Denver Broncos helmet rests close to the sphere at GEHA Subject at Arrowhead Stadium earlier than an AFC West matchup with Kansas Metropolis, with the staff’s orange-and-navy brand standing out underneath the stadium lights. On Oct. 12, 2023, the tools sat prepared as Denver ready to face the Chiefs in a primetime divisional recreation. Necessary Credit score: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports activities.
The primary couple of weeks in July are sometimes the gradual part on the Minnesota Vikings’ calendar, and for essentially the most half, that’s true, other than a couple of rumors.
Rookies report back to coaching camp on July twenty sixth — so about two weeks away — however within the meantime, let’s look on the first batch of rumors for the week.
Denver Principle Headlines Vikings’ Newest July Chatter
Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy scans the sphere from the pocket throughout first-quarter motion in opposition to Chicago at U.S. Financial institution Stadium. On Nov. 16, 2025, McCarthy prepares to ship a move as Minnesota opens its divisional matchup with the Bears and begins working by the early portion of its offensive recreation plan. Necessary Credit score: Brad Rempel-Imagn Photographs.
Rumor: The Broncos can be an excellent match for J.J. McCarthy as a QB2.
Podcaster David Marshall superior the thought on the David Talks Broncos present final week: “McCarthy was kind of a disaster last year after his time at Michigan. You could see here at Michigan, National Champion, he’s got all the traits and tools you’re looking for, and you saw here during his time in the NFL.”
“He tore his ACL in 2024, so he didn’t get a lot of time to actually improve his game. He played in a pro-style offense under Jim Harbaugh at Michigan, and I think he’s got the brains to operate this offense with Sean Payton and Davis Webb.”
Denver’s backup proper now’s Jarrett Stidham, who stuffed in for Bo Nix throughout the AFC Title recreation in January.
Marshall added, “He needs to fine-tune his mechanics, his footwork, and that’s where the Broncos do some of their best work. I think J.J. McCarthy in terms of not looking at him as a franchise quarterback because we’ve got that in Bo Nix, but as that franchise backup. That next guy that can be here for a few years.”
It makes precisely no sense for McCarthy to request a ticket out of Minnesota in order that he may be the backup quarterback in Denver. Zilch.
Rumor: Minnesota ought to discover free-agent DaQuan Jones and signal him.
Bleacher Report‘s Kristopher Knox recognized seven defensive free brokers with new potential locations, and Jones was picked for the Vikings: “Defensive tackle DaQuan Jones will turn 35 in December and missed multiple games with a calf injury this past season. However, he remains a starting-caliber interior defender who has started every game in which he has appeared since his sophomore season in 2015.”
“Jones started 12 games for the Buffalo Bills last season, finishing with 22 tackles, three sacks, and three tackles for loss. He still possesses a strong anchor in run defense with penetration ability to boost an interior pass rush.”
Buffalo Payments defensive sort out DaQuan Jones stretches on the turf throughout a coaching camp apply in Pittsford, New York, getting ready his physique for an additional demanding session. On Jul. 25, 2022, Jones labored by warm-ups with teammates as Buffalo continued its summer time preparations and evaluated the defensive entrance earlier than the preseason schedule started. Necessary Credit score: Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports activities.
Including Jones can be a unbelievable concept for many Vikings offseasons, however Minnesota has loads of DTs in 2026.
Knox added, “Jones would make a lot of sense for the Minnesota Vikings, who are hoping to leap back into NFC North contention this season. While much of the offseason focus has been on the looming QB battle between J.J. McCarthy and Kyler Murray, Minnesota faces the challenge of reloading its defensive front.”
“The Vikings parted with both Javon Hargrave and Jonathan Allen early this offseason. While they did sign Isaiahh Loudermilk while drafting Caleb Banks and Domonique Orange, adding DaQuan Jones would round out the defensive rotation while adding veteran leadership to the group.”
Minnesota doesn’t want any extra inside defensive linemen:
Jalen Redmond
Caleb Banks
Domonique Orange
Levi Drake Rodriguez
Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins
Isaiahh Loudermilk
Eric Johnson
Smith Vilbert
Taki Taimani
Elijah Williams
Jahvaree Ritzie
All stocked.
Rumor: Kyler Murray is the favourite to win the Vikings’ QB job as a result of Kevin O’Connell has cooked with veteran quarterbacks.
The quarterback competitors is the highest storyline for many Vikings followers, and O’Connell addressed it immediately. He stated to D.J. Siddiqi this week, “We’ve had a lot of success with different veteran quarterbacks at different stages of their career, whether it was Sam Darnold or Kirk Cousins, and now we want to do everything we can to provide Kyler Murray with a great opportunity and see what he can do with it.”
“Kyler has always been a player. I’ve known him for a long time, and obviously having coached against him at multiple spots, and the talent you talked about bringing that different dimension. I think what he’s really done over seven years in the NFL is really maintain that dimension.”
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray warms up close to midfield after the nationwide anthem earlier than a highway recreation in opposition to Seattle at CenturyLink Subject. On Dec. 22, 2019, Murray prepares for the NFC West matchup throughout his rookie season as Arizona closes the common yr in opposition to a well-known division opponent underneath the stadium lights. Necessary Credit score: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports activities.
O’Connell’s proper: when he has a veteran quarterback, his staff often wins. When O’Connell has a rookie passer, his staff largely loses.
O’Connell added, “But also the growth, the way he sees the field, the way he can throw with anticipation, and ultimately where he’s at in his career is a unique time. Having had the success that he had at his previous stop and ultimately wanting to build upon that and us having the opportunity to bring him to Minnesota, it felt like a great fit.”
A battle will nonetheless happen in Eagan, however O’Connell appears to trace that Murray is the frontrunner, which corresponds with oddsmakers’ opinion.
Dustin Baker is a novelist and political scientist. His second novel, The Invaders , is out now. So is … Extra about Dustin Baker
