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Vikings Rumors Surge around Jordan Addison, Kirk Cousins, Harrison Smith
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- Vikings Rumors Surge around Jordan Addison, Kirk Cousins, Harrison Smith
Jeffrey Becker
The Minnesota Vikings are smack dab in the middle of free agency , and the 2026 NFL Draft is less than six weeks away. So, let's take a look at the current state of the rumor mill , which never really takes days off.
This week's rumor roundup covers three very different storylines with real traction.
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This week involves heavy hitters — from the current roster and the old days.
Minnesota 's Buzz Centers on a Trade Idea, a QB Pivot, and a Veteran Return
The Purple Rumor Mill for March 15th, 2026.
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jordan Addison (3) secures a reception while Chicago Bears cornerback Terell Smith (32) closes in during first-quarter action at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on December 16, 2024, as the Vikings' passing attack tests Chicago's secondary early in the NFC North matchup. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images.
Rumor: Jordan Addison to the Las Vegas Raiders is a trade idea out in the stratosphere.
SI.com 's Thomas Carelli thinks the Klint Kubiak's team should or could acquire Addison for the right price.
He wrote this week , "Raiders Get: Jordan Addison. Vikings Get: Michael Mayer . 2026 2nd Round Pick. 2027 4th Round Pick. Coach Kubiak needs to add weapons around Fernando Mendoza. With their depth chart so brutally thin at wide receiver, the team may look to an elusive, proven weapon by dealing for Addison. In doing so, they can avoid giving up too much while having a player with great, explosive ability to jump-start the offense, avoiding the need to give up this low-tiered offense."
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"The one advantage that the Vikings have with Addison is that they owe him less than $5 million against the 2026 cap. In 2027, he will demand his backloaded $18 million. The Vikings may desire to escape this reality and push the money to another team to pay. In making this deal, they shed long-term money, and that helps them reshuffle, which supports their short-term rebuild."
Remember: the 36th overall pick in Carelli's proposal, the fourth pick of the second round, will hold value similar to a late first-round selection .
From Minnesota's perspective, acquiring Michael Mayer from Vegas would be a smart move. Despite his TE1 potential, Mayer's role diminished after the Raiders drafted Brock Bowers . A change of scenery could allow him to rediscover the form that justified his high draft selection.
The 36th pick is also enticing. Minnesota could use it to acquire a high-caliber prospect, provided the front office improves its drafting record, which has suffered some recent setbacks.
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Despite the potential perks, trading Addison remains improbable. The Vikings have consistently stuck behind him — he's had numerous legal woes — and there's no indication they intend to trade him. Furthermore, Addison's rookie contract is team-friendly, offering cost certainty for the next two seasons.
Rumor: Kirk Cousins could sign with the Steelers if Aaron Rodgers calls it quits.
Cousins did not have an enjoyable first week of free agency; nobody sprinted to the telephone for his services. But according to NFL insider Jason La Canfora, the Steelers are lurking if Rodgers doesn't return.
La Canfora scribed this week , "The Steelers will not be waiting nearly as long for word from veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers about his intent to play football as they did a year ago, and the team is working to procure other options at quarterback in the meantime."
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"Former Vikings playoff quarterback Kirk Cousins is among the top options for Pittsburgh if Rodgers is not back, according to league sources, while the team is legitimately high on the upside of second-year quarterback Will Howard as well. The Steelers cannot afford to let Rodgers drag the process out too long, although the team is also unlikely to take a chance on some of the other back-up options floating around."
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins (8) goes through pregame throwing drills on the field at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on November 24, 2022, as the veteran signal-caller prepares for a Thanksgiving matchup against the New England Patriots during a nationally televised primetime contest. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports.
The Steelers could also explore drafting a rookie passer in April, such as Ty Simpson , Carson Beck , Garrett Nussmeier , or Drew Allar.
Rumor: Harrison Smith has technically been released, but he is 50-50 on coming back in 2026.
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For the time being, Smith is not a Viking.
Vikings.com's Craig Peters wrote Wednesday , "The Vikings on Wednesday announced a post-June 1 release of safety Harrison Smith. The procedural move, which spreads a cap hit over two seasons, does not indicate where Smith is at in his decision of whether to return for a 15th season in Minnesota."
"The 37-year-old passed the 200-game threshold in 2025 and has started 203 of 207 regular-season games since joining the Vikings as a first-round pick in 2012. Smith has 39 career interceptions, the most among 2025 active NFL players, and 21.5 sacks."
Minnesota Vikings safety Harrison Smith (22) loosens up during pregame warmups at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on August 24, 2018, ahead of a preseason matchup against the Seattle Seahawks as the longtime defensive leader prepares for another season anchoring the Vikings' secondary. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports.
Star Tribune' s Ben Goessling added via tweet , "The Vikings will release Harrison Smith with a post-June 1 designation today, per source. It's a procedural move, since Smith had a $25 million base salary guarantee for 2027 that was set to trigger later this week, but the Vikings would still welcome his return and they've talked with him about the move."
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"Smith has not made his decision about whether he'll play a 15th season; this move will give him time to consider the choice while freeing a roster spot."
Here's the deal: If Smith decides to retire, March 11th is when Minnesota officially said goodbye. If he comes back, March 11th was basically just another day. The ball is in Smith's court.
