The Minnesota Vikings rumor mill has taken on new shape in recent weeks, evolving from draft chatter to free agency and trade theories.
Vikings Rumors for May 5th to May 9th
It’s the nature of the beast after the NFL draft, and the Vikings have less than three months before training camp, when the party really gets cracking.
We track purple rumors every weekend for the masses, and here’s the latest batch.
Rumor: Jalen Nailor is a trade candidate.
Minnesota drafted Maryland’s Tai Felton in Round 3 last month, and for some, that means wide receiver Jalen Nailor is expendable.
Pro Football Network‘s Sterling Xie led the charge this week, picking a trade candidate for each team. For Minnesota, he chose Nailor.
Xie explained, “With only five draft picks, the Minnesota Vikings didn’t have much of an opportunity to heavily impact their pre-existing roster. However, in taking wide receiver Tai Felton in Round 3, the Vikings added to a position that already felt solidified, putting some of the non-Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison wideouts on alert.”
“One of those is Jalen Nailor, the clear No. 3 receiver for Minnesota last season. The former sixth-round pick is in the final season of his rookie contract and has played roughly 60% of his career snaps out wide, with Jefferson largely playing the slot in three-receiver sets.”
Nailor’s contract expires after the 2025 campaign, so, in theory, Xie’s idea could make sense — get something for him before he walks.
Xie added, “Felton is also primarily a perimeter receiver, meaning the Vikings could see him as Nailor’s successor in 11 personnel. If Minnesota doesn’t intend to extend Nailor and Felton has a strong preseason, he might not have a ton of roster value given his limited special-teams value (56 special-teams snaps in the last two seasons combined).”
Nailor wouldn’t fetch much via trade, and the Vikings’ coaching staff loves him.
A Nalor trade is unlikely.
Rumor: The Vikings will play back-to-back games in Dublin and London.
WideLeft’s Arif Hasan tweeted Thursday, “Hearing that the Vikings will be playing internationally in back to back weeks: at Steelers Week 4 in Dublin at Croke Park and at Cleveland Week 5 in London at Tottenham.”
Soon after, Star Tribune’s Ben Goessling added: “From what I’ve heard over the past couple weeks, it appears likely the Vikings will play back-to-back international games this fall. They have road games against the Steelers and Browns this year; the Steelers host in Dublin and the Browns are in London. It would be the Vikings’ fifth trip to London, and third in four years. They would keep all eight home games at U.S. Bank Stadium this year.”
Both men are credible sources. You should fully expect Pittsburgh-Minnesota in Ireland and Cleveland-Minnesota in London.
Rumor: Shaquill Griffin is on his way back to Minnesota.
Griffin posted this clip to social media this week.
Yes, that’s Vikings attire.
Seattle Seahawks-themed media believes, too, that Griffin could head their direction. SI.com’s Tim Weaver wrote earlier in the offseason: “The Seattle Seahawks are hosting former cornerback Shaquill Griffin for a free agent visit today, according to a report by NFL insider Jordan Schultz. At this late point in free agency, Griffin is technically one of the better corners who are still on the market.”
“Griffin was originally a third-round draft pick by Seattle back in the 2017 NFL draft. He played 57 games for the Seahawks over the next four years, including 53 starts. Seattle also drafted his twin brother Shaquem Griffin the following year in the fifth round, but he’s been out of the league since the 2020 season ended.”
With the Weaver intel, it seems like Griffin is heading toward a reunion, no matter what — either in Minnesota or Seattle.
Weaver noted, “Griffin somehow made the Pro Bowl in 2019, but he’s never earned a PFF grade higher than 77.0 in a single year and was never really an above-average starter at any point. Now in the twilight of his career, he should be considered backup material only.”
“Most likely the Seahawks are considering adding Griffin to the competition at the left boundary spot, where surprise 2024 breakout Josh Jobe is projected to start but also only under contract for one year. By no means should signing Griffin prevent the Seahawks from drafting a cornerback.”
Griffin back to the Vikings probably has 55/45 likelihood.
