Questions Answered: Deebo in a Vikings Shirt, Trading Up Chatter, Irv Smith’s Health
The following questions are about current Minnesota Vikings topics, answered by PurplePTSD. Today is the April 22nd edition, addressed in a from-the-hip fashion. If you have questions, please email them to [email protected].
Also, please note: These are opinion-based responses. Some answers will be incorrect from time to time. But we’ll try to keep that to a minimum.
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Q: Does Deebo Samuel working out in the Vikings shirt actually mean anything?
A: No, it does not.
Deebo might’ve enjoyed the “Three Deep” era of the Vikings — many did — but his enjoyment of some players does not free up Minnesota’s cap space.
If the Vikings would rather have Samuel than Justin Jefferson, perhaps trade talks make sense. Otherwise, there is not enough money to go around for the employment of Samuel, Jefferson, Kirk Cousins, Danielle Hunter, etc.
Q: There’s suddenly chatter about the Vikings trading up in the draft rather than down. Which is more likely?
A: We believe trading up is just smoke.
The Vikings are more likely to trade back, given Kwesi Adofo-Mensah’s commitment to maximizing value. Trading up into the Top 5 or so — as the rumors suggest — will come at a premium price (like a 1st Rounder from next year). And, nope — we just don’t see it.
But prepare yourself for a possible trade back because that could actually occur.
Q: Will Irv Smith Jr. be fully healthy any time soon?
A: He’s healthy now, but the Vikings are bringing him back slowly.
The Vikings Twitter account posted specifically about Smith’s rehabilitation — like it’s a success story.
Smith will be just fine by the time the regular season begins.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sally from Minneapolis. His Viking fandom dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ and The Doors (the band).