Vikings Rumor Watch: A Lamar Jackson Trade, MVP, the Caleb Banks Timeline

Rumor: The Vikings could be a team in the Lamar Jackson trade sweepstakes if his contract extension talks get messy in Baltimore.

One of Jason La Canfora’s (SI.com) sources, an NFL agent, recently said to him about Jackson’s contract situation, “A trade demand would absolutely be on the table if I was advising Lamar. I’m not coming in with it, but I’m coming in with a very firm hand, and I’m not putting up with any of their bullsh!t. And if it’s not done before training camp, we’re done talking.”

“It’s pretty simple – and Lamar did a great job with this before, although the right agent could have earned that 1.5% commission and got it done sooner. You are giving us a significant increase on the Dak Prescott deal. That’s not even a discussion. We are asking for 100% guarantees again, and not wavering … And, yes, we are absolutely willing to play that trade-demand card.”

That intel implies a Jackson trade sweepstakes could accumulate steam this summer.

In unison with La Canfora’s findings, *Fansided’*s Alicia de Artola predicted theoretical trade landing spots for Jackson, and fairly unsurprisingly, the Vikings showed up as a destination.

She wrote, “The Minnesota Vikings signed Kyler Murray to a one-year deal and look all set to continue their pattern of letting Kevin O’Connell work his magic on a distressed asset.”

“Murray isn’t Jackson though. Instead of restoring a piece of furniture they found in a back alley, Minnesota could try bringing in an actual star and reopening their Super Bowl window. O’Connell is too good a head coach to let the Vikings slip into one of the draft slots that could give them a franchise QB.”

The Vikings probably won’t trade for Jackson, but the theory is out there in the open.

de Arotla added, “Going out and getting him a readymade one could actually give the team the boost they need to contend. If I’m Jackson, I’m looking at the Vikings and salivating. A QB whisperer like O’Connell?”

“A receiving corps led by Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison? Sign me up. Would the Vikings actually bite? Well, they have to actually hire a GM first, so Jackson may have to keep dreaming.”

If anything regarding Jackson to Minnesota occurs, it would probably be a topic for the 2027 offseason — not now.

Rumor: Kyler Murray is an early MVP candidate for 2026.

Bleacher Report‘s Moe Moton analyzed seven players who could grab the MVP award for the first time, and Murray got a shoutout. Moton explained, “Despite Kyler Murray’s recent struggles on the field and with injuries, he’s a talented two-time Pro Bowler who could be one of the league’s best in the right situation. Still in his prime, the 28-year-old could benefit from a change of scenery.”

“With the Minnesota Vikings, Murray will play with two-time All-Pro wideout Justin Jefferson, a solid No. 2 receiver in Jordan Addison and reliable pass-catching tight end T.J. Hockenson. Moreover, head coach Kevin O’Connell has fielded a top-six passing offense in three of the previous four years. Murray could flourish with the Vikings’ supporting cast on a team that competes for the No. 1 seed in the NFC.”

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray surveys the field before a preseason game against the Los Angeles Chargers on Aug. 8, 2019, at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. The former No. 1 overall pick entered his rookie campaign carrying major expectations as the Cardinals transitioned into a new offensive era around his skill set. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Murray currently has +7500 odds to win MVP, in between Jaxson Dart (+7000, NYG) and Cam Ward (+8,000, TEN).

An MVP award is possible for Murray, but Comeback Player of the Year might be more likely.

Rumor: The Vikings expect DT Caleb Banks to be ready to go by training camp.

O’Connell on Banks at minicamp: “Caleb is doing great. Got some more positive information here as he reported to Eagan in the last couple days, and very much looking forward to him establishing a great plan with our medical staff and the coaching staff.”

“On the coaching staff side, how can we push Caleb from an above-the-neck standpoint to be that much more comfortable when he does get healthy? He gets a great chance this spring and summer to get strong and build himself up.”

The Banks draft pick utterly stunned the NFL audience; most thought Oregon safety Dillon Thieneman would be the pick.

Florida Gators defensive lineman Caleb Banks participates in a position drill during spring football practice on April 1, 2023, at Steve Spurrier Field at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, Florida. Banks later emerged as one of Florida’s notable defensive contributors after transferring from Louisville and developing into a disruptive interior presence. Mandatory Credit: Matt Pendleton-Gainesville Sun

O’Connell added, “With Caleb, he doesn’t necessarily have to worry about the physical side of it right now, other than just getting healthy. So we can hopefully challenge him to learn multiple spots that coincide with his versatility to align in different impactful spots along the D-line.”

“I just think we’re happy with where he’s at, all things considered. We want to have our eyes on that end-of-July date so he can hopefully have a seamless transition into training camp.”

As an early go-live date for Banks, circle the start of training camp.