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Vikings Rumor Buzz: Baker Mayfield to MIN, Fabian Moreau, Ty Simpson
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- Vikings Rumor Buzz: Baker Mayfield to MIN, Fabian Moreau, Ty Simpson
Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
NFL free agency has ground to a halt, and the Minnesota Vikings were quiet before and after signing quarterback Kyler Murray . Next up is the draft in less than four weeks, so we take a look at the current state of affairs in the rumor mill.
Three Vikings rumors are floating again as April gets closer.
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Sportsbooks expect the Vikings to win eight or nine games in 2026, a forecast that follows Minnesota pretty much every year.
Sorting through Minnesota's Newest Rumor Speculation
A glance at the Vikings' current rumor mill, some 3.5 weeks before the draft.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) scans the field from the sideline during the fourth quarter, Dec. 11, 2025, at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida, against the Atlanta Falcons as the game winds down and tension builds in a tightly contested NFC South matchup late in the season. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images.
Rumor: The Vikings could target Baker Mayfield in free agency next offseason.
Jeff Howe of The Athletic laid it out clearly, mapping why Baker Mayfield is positioned to push for an extension now while keeping his options open for 2027, when the market could expand. Minnesota showed up as a logical future landing spot in that framework.
He wrote , "Mayfield has a chance to be the first QB to exceed $50 million in free agency. Considering the likely competition for his services, it's not farfetched to believe he could corral the biggest contract in NFL history. And if quarterback Matthew Stafford retires after the 2026 season, the Los Angeles Rams and Mayfield might feel compelled to reunite. The Minnesota Vikings would be another obvious fit, but there would be a handful of teams ready to pursue the 2017 Heisman Trophy winner."
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"Mayfield should be very much aware of his potential market if the Bucs balk at the going rate. If he can't reach a long-term deal this offseason, don't be surprised if he adjusts his strategy to negotiate a clause that prevents the Bucs from using the franchise tag on him in 2027. It wouldn't come with the desired raise, but it would get him to free agency next offseason."
It all points to Mayfield holding the cards entering the final year of his deal. Tampa Bay has to account for that reality as extension talks heat up.
Of course, generally speaking, Mayfield landing in Minnesota is a long shot. The Vikings have Kyler Murray and J.J. McCarthy to choose from for the future.
Rumor: Fabian Moreau would be a free-agent fit for the Cowboys.
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Moreau landed on Pro Football Network 's Tom Kennedy's list of the NFL's top remaining free agents — a level of recognition he rarely commands.
Kennedy noted , "Projected Contract: 2 years, $9.4 million AAV. In his last two years as a Viking, Fabian Moreau hasn't started a game, serving in a heavily rotational role for Minnesota's secondary. That said, he's provided quality depth as an outside cornerback for their defense, allowing a passer rating of just 57.6 in 2025."
"Moreau's ball production doesn't jump off the page because of his smaller sample size compared to other cornerbacks on this list. But he's been quite efficient on the field, adding a No. 33-ranked 79.5 CBi score in 2025. He's a high-level depth piece who could slide into a stopgap starting role if need be. Potential Landing Spots: Vikings, Cowboys."
As of now, there's been no real momentum or credible buzz connecting Moreau back to Minnesota after his 2024 and 2025 run under Kevin O'Connell .
Minnesota Vikings defenders Fabian Moreau (23) and Kamu Grugier-Hill (54) celebrate a key fourth-quarter play, Dec. 16, 2024, at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota, against the Chicago Bears as the home crowd reacts and the defense delivers a momentum-shifting moment late in the divisional contest. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images.
In 2025, Moreau excelled as a CB3, earning a 70.9 PFF grade and holding opposing quarterbacks to a 47.4 passer rating on 19 targets. He solidified a position that had been uncertain in August, consistently executing his assignments with reliable play. Though his playing time was limited, he consistently performed well when on the field.
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The performance adds value heading into 2026. At 31 years old, Moreau remains a dependable CB3 or CB4, whether in Minnesota or with another team. Kennedy says Dallas for Moreau.
Rumor: The Vikings should draft Ty Simpson , per former NFLer Chase Daniel .
Simpson to the Vikings should be in play, according to Daniel, a former Chicago Bears passer.
He said in a video on Twitter (X) late last week, "The second that Kyler signed with KOC, in my opinion, J.J.'s done there. They're not giving J.J. a chance to win the QB1 job. It would surprise me, very much so. You don't sign there to be a backup to J.J. McCarthy . I think J.J. McCarthy's days with the Vikings are done."
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"I do, and so that's why I think you have to entertain drafting Ty Simpson. You're not sure what Kyler's going to do. It's a one-year deal, $1.3 million. I just think if Ty can go to KOC, and there's a lot of things that can happen, but with that offense, come on, man."
Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson (15) celebrates on the field following a College Football Playoff win, Dec. 19, 2025, at Gaylord Family–Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Oklahoma, after defeating the Oklahoma Sooners as teammates gather and emotions rise during a defining postseason moment for the Crimson Tide. Mandatory Credit: Sarah Phipps-Imagn Images.
Most Vikings fans dismissed Daniels's video — Minnesota has a full house at quarteback.
Daniel also doubled down, bizarrely linking Carson Wentz's $3 million contract to McCarthy's potential departure, a connection that seemed tenuous at best. Daniels has cultivated a social media reputation for making outlandish claims, and this latest assertion was no exception.
