Vikings Rumor Report: Kayvon Thibodeaux, Warren Moon’s Take, Patrick Jones II
· Yahoo Sports
With the Minnesota Vikings’ regular season kicking off on Sept. 13 in Minneapolis against the Green Bay Packers, and training camp less than 10 weeks away, the full schedule is finally set. Along the way, VikingsTerritory returns with the latest chatter from the rumor mill.
Minnesota’s rumor mill has fresh material on a Giants pass rusher, its new quarterback, and a former Vikings defender.
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As June approaches, this marks the second of our two weekly rumor batches of the weekend.
A Splashy Trade Idea Leads the Latest Vikings Rumors
The Purple Rumor Mill for May 24th, 2026.
New York Giants linebackers Brian Burns (0) and Kayvon Thibodeaux (5) celebrate after sacking Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott on Sep. 26, 2024, at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Giants’ pass-rushing duo helped pressure Prescott throughout the divisional matchup while energizing New York’s defense during a nationally televised NFC East showdown. Mandatory Credit: Julian Guadalupe-NorthJersey.comRumor: If Kayvon Thibodeaux is gettable via trade, the Vikings should inquire.
Fansided‘s Jake Beckman pinpointed one trade candidate per NFL squad this week, and on Thibodeaux to Minnesota, he wrote, “The Vikings traded Johnathon Greenard to the Eagles during the draft, and now they’re going to be missing out on a whole lot of snaps and even more production. Luckily for them, the Giants are sitting there with a plethora of defensive ends and edge rushers.”
“New York might be saying that they’re not going to trade Kayvon Thibodeaux, but that’s what every team says, so they don’t lose leverage in any potential trades. If the Vikings wanted to go and get him, they’d definitely be able to… However, if you’re a Vikings fan, that’s probably not what you want.”
In 2022, Thibodeaux was considered one of the next premium EDGEs in the league.
Beckman continued, “Sure, Thibodeaux would end up being awesome, but I don’t necessarily want my team to make any trades when they don’t have a general manager. Especially after they just traded a player like Greenard for the low price of two third-round picks.”
Trading for Thibodeaux would be wonderful for the Vikings — if they can find the cap space for his eventual extension. They could not do that for Greenard. How would Thibodeaux be different?
Rumor: Warren Moon questions Kyler Murray’s motivation, though he thinks Murray can play well in MIN.
Moon chatted with Kay Adams this week and wasn’t shy, delivering bittersweet takes about Murray: “He never looks like he’s motivated. Maybe he is inside, but he just doesn’t give you that demeanor. He doesn’t give you that demeanor. I hope he’s learned over the last couple of years, with all the criticism that he’s taken, with the injuries that he’s gone through. I have to give more of myself to my football team.”
“I have to show people more about what I’m feeling and thinking. You have to do that as a quarterback in order to get people to follow you. Murray is so dynamic. He makes so many plays that you go, ‘Wow.’ And then, all of a sudden, he goes through phases where he doesn’t even look like the same guy.”
The Vikings signed Murray in March to a $1.3 million 2026 contract, a steal of a deal for a productive starting quarterback.
Moon added, “I hope that coming into this situation, he’s re-motivated to show what he can do. He’s been out of the game for a while with injury. He’s going to a great place with a great coaching staff, and he has really excellent weapons to throw the football to. It’s all in his possession if he wants it.”
“But J.J. McCarthy is right there, too. I don’t think he’s going to make it easy.”
Hall of Fame quarterback Warren Moon speaks during a press conference announcing the finalists for the 2012 Hall of Fame class on Feb. 4, 2012, at the JW Marriott in Indianapolis, Indiana. Moon addressed reporters during Super Bowl week festivities while participating in events honoring the game’s greatest players and contributors. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY SportsThis is a familiar Murray grievance: some think he’s a lazy videogame player who doesn’t truly love football. He’ll have to beat those allegations as early as now.
Rumor: Patrick Jones may not make the roster cut down in Carolina.
Maurice Moton at Bleacher Report decided to size up a surprise cut casualty for each NFL team last week, and in Carolina, Jones II got the unfortunate honor.
He explained, “The Carolina Panthers signed a top-tier free agent in Jaelan Phillips. He’ll likely start opposite Nic Scourton on the edge. As a third-rounder from the 2025 draft, Princely Umanmielen could see more time on the field in his second year.”
“With an established pass-rusher and two high-upside outside linebackers on the depth chart, Patrick Jones II may be in a battle for a limited role after he missed 13 games with a back injury last season. Don’t be surprised if Carolina cuts him and saves $4.75 million in cap space.”
Minnesota Vikings linebacker Patrick Jones II (91) enters the field before facing the Chicago Bears on Jan. 8, 2023, at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois. Jones prepared for the regular season finale while continuing his role as a rotational EDGE defender and special teams contributor within Minnesota’s defensive front. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-USA TODAY SportsFor Minnesota, Moton nominated veteran safety Theo Jackson as the roster-cut surprise.
Not for nothing, if Moton is right and the Panthers drop Jones II, he could end up back in Minnesota for OLB3 or OLB4 duty. That’s possible.