Purple Rumor Mill: Sam Darnold in the AFC, Hollywood Brown, Jonathan Allen Trade

Brad Rempel-Imagn Images.

VikingsTerritory’s Purple Rumor Mill is a two-day chronicle each week. All the week’s rumors are lassoed and plopped in two spots — articles on Saturday and Sunday — for review. Today is the March 2nd edition.

Vikings Rumors: Sam Darnold in the AFC, Hollywood Brown, Jonathan Allen Trade

Remember — rumors are rumors. What you read on weekends in these pieces is what the world is talking about pertaining to the Vikings, not necessarily items that will come to fruition.

Here’s the second batch of the week. Yesterday’s can be read here.

Rumor: ESPN believes Sam Darnold will become a Steeler.

Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports.

ESPN’s Benjamin Solak sized up landing spots for the NFL’s quarterback carousel this week, and for the Darnold, the Steelers won the sweepstakes.

“Keeping Fields is a possibility, but if the Steelers really liked him, why did they continue to play Russell Wilson over him? And though I have some healthy skepticism of how Darnold will fare without Kevin O’Connell and Justin Jefferson, he’s arguably the best free agent quarterback available,” Solak wrote.

Darnold begot a season worthy of backdoor MVP consideration in 2024, recording 4,319 passing yards, 36 total touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. The Vikings were straight cruising with Darnold in charge, boasting a 14-2 record through 16 games. He collapsed, though, losing in the Wildcard Round to the Los Angeles Rams. Most Vikings fans decided J.J. McCarthy would be a smarter solution for the future, hoping to implement a quarterback who might not capitulate when it mattered the most.

Solak added about Pittsburgh as Darnold’s next home, “The Steelers land him because they have the most to offer — a potentially very good defense, winning history under Mike Tomlin and the lack of a top pick (making them less likely to take a first-round rookie).”

This one could make sense for Pittsburgh, especially after Matthew Stafford returned to the Rams on Friday.

Rumor: WR Hollywood Brown is a free-agent fit in Minnesota.

Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images.

Per CBS Sports, free agency could be the best route for Minnesota to find a WR3, perhaps veteran wideout Hollywood Brown, who played for the Super Bowl runner-up Kansas City Chiefs last season.

“Marquise ‘Hollywood’ Brown was supposed to help the Chiefs stretch the field deep with Patrick Mahomes, but a preseason injury that required surgery involving one of his shoulder joints sidelined him until Week 16,” CBS Sports’ Garrett Podell wrote about Brown’s impending free agency.

Podell listed the Vikings, Lions, Chiefs, and Rams as landing spots for Brown.

“He probably makes the most sense on another one-year, prove-it deal, but at the age of 28, he still might have some big-play juice still in him. That’s why a Chiefs return or a move to another team with a high-powered offense to where Brown could be a nice complementary piece makes the most sense.”

Fans would enjoy this free-agent addition, mainly because of Brown’s delicious speed.

Rumor: Jonathan Allen is available for trade, and Kwesi Adofo-Mensah could pounce.

Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images.

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport tweeted Tuesday, “The Commanders have had trade conversations centered around Pro Bowl DL Jonathan Allen, sources say. Washington plans to do right by the player & Allen’s camp is involved in helping him land at the right spot — either via trade or free agency. He has one year left at $15M.”

Allen was actually in Minnesota’s trade rumor mill last year, starting in the summer and leading all the way up to the November deadline. Washington ultimately hung onto Allen and later reached the NFC Championship.

Adofo-Mensah insinuated this week that the Vikings would improve the DT spot this offseason, and Allen is a reasonable candidate, indeed.

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