King, and Keys (among others) to battle for what could be just a single remaining spot.
Vikings Rumor #3 — Max Brosmer Could be the Vikings’ Surprise QB
Quite possibly, yes.
Already, the new passer is talking a bit of trash, a sign that he’s settling in nicely at TCO Performance Center. Consider, as well, that he comes across as being quite similar to J.J. McCarthy, further indication that Brosmer could be given a chance to stick around for a bit. The basic thinking is merely that having a backup with a similar set of skills to the starter means the offense doesn’t need a radical change in strategy if the backup is needed.
Unless injury or disastrous play make an appearance in the summer, J.J. McCarthy is going to be the top option with Sam Howell as the next arm up. The remaining QB competition is one that’s taking place at QB3. More specifically, that’s Brett Rypien going toe-to-toe with Brosmer.
Earlier in the month, Dustin Baker responded to some chatter about Max Brosmer emerging in the QB3 battle. Baker writes, “from undrafted free agency, Adofo-Mensah signed Brosmer, a hometowner from the Minnesota Golden Gophers. If he plays his cards right, Brosmer could steal the QB3 post.”
The young passer doesn’t need to show perfection. Rather, he needs to show upside alongside the capacity to improve. Doing so will mean the Vikings may feel he’s too enticing to let go of as someone who could very possibly get scooped up by another team.
Max Brosmer, 24, would be a success story if he cracks the lineup in his debut season. He will be a home run if he proves to be a long-term solution at backup QB.
Editor’s Note: Information from Sports Reference CFB and Over the Cap helped with this piece.
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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 Bluesky (@VikingsGazette). If you feel so inclined, subscribe to his Substack, The Vikings Gazette, for more great Vikings content.
