The 'week before the start of free agency' rumor/transaction thread

[StickierBuns]

The sheer amount of rumors this offseason is epic and mostly ridiculous. As I mentioned on Monday, as the weekend approaches, my guess is the rumors on Saturday/Sunday are going to get closer to the truth and the shit-bird engagement artists will start latching onto those and we'll have a lot less shotgun speculation.

[MaroonBells]

Your pivot off Kirk and Rodgers has been swift but commendable. If he's available, Geno would be my backup plan if we can't cheaply get Carr. I'm still out on Murray.

Kyler Murray and Geno Smith were not available then. Technically, they’re still not. If those two were not hitting the market, Cousins and Rodgers would still be near the top of the list.

[medaille]

The sheer amount of rumors this offseason is epic and mostly ridiculous. As I mentioned on Monday, as the weekend approaches, my guess is the rumors on Saturday/Sunday are going to get closer to the truth and the shit-bird engagement artists will start latching onto those and we'll have a lot less shotgun speculation.

I'm struggling to remember an offseason where the PR has been this bad.

It feels like we're seriously damaging our "This is a well run franchise" vibes.

[Kentis]

Cam Jordan will be a free agent, Saints not resigning, anything left at 37…? 10 1/2  sacks in 2025 & has missed just 2 starts in his career.
 

[pattersaur]

Cam Jordan will be a free agent, Saints not resigning, anything left at 37…? 10 1/2  sacks in 2025 & has missed just 2 starts in his career.
 

Surprising. They must really think he's toast since he's probably a HOFer for them.

[purplefaithful]

Are the Vikings in or out on 2026?

I already touched on them above, but the Vikings are an interesting team this offseason. Let's start with the obvious: They do not have a general manager.

It's generally not good to approach free agency without a general manager, as the GM is the person who ... runs free agency. Of course, the Vikings can backfill the role with the collective weight of their pro scouting department, the 30-plus years of experience from interim general manager Rob Brzezinski and some helpful nudges from a coaching staff that already had a ton of personnel influence. But still ... having no general manager makes them tough to read.

The Vikings are also at a financial crossroads. 

Minnesota handed out a bunch of veteran deals over the past two seasons as it anticipated an ascension into contention behind McCarthy. In free agency, the Vikings signed Will Fries, Ryan Kelly, Javon Hargrave, Jonathan Allen, Aaron Jones Sr., Jonathan Greenard, Andrew Van Ginkel and Blake Cashman. Internally, they extended/re-signed Justin Jefferson, Byron Murphy Jr., Christian Darrisaw, Joshua Metellus and Josh Oliver. With less than a week before the new league year, the Vikings are about $45 million over the salary cap ceiling.

Now they need to shed veteran deals. That process is already underway. ESPN reported that Jones, Hargrave and Allen will be released or traded by the opening of the league year. Those three moves should provide almost $25 million in cap space, putting the Vikings closer to $20 million over the ceiling. But what about tight end T.J. Hockenson, due for a $15.4 million base salary in 2026? Can the Vikings risk cutting him and sap their pass catcher depth further, as longtime No. 3 receiver Jalen Nailor is almost certain to depart in free agency?

With some aggressive restructuring and extending, the Vikings could kick the cap can down the road and keep some of their veteran talent in place. Give offensive tackle Brian O'Neill an extension, restructure Hockenson and Jefferson, and tack some void years on Kelly's deal. Bang, they're almost home. 

This approach would allow O'Connell to plug in a joystick quarterback of his choosing and scheme his way to 10-plus wins, much as he did with Cousins in 2022 and Darnold in 2024. And because so many quarterbacks will be released with guaranteed money left behind by their old teams (Murray, Tua Tagovailoa, Geno Smith, Cousins et al.), veteran stopgaps might be available on dirt cheap deals for this offseason only.

But it's a shortsighted approach that limits the Vikings' flexibility in 2027 and beyond. Maintaining the long-term health of the roster and the cap is the job of the general manager. While Adofo-Mensah wasn't the best at that, an empty chair makes it easier for coaches to champion bandage solutions and print immediate wins. 

