Viking area Purple rumor mill is a two-day chronicle per week. All the rumors of the week are lassoed and placed in two places – articles on Saturday and Sunday – for review. Today is the November 3 edition.
Purple Rumor Mill: An outgoing Vikings trade, Javonte Williams to MIN, with another defenseman
Remember, rumors are rumors. What you read in these pieces over the weekend is what the world is talking about regarding the Vikings, not necessarily items that will come to fruition.
Here is the second batch of the week. You can read yesterday’s here.
Rumor: The Vikings could trade linebacker Brian Asamoah in the coming days.
Brian Asamoah could apparently be fired.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler slipped Asamoah’s name along with a few others into a trade speculation article this week, explaining: “Veteran Buffalo safety Mike Edwards is available and would like to go somewhere where he can play (he has been perpetually inactive) . Washington’s Darrick Forrest is in a similar situation, a former starter who is out of the rotation and could need a fresh start elsewhere. Vikings linebacker Brian Asamoah II, a former third-rounder who hasn’t made an impact in Brian Flores’ defense, is also a trade candidate.
Sending Asamoah elsewhere for a fresh start makes a lot of sense for a number of reasons. First of all, he doesn’t play defense. The Vikings will trade off-ball linebackers Blake Cashman, Kamu Grugier-Hill and Ivan Pace Jr. on Sunday. off, leaving Asamoah on the sidelines.
And last year, when former Viking Jordan Hicks battled compartment syndrome and missed a month, Minnesota did everything it could not to get Asamoah on the field, fill in for Troy Dye and sign Anthony Barr.
Minnesota could likely land a seventh-round pick for Asamoah. Stay informed.
Rumor: Minnesota could or should trade a 7th Rounder to Denver for Javonte Williams.
Per SI.comthe Vikings must have one third trade before the NFL deadline, November 5, to Denver Broncos for Javonte Williams. That site’s Matt Vederame theorized the trade for every NFL team, and for the Broncos the deal included a pick from Minnesota for Williams in the 7th round, a running back on an expiring contract.
“The Broncos are fighting for a spot in the play-offs and deserve congratulations. That said, Denver isn’t a contender and the running back room has been weak all year. Meanwhile, the Vikings are in the mix for the NFC North and rely heavily on Aaron Jones to carry the ball,” Vederame explained.
Here are the Vikings RBs:
- Aaron Jones
- Ty Chandler
- Cam Akers
- Myles Gaskin (Practice team)
- Zavier Scott (Practice team)
Verderame added: “Jones, 30, has been great, but Ty Chandler is a mediocre backup. This step makes sense for both parties.”
Williams has compiled 345 rushing yards on 90 carries (3.8 yards per rush) in 2024, with 27 receptions for 174 yards. He also scored two touchdowns.
Fans would love this move if it became a reality.
Rumor: The Vikings could make a low-risk trade for Raiders DT Adam Butler.
According to CBS SportsMinnesota should also apparently look to upgrade its defensive tackle, inking a deal for Las Vegas Raider defenseman Adam Butler. That’s Tyler Sullivan’s latest and greatest idea.
“The Vikings have already addressed a major need on offense by acquiring Cam Akers in a deal with the Houston Texans. That said, GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah hasn’t been shy about making deals during his tenure, so they may not get done. One area they could strengthen is the defensive line with Raiders tackle Adam Butler,” Sullivan wrote this week.
Sullivan added: “The 30-year-old dated defensive coordinator Brian Flores when he was the de facto DC with the Patriots and then signed with the Dolphins in 2021 when Flores was the head coach.”
A deal for Butler would make sense if the Vikings were to do so not Having Jerry Tillery on the roster or if a guy like Jonathan Bullard gets injured. Otherwise, Butler makes a mediocre contribution, as evidenced by his Pro football focus resume:
If acquired, Butler would likely join the Vikings and sit on the bench until an injury occurred.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube channel, VikesNow. The show features guests, analysis and opinions on all things Purple Team, with 4-7 episodes per week. His MIN obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos’, Basset Hounds and The Doors (the band). He follows the NBA as closely as he follows the NFL.
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by AboutTheCap.com.
