Purple Rumor Mill: Vikings Gamers Wives’ Kerfuffle, Denzel Ward, NFL’s Prime Free Agent

Cleveland Browns cornerback Denzel Ward (21) reacts to a 3rd down cease throughout the first quarter of an NFL soccer matchup Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024 at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla. The Browns defeated the Jaguars 18-13. © Corey Perrine/Florida Occasions-Union / USA TODAY NETWORK by way of Imagn Photos.

VikingsTerritory’s Purple Rumor Mill is a two-day chronicle every week. All of the week’s rumors are lassoed and plopped in two spots — articles on Saturday and Sunday — for evaluation. As we speak is the January twelfth version.

Purple Rumor Mill: Vikings Gamers Wives’ Kerfuffle, Denzel Ward, NFL’s Prime Free Agent

Bear in mind — rumors are rumors. What you learn on weekends in these items is what the world is speaking about pertaining to the Vikings, not essentially objects that can come to fruition.

Right here’s the second batch of the week. Yesterday’s might be learn right here.

Rumor: Vikings gamers’ wives had been mistreated final weekend in Detroit.

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports activities.

Dalton Risner’s spouse, Whitney, led the cost this week, detailing impolite habits from Lions followers as she watched her husband’s crew lose at Ford Discipline.

“Little did I know that I would be heckled, touched, and called names at last night’s game by Detroit Fans. (Simply for being a Vikings fan),” she posted on social media.

Whitney Risner wasn’t alone, both.

Blake Cashman’s spouse, Taylor, added in response to a Lions fan on TikTok who claimed the fan base was not responsible: “Wishing injuries on the opposing team’s players ain’t the vibe, babe.”

Another wives, like Sam Van Ginkel, confirmed the remedy. It wasn’t nice for some followers at Ford Discipline.

Rumor: Minnesota might commerce for Denzel Ward, a cornerback from the Cleveland Browns, this offseason.

Thomas Shea-USA TODAY Sports activities.

ESPN printed an article this week predicting and forecasting the offseason for all non-playoff groups, and when ESPN’s Benjamin Solak arrived on the Browns’ part, he theorized a Ward commerce to Minnesota or Inexperienced Bay.

The Vikings will choose late in Spherical 1 of April’s draft and, with any optimistic luck, someplace within the 30s. Sending a late 1st-Spherical choose to Cleveland for a assured commodity in Ward could be fairly incredible and universally embraced by the crew’s fanbase.

This could be fairly candy.

Rumor: The NFL’s prime free agent in 2025 is Samuel Richard Darnold.

Brad Rempel-Imagn Photos.

Darnold headlined Bleacher Report‘s Prime 50 free brokers listing, accompanied by teammates Aaron Jones (RB), Camryn Bynum (S), Byron Murphy (CB), and Cam Robinson (LT). However none are as coveted as Darnold, says Kristopher Knox.

“Darnold is the top quarterback who’s poised to reach free agency. He’s blossomed under head coach Kevin O’Connell in Minnesota, and with a few more years of competent coaching, he could feasibly be a top-10 signal-caller,” Knox wrote this week. “Though Darnold’s last game was arguably his worst of the season, the newly minted Pro Bowler had a slew of terrific ones this year. He finished the regular season with a career-high 4,319 passing yards, 35 touchdowns, 12 interceptions and a 102.5 passer rating.”

It’s unclear if Darnold will return to the Vikings, because the franchise has rookie passer J.J. McCarthy ready within the wings to take over in some unspecified time in the future. Minnesota spent a 1st-Spherical choose on McCarthy eight months in the past. “Darnold or McCarthy” debates are plentiful amongst followers.

Knox continued, “Teams are likely to have two big questions about Darnold when free agency begins. They’ll wonder how much is too much to pay a signal-caller with only one year of top-end production. (Spotrac now estimates Darnold’s market value at $54.7 million annually.) They’ll also wonder if he can continue developing in a different offensive system.”

Darnold might have oodles of suitors in March if he doesn’t re-up with the Vikings, together with squads just like the New York Giants, Tennessee Titans, Las Vegas Raiders, Seattle Seahawks, and Los Angeles Rams if Matthew Stafford retires.

“Landing in an offense that shares elements with the Kyle Shanahan or Sean McVay system would be optimal. Tennessee could be an ideal landing spot—head coach Brian Callahan previously served under McVay protege Zac Taylor—though the Titans may prefer to use the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 draft on a quarterback,” Knox concluded.

What a season for Darnold … now thought-about essentially the most sought-after free agent. Whoodathunkit?

Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the College of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his each day YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The present options visitors, evaluation, and opinion on all issues associated to the purple crew, with 4-7 episodes per week. His MIN obsession dates again to 1996. Listed responsible pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doorways (the band). He follows the NBA as intently because the NFL. 

All statistics supplied by Professional Soccer Reference / Stathead; all contractual data supplied by OverTheCap.com.