Minnesota Vikings extensive receiver Justin Jefferson reacts from the sideline earlier than kickoff at U.S. Financial institution Stadium as he continued working his approach again from damage. Jefferson remained a focus across the franchise regardless of his absence from recreation motion. The second was captured on Nov. 12, 2023, earlier than Minnesota’s matchup with the New Orleans Saints. Necessary Credit score: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports activities.
For those who ever needed to know what an instance of a “Nopedy Nope” for the Minnesota Vikings would possibly seem like or what will be thought-about a Delusion and a Miss, it’s the notion that the membership would commerce Justin Jefferson this summer season.
That and extra are on the docket this week, as our weekly “Nopedy Nopes” collection continues in early June. The next are Vikings-themed gadgets which might be too bombastic, false, or simply didn’t work out because the world deliberate.
Minnesota’s Newest Rumor Batch Will get Bizarre
Minnesota Vikings extensive receiver Justin Jefferson secures a reception whereas defended by Los Angeles Chargers cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. throughout an offensive shootout at U.S. Financial institution Stadium. Jefferson continued displaying the route-running precision that defines his recreation and challenged the Chargers all through the afternoon. The catch occurred on Sept. 24, 2023, in Minneapolis. Necessary Credit score: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports activities.
The Nopedy Nope: Justin Jefferson could possibly be traded to the Buffalo Payments — within the spirit of the Myles Garrett commerce to Los Angeles.
Bleacher Report‘s Alex Kay got here up with 5 wild NFL commerce concepts this week, and Jefferson to the Payments was not immune.
He defined, “Buffalo Bills receive: WR Justin Jefferson. Minnesota Vikings receive: 2027 first-, second- and fourth-round picks, 2028 third- and fifth-round picks. Dealing Jefferson in exchange for a massive amount of capital would position the Vikings to land one of the coveted quarterback prospects set to be available in the 2027 draft.”
“With a slew of high-end signal-callers set to enter the league next offseason, Minnesota can’t afford to miss out if it wants to return to prominence in the brutally tough NFC North. A team all-in on winning a Super Bowl this coming season would be the ideal suitor for Jefferson. The Buffalo Bills would be an intriguing choice after they came up painfully short last season.”
Jefferson truly wound up with the Vikings due to a WR commerce to the Payments in 2020: Stefon Diggs.
“While they did trade for DJ Moore to bolster an undermanned receiving corps, they failed to land a true needle-mover to pair with star QB Josh Allen. An Allen-Jefferson battery could put up historic numbers akin to what Randy Moss and Tom Brady accomplished with the 2007 New England Patriots,” Kay continued.
“It would cost the Bills a haul of future picks to bring the tandem together, but doing so would give the club perhaps its best shot yet at a championship.”
If Minnesota traded Jefferson this summer season — to Buffalo or anyplace — it could eat over $70 million in lifeless cap funds. That’s simply taking place.
The Verdict: Nopedy nope on any Jefferson commerce. The concept is ludicrous.
The Nopedy Nope: The Vikings will rebuild as a result of they employed a brand new normal supervisor.
Reporters requested new boss Nolan Teasley if he would “rebuild” the Vikings’ roster, and he swiftly responded, “I believe we’re ready to compete right now because they’ve been competitive.”
“I don’t know if I would get into depth in terms of staffing or anything in that regard because I haven’t been here to assess the people that are here. But I know there’s a lot of strong evaluators and a really strong football operation in place. The roster, it’s obvious it’s a strong nucleus of talent on both sides of the ball.”
Minnesota accomplished a aggressive rebuild course of two years in the past.
New Vikings normal supervisor Nolan Teasley speaks with reporters about organizational objectives and collaboration throughout soccer operations. Teasley outlined his imaginative and prescient for the franchise whereas discussing alignment between coaches, executives, and possession transferring ahead. The media session happened on June 3, 2026, in Eagan as Minnesota entered a important offseason. Necessary Credit score: YouTube.
Tealsey additionally remarked, “They’ve won a lot of football games here in the last four years, including five in a row to end last season. We’re going to build the deepest, most competitive roster possible so that we can be at our best in December and January and February, and ultimately working toward winning the Super Bowl that this fan base deserves.”
The Verdict: Shock, shock: the Vikings usually are not rebuilding after ending their model of a rebuild two offseasons in the past.
The Nopedy Nope: With Myles Garrett on the Rams’ roster, it’s time for Aaron Donald to unretire.
The Cleveland Browns shipped Garrett to Tinseltown, stacking the deck within the Rams’ favor and evidently luring Aaron Donald to ponder unretirement.
Professional Soccer Community‘s Nicolaas Ackermann wrote after the Garrett deal, “Myles Garrett’s trade from the Cleveland Browns to the Los Angeles Rams caused a frenzy in the NFL community to the point where attention is turning to Aaron Donald. The trade strengthens the Rams’ chances of winning the Super Bowl, and people around the league quickly started speculating about Donald’s potential return to the Rams.”
“Talks of how good the defense can be this year poured over into further speculation about who else the team could add. The NFL world, on one hand, was quick to call for three-time Defensive Player of the Year Donald to come out of retirement to join what already looks to be a rockstar defense.”
Los Angeles Rams defensive sort out Aaron Donald prepares for a recreation towards the Arizona Cardinals at SoFi Stadium. Donald entered the matchup as one of many NFL’s most dominant defensive gamers, bringing his trademark disruptive presence to the Rams’ entrance. The pregame scene unfolded on Oct. 15, 2023, in Inglewood. Necessary Credit score: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports activities.
The Rams have already got good defensive tackles. They don’t want an ever deeper superteam.
The Verdict: Out of respect for equity to the NFC, nopedy nope on Donald to a superteam. We are saying no thanks.
Dustin Baker is a novelist and political scientist. His second novel, The Invaders , is out now. So is … Extra about Dustin Baker
