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Vikings Misses and Myths: a Justin Jefferson Trade, Tua Tagovailoa, the Max Brosmer Dream
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- Vikings Misses and Myths: a Justin Jefferson Trade, Tua Tagovailoa, the Max Brosmer Dream
Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports
Minnesota Vikings misses and myths are heating up again as free agency and the draft inch closer. The malarkey builds fast this time of year, and some of it deserves a hard stop. Here's a look at the Nopedy Nopes.
Vikings fans keep seeing the same three claims recycled, so here's the clean reset on each one and why they're shaky.
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Each week, this column tracks the flimsy takes floating around the Vikings' orbit — along with the ideas that never had much footing to begin with.
The Week's Strangest Takes Around the Vikings
The Vikings' Nopedy Nopes of Offseason Week No. 6.
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson (18) goes through pregame warmups on Oct 20, 2024, at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota, prior to a divisional matchup with the Detroit Lions. The All-Pro target worked through routes and stretches on the turf as fans filtered into the stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images.
The Nopedy Nope: Justin Jefferson will be traded to the Buffalo Bills .
CBS Sports' Jordan Dajani kept his trade ideas minimal — just two total: Justin Jefferson to Buffalo and George Pickens to Denver .
On Jefferson, he wrote , "Joe Brady's name popped up on NFL radars in 2019, when he served as the passing game coordinator and wide receivers coach at LSU. The undefeated Tigers had a historical season, which was powered by the play of Joe Burrow , Justin Jefferson and Ja'Marr Chase."
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"Now, he's the head coach of the Bills, and this offseason, Buffalo makes an aggressive move to pair its new coach with a friend of his — sending the Minnesota Vikings a package of picks for Jefferson. Why would Buffalo choose now to take a big swing at receiver? After all, Brandon Beane hasn't been this aggressive before. Realize that the Bills front office is under just as much pressure as Brady to prove that the firing of Sean McDermott wasn't a mistake."
At the moment, Buffalo's WR1 is Khalil Shakir , typically a 750-yard type of producer.
Dajani continued, "It's about winning right now for the Bills, and what they will do is lean into Brady's vision for the offense. Yes, Brady oversaw the No. 1 rushing attack in the NFL this past season, but his background is passing the ball. Jefferson is coming off his worst NFL season, as he set career lows in receiving yards (1,048) and receiving touchdowns (2)."
"We all know he's one of the best wide receivers in the NFL. His career 90.2 receiving yards per game ranks No. 2 in NFL history, and his 7,432 receiving yards through five seasons were the most in NFL history. Imagine a talent like Jefferson teaming up with a quarterback like Josh Allen ."
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Vikings fans saw the Dajani concept and collectively winced.
The Verdict: Nopedy nope on the Vikings trading their best player in an offseason when they're renewing all-in stakes while also eating a $46 million dead cap hit.
The Nopedy Nope: Tua Tagovailoa , despite beef with Brian Flores, could be the Vikings' QB1 or QB2 in 2026.
Jared Allen claimed this week that if the decision were up to him, he'd find a way for the Vikings to get Tagovailoa this offseason.
Given Flores's history with Tagovailoa, Minnesota is unlikely to explore a trade for the quarterback, regardless of his potential availability. Flores coached Tagovailoa for his first two seasons in Miami , a relationship that never worked out. In fact, in a 2024 podcast, Tagovailoa described Flores as a " terrible person ," a sentiment he has not retracted.
Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (1) jogs onto the practice field on Aug 15, 2024, at Baptist Health Training Complex in Miami Gardens, Florida, during a joint session with the Washington Commanders. The veteran signal-caller took part in team drills as both clubs tuned up ahead of preseason action. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports.
Flores later expressed disappointment with this characterization, maintaining that their working relationship was never intended to become acrimonious. Had Flores accepted a head coaching position elsewhere last month, speculation about Tagovailoa's arrival in Minnesota might have intensified. Instead, he signed a significant extension to remain Minnesota's defensive coordinator, ensuring this dynamic remains within the organization.
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The Verdict: Nopedy nope on acquiring the quarterback who thinks the defensive coordinator is a terrible person.
The Nopedy Nope: Max Brosmer would latch on as a productive passer and maybe even become the next Brock Purdy .
Vikings faithful clicked on Nick Shook of NFL.com's 2025 quarterback rankings expecting to find J.J. McCarthy 's place in the league hierarchy — and instead got blindsided by Max Brosmer's rock-bottom standing.
Shook didn't sugarcoat it . "Max Brosmer proved why he was an undrafted free agent, appearing overwhelmed by the speed of the game. We'll all remember that Week 17 win over Detroit — you know, the one in which the Vikings recorded six takeaways and did almost nothing with the extra possessions — as the evidence we all needed to know Brosmer wasn't a viable backup option."
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Brosmer anchored the list at No. 63 — dead last — trailing New York Jets passer Brady Cook (No. 62) and Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Tanner McKee (No. 61).
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Max Brosmer (12) drops back to pass in the fourth quarter on Aug 16, 2025, at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota, during a preseason contest against the New England Patriots. The rookie worked late-game reps as Minnesota continued sorting through quarterback depth. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images.
The advanced numbers backed up the ugly optics. Per EPA+CPOE, Brosmer finished 43rd of 49 qualifying quarterbacks in 2025 — technically ahead of McCarthy in that metric, which only adds another layer to the Vikings' quarterback debate heading into 2026.
All of those theories from the summer about Brosmer as an unearthed gem … were wrong.
The Verdict: Nopedy nope on Brosmer as the Vikings' sneaky long-term QB option.