Early signs are that the Vikings will endure some painful departures; they've reportedly let teams know they're listening to trades on Greenard, a still-quality veteran pass rusher. But I remain dubious that they'll sit completely quiet and take their medicine for a poorly managed cap.

ESPN

[StickierBuns]

Are the Vikings in or out on 2026?

I already touched on them above, but the Vikings are an interesting team this offseason. Let's start with the obvious: They do not have a general manager.

It's generally not good to approach free agency without a general manager, as the GM is the person who ... runs free agency. Of course, the Vikings can backfill the role with the collective weight of their pro scouting department, the 30-plus years of experience from interim general manager Rob Brzezinski and some helpful nudges from a coaching staff that already had a ton of personnel influence. But still ... having no general manager makes them tough to read.

The Vikings are also at a financial crossroads. 

Minnesota handed out a bunch of veteran deals over the past two seasons as it anticipated an ascension into contention behind McCarthy. In free agency, the Vikings signed Will Fries, Ryan Kelly, Javon Hargrave, Jonathan Allen, Aaron Jones Sr., Jonathan Greenard, Andrew Van Ginkel and Blake Cashman. Internally, they extended/re-signed Justin Jefferson, Byron Murphy Jr., Christian Darrisaw, Joshua Metellus and Josh Oliver. With less than a week before the new league year, the Vikings are about $45 million over the salary cap ceiling.

Now they need to shed veteran deals. That process is already underway. ESPN reported that Jones, Hargrave and Allen will be released or traded by the opening of the league year. Those three moves should provide almost $25 million in cap space, putting the Vikings closer to $20 million over the ceiling. But what about tight end T.J. Hockenson, due for a $15.4 million base salary in 2026? Can the Vikings risk cutting him and sap their pass catcher depth further, as longtime No. 3 receiver Jalen Nailor is almost certain to depart in free agency?

With some aggressive restructuring and extending, the Vikings could kick the cap can down the road and keep some of their veteran talent in place. Give offensive tackle Brian O'Neill an extension, restructure Hockenson and Jefferson, and tack some void years on Kelly's deal. Bang, they're almost home. 

This approach would allow O'Connell to plug in a joystick quarterback of his choosing and scheme his way to 10-plus wins, much as he did with Cousins in 2022 and Darnold in 2024. And because so many quarterbacks will be released with guaranteed money left behind by their old teams (Murray, Tua Tagovailoa, Geno Smith, Cousins et al.), veteran stopgaps might be available on dirt cheap deals for this offseason only.

But it's a shortsighted approach that limits the Vikings' flexibility in 2027 and beyond. Maintaining the long-term health of the roster and the cap is the job of the general manager. While Adofo-Mensah wasn't the best at that, an empty chair makes it easier for coaches to champion bandage solutions and print immediate wins. 

Early signs are that the Vikings will endure some painful departures; they've reportedly let teams know they're listening to trades on Greenard, a still-quality veteran pass rusher. But I remain dubious that they'll sit completely quiet and take their medicine for a poorly managed cap.

ESPN

The funniest part of this particular Silly Season is how hyper all the online fanboys have been the last 3 weeks. They've covered so many bullshit angles and rumors, they are now repeating themselves and not one transaction for FA has even gone down yet, lol. Burning through it all too quickly. Hilarious. Now we have the inevitable are the Vikings out on 2026 because they need to reduce the cap spend some, which we all knew was going to happen.

Should be a good weekend for real rumors: already seeing some with Maxx Crosby/Dallas and Trey Hendrickson. Stay close to your refresh button on your phone.

[purplefaithful]

I keep hearing Bears are interested in Crosby....

[StickierBuns]

The Raiders are releasing Geno Smith, happening for sure. He can be had for the league minimum like Kyler Murray because of guaranteed salary that the Raiders are paying him. Expect to be on Viking's radar.

[purplefaithful]

The Raiders are releasing Geno Smith, happening for sure. He can be had for the league minimum like Kyler Murray because of guaranteed salary that the Raiders are paying him. Expect to be on Viking's radar.

Thats definitely a positive for the Vikings...