Sam Darnold’s Best Fit in 2025, Teddy Bridgewater’s Return, Quiet Roster Need

VikingsTerritory’s Purple Rumor Mill is a two-day chronicle every week. All the Vikings rumors of the week are lassoed and plopped in two places – articles on Saturday and Sunday – for review. Today is the November 23 edition.

Purple Rumor Mill: Sam Darnold’s Best Fit in 2025, Teddy Bridgewater’s Return, Quiet Roster Need

Remember – rumors are rumours. What you read this weekend in these pieces is what the world is talking about regarding the purple team, not necessarily items that will materialize.

Here is the first batch of the week. All previous rumors can be read here.

Rumor: Sam Darnold could end up with the New York Giants in 2025 now that Daniel Jones has been released.

USA Today’s Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz dropped Darnold firmly into the Giants’ 2025 rumor mill this week and wrote: “His reward for a resurgent season with the Vikings is likely another trip to the open market and his fifth different team in six years. Although he has posted a career-best 100 passer rating, Darnold doesn’t appear to be a threat toward holding down the starting job this season, with first-round pick JJ McCarthy expected to take the reins after missing his entire rookie campaign with a knee injury.”

The Giants released Daniel Jones on Friday.

“After a 5-0 start in which he received NFC Offensive Player of the Month honors for September, Darnold stumbled a bit and saw his turnover-happy game re-emerge with a combined five interceptions in wins over the Jacksonville Jaguars and Indianapolis Colts,” Middlehurst – Continued Schwartz.

“That operating style might only mitigate rather than eradicate, leaving the Giants to weigh how much risk tolerance they have after enduring Jones’ giveaways. Still, he would certainly unlock more in the deep passing attack with his aggressive approach .”

This theory makes sense, and Darnold could fire back-to-back patchover quarterback assignments.

Rumor: Teddy Bridgewater plans an NFL comeback.

Bridgewater currently coaches his high school alma mater, Miami Northwestern, a team that is currently thriving under his guidance. But according to a Bridgewater tweet, he has the NFL itch. He wrote Tuesday“So many QB jobs are available to me after we make this state title run. I can’t wait to get back to the NFL .”

So many QB jobs are available to me after we make this state title. I can’t wait to get back to the NFL .

— Coach Bridge (@coach_h2o) 19 November 2024

The post surprised Bridgewater fans because most thought he was gone for good. He seems to love his new arrangement as captain of his high school team, but at age 32, a comeback is more than possible, especially if a prominent quarterback goes down in the NFL sometime in the next seven weeks.

The Detroit Lions, for example, Bridgewater’s most recent NFL employer, could make sense if QB1 Jared Goff encountered an injury.

It’s worth noting that the New York Giants released Daniel Jones on Friday, so he’ll move up the list of emergency QB1s if an existing starter gets hurt. But don’t rule out Bridgewater at 32.

Rumor: Minnesota will need a new WR3 in 2025.

Jalen Nailor dropped a touchdown pass from Sam Darnold last weekend that would have turned Minnesota’s win over Tennessee into a blowout.

He certainly has a chance for redemption in the next seven games, but overall, Nailor hasn’t performed at the level of a credible WR3. KJ Osborn’s numbers from 2021, 2022 and 2023 were actually better.

Nailor feels like a WR4 type, and yes, the Vikings could explore another WR3 option next offseason.

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Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube channel, VikesNu. The show features guests, analysis and opinion on everything related to the purple team with 4-7 episodes per week. His MY 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 the NFL.

All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.