South Carolina Gamecocks quarterback LaNorris Sellers (16) goes by means of warmups earlier than kickoff, Sep. 20, 2025, at Faurot Subject at Memorial Stadium in Columbia, Missouri, as he prepares to face the Missouri Tigers in a key SEC matchup early within the faculty soccer season. Necessary Credit score: Denny Medley-Imagn Photos.
On Saturday, we chronicled the Minnesota Vikings’ common supervisor search, Garrett Bradbury’s plight in Chicago, and new WR Dillon Bell. It’s time for the second batch of purple rumors for the week.
Minnesota’s rumor mill is already drifting towards 2027, acquainted depth assist, and one rookie cornerback.
Coaching camp will get cooking for the Vikings in lower than three months; right here’s the place the rumors stand forward of time.
Three Names Are Already Floating across the Vikings’ Summer time Radar
The Purple Rumor Mill for Could third, 2026.
South Carolina Gamecocks quarterback LaNorris Sellers (16) throws passes throughout pregame warmups, Nov. 1, 2025, at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium in Oxford, Mississippi, because the Gamecocks ready to face the Ole Miss Rebels with Sellers getting free forward of kickoff in an SEC street matchup. Necessary Credit score: Petre Thomas-Imagn Photos.
Rumor: LaNorris Sellers, a quarterback from South Carolina, has already been linked to the Vikings in subsequent yr’s draft.
Brendan Donahue of Sharp Soccer Evaluation kickstarted the 2027 mock draft course of this week, with the Vikings holding the 14th decide — so an 8-9 document or so in 2026.
He nominated Sellers to Minnesota and wrote, “The 2026 season feels like a make-or-break year for both the quarterbacks currently on the Vikings roster. I don’t think head coach Kevin O’Connell will hesitate to move on from either or both if they miss the playoffs again in 2026 and replace them with someone who seems to be more of his prototype at the position.”
“Many scouts believe Sellers has as much upside as any quarterback at the college level if he can just put it all together.”
Norris seems the half the second he steps on the sector. At 6’3″ and 240 kilos, and working within the 4.5s, his bodily presents are instantly obvious, translating on to his on-field efficiency. He boasts authentic arm energy, permitting him to launch the deep ball, and may break the pocket to create performs very like the nation’s high scramblers. Clearly, there’s important expertise to develop.
Nevertheless, his considerations are equally evident. He tends to carry the ball too lengthy, resulting in sacks, and struggles with ball safety. Moreover, his accuracy noticeably declined in 2025.
In the end, Norris is a quarterback with uncommon bodily instruments, however he additionally displays important areas for enchancment and inconsistency.
In fact, if Kyler Murray or J.J. McCarthy are the true deal, the Vikings gained’t want a quarterback in 2027. Easy as that.
Rumor: If the Vikings need Cam Akers again, he’s accessible.
Akers’s brief stint with the Seattle Seahawks is kaput. Seattle Occasions’s Bob Conodotta wrote Monday, “The Seahawks released veteran running back Cam Akers on Monday in the wake of selecting Jadarian Price in the first round of the NFL draft on Thursday. Akers, a seven-year NFL veteran, signed to the Seahawks’ practice squad last November after an injury to George Holani.”
“He played in three regular-season games and in the NFC title game win over the Rams without getting a carry. He had two kickoff returns for 54 yards in a late-season win at Carolina. The release of Akers leaves the Seahawks with six running backs on the roster — Price, Zach Charbonnet, Holani, Kenny McIntosh, Jacardia Wright and free agent signee Emanuel Wilson.”
Minnesota Vikings working again Cam Akers (27) crosses the purpose line for a landing within the third quarter, Dec. 29, 2024, at U.S. Financial institution Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota, because the Vikings confronted the Inexperienced Bay Packers in a late-season divisional recreation with Akers ending a key scoring drive. Necessary Credit score: Brad Rempel-Imagn Photos.
Akers will now hit the open market, with Minnesota clearly being a suitor for his providers as a result of they simply love the person a lot.
Is Akers required on the Vikings’ roster proper now? Nope. However in 2023, 2024, and 2025, Akers didn’t actually really feel wanted both right now on the calendar, and he discovered his method again to the Vikings every time. Right here’s the present RB setup in Minnesota after the draft:
RB1: Aaron JonesRB2: Jordan MasonRB3: Demond ClaibonreRB4: Zavier ScottRB5: Kejon Owens
You may by no means rule out Akers for the O’Connell-led Vikings. He has O’Connell’s gridiron crush.
Rumor: CB Charles Demmings could possibly be an undercover stud.
Analyzing every group’s draft class, Brugler wrote Monday about Demmings, “Day 3 pick who could surprise: Charles Demmings, CB, Stephen F. Austin. Aside from Demmings always being a great quote, he leaves everything he has on the field. With his cover athleticism and mental toughness, Demmings was a worthy bet in the fifth round, and he landed with a team that needed cornerback depth.”
Demmings joins the group because the fourth cornerback, behind Byron Murphy Jr., Isaiah Rodgers, and James Pierre. His preliminary depth chart place, nonetheless, doesn’t preclude him from early taking part in time. Given Minnesota’s historical past of rotating corners and Demmings’ promising traits, he has a transparent path to snaps by September if circumstances align favorably.
Stephen F. Austin defensive again Chuck Demmings (DB07) speaks with reporters throughout media availability, Feb. 26, 2026, on the Indiana Conference Heart in Indianapolis, Indiana, as a part of the NFL Mix with prospects assembly groups and answering questions forward of the upcoming draft. Necessary Credit score: Jacob Musselman-Imagn Photos.
Bodily, Demmings stands 6’1″ and weighs 195 kilos, boasting a 4.41-second 40-yard sprint. His spectacular size and vertical pace are evident, complemented by the wonderful ball-tracking abilities he demonstrated in faculty, the place he recorded 9 interceptions. Moreover, his tackling considerably improved at Stephen F. Austin, making him a extra full participant than he was earlier in his profession.
Minnesota has struggled to develop drafted cornerbacks into long-term options since Xavier Rhodes. That difficult monitor document casts a shadow over each new addition to the place within the draft. Demmings now enters this historic context, geared up with the instruments to compete. His efficiency will in the end decide whether or not the sample of previous struggles continues or lastly shifts.
