Dec 21, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Browns wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) sits on the heated bench during warm ups prior to a game against the Buffalo Bills at Huntington Bank Field. Mandatory Credit: Scott Galvin-Imagn Images.
With general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah no longer attached to the Minnesota Vikings, the frequency of trades may screech to a halt. But for the sake of argument, let’s assume interim general manager Rob Brzezinski has some tricks up sleeve. These are the top eight players — big names — he could target.
Eight names to watch as Minnesota explores trade-market upgrades, including quarterbacks, trench help, and a few surprise options.
Minnesota has an almost full draft pick cabinet to wheel and deal, so there’s plenty of ammunition.
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The Vikings’ Options for a Blockbuster
A peek at the Vikings’ would-be trade targets, listed in ascending order (No. 1 = most likely to be targeted by Minnesota.
New York Giants defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence II runs out of the tunnel before kickoff against the Washington Commanders on Nov. 3, 2024, at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, energizing the home crowd as pregame introductions conclude and the Giants prepare for a divisional NFC East matchup. Mandatory Credit: Julian Leshay Guadalupe-USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images.
8. Dexter Lawrence | DT, NYG
Lawrence could be on the trade block, and in theory, the Vikings should ship their No. 18 pick to New York for Lawrence and a mid-rounder.
Minnesota would presumably cut Javon Hargrave and roll with a defensive tackle corps that includes Lawrence, Jalen Redmond, Jonathan Allen, Levi Drake Rodriguez, and Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins. Lawrence is 29, meaning he has about 3-5 ultra-productive seasons left.
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7. Drew Lock | QB, SEA
The Seattle Seahawks grabbed Sam Darnold from the Vikings last offseason — and drafted Alabama’s Jalen Milroe in Round 3 of the 2025 NFL Draft. Lock is expendable. If Kevin O’Connell does not have big dreams of onboarding a big-name quarterback like Kyler Murray, Mac Jones, or Malik Willis, Lock has shown flashes in the past and has a strong arm.
Minnesota can probably get him for a 6th-Round pick or so.
6. Will Levis | QB, TEN
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Levis is reckless, and no one disputes it. He’s basically Tennessee’s version of J.J. McCarthy. But with Cam Ward firmly in his role as QB1, Levis doesn’t have much footing with the Titans. His next team can pry him away for a late-round pick.
Between McCarthy and Levis, maybe O’Connell could whisper to one and hope for the best. Like Lock, Levis also has a strong arm.
5. Keon Coleman | WR, BUF
The Buffalo Bills’ owner oddly threw Coleman under the bus early in the offseason. He claimed former head coach Sean McDermott was accountable for the “bad” pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
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Coleman’s stock is low, and needing a WR3, the Vikings could trade a 5th-Rounder or so for him.
4. Anthony Richardson | QB, IND
Richardson is just like Levis: plagued by injuries and inconsistent. He has every physical tool, though, necessary to succeed. The Indianapolis Colts used Daniel Jones, Philip Rivers, and Riley Leonard at quarterback down the stretch of the 2025 regular season — basically everyone not named Anthony Richardson.
The Vikings could ship a late-rounder to Indianapolis for Richardson, hoping to see if he’s ready to forge a redemption story.
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3. Jerry Jeudy | WR, CLE
Jeudy hasn’t panned on in Cleveland — unless Jameis Winston is under center. He needs a competent quarterback, and with any luck, Minnesota will have one by early summer. The Vikings could also let Jalen Nailor depart in free agency, and replacing him with Jeudy would excite the fan base.
Cleveland Browns wide receiver Jerry Jeudy secures a reception during the second quarter against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Dec. 28, 2025, at Huntington Bank Field in Cleveland, working through coverage to move the chains in a late-season AFC North showdown. Mandatory Credit: Scott Galvin-Imagn Images.
From the Browns’ perspective, it would be financially more navigable to trade Jeudy after June 1st, so this could be a summer talker for Minnesota.
2. Kyler Murray | QB, ARI
Murray didn’t earn the top spot on this list for one reason: recent momentum suggests the Arizona Cardinals may release him. The Vikings could sign Murray for “free.”
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Murray ran a 4.38 forty before entering the NFL, he can throw the ball 65-70 yards, and he’s the fifth-most accurate passer in the history of the league. He may not be scripted in a lab for O’Connell’s offense, but if he’s available on the open market, how could a quarterback-needy team like Minnesota possibly ignore the value?
1. Mac Jones | QB, SF
The San Francisco 49ers have overtly stated this offseason that they “don’t see themselves trading” Jones, which means they want a 1st- or 2nd-Rounder to jar him loose. O’Connell and his lieutenants must decide if Jones is worth a juicy draft pick, perhaps sending a 2nd-Rounder to San Francisco for Jones and a 4th-Round pick (or something similar).
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Mac Jones releases a pass downfield during the first half against the Arizona Cardinals on Sep. 21, 2025, at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, scanning the secondary before delivering the throw in an NFC West contest. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images.
Jones isn’t exactly like Sam Darnold — he doesn’t have Darnold’s arm strength — but he will have come from the 49ers’ roster, just like Darnold, and was a 1st-Round pick five years ago, just like Darnold.
In eight starts last season, Jones produced Darnoldian numbers. He’s probably the next reclamation story in the making.
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It all boils down to whether Minnesota can part with precious draft capital after a) Drafting poorly over the last four years, b) Having a roster that is old-ish subsequently.
KOCHI: Preparations for Kerala Blasters’ first home match of the new Indian Super League (ISL) season against Mumbai City FC were thrown into turmoil on the eve of the fixture on Saturday, following an unexpected standoff with the Greater Cochin Development Authority (GCDA), which owns the Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium in Kochi.GCDA denied permission for a pre-arranged pre-match press conference to be held inside the stadium, forcing the club to shift the interaction online at short notice.Tensions escalated later in the evening when GCDA officials reportedly asked All India Football Federation (AIFF) personnel, including match commissioner Arunava Bhattacharya, to vacate the premises. The authority also allegedly ordered the closure of the club’s administrative office operating within the stadium complex.Amid speculation that the match could be called off, the Blasters clarified in a late evening statement that the game would proceed as per schedule. “In the end, football is the winner. We will take to the field against Mumbai City FC tomorrow for our first home game of the season,” the club said.However, a source close to the management indicated that the understanding applies only for the opening fixture, with no clarity yet on arrangements for the remaining home games.The uncertainty stems from a dispute over stadium rent and pending payments.Last week, GCDA chairman K Chandran Pillai announced in a joint press conference with club officials that Rs 2 lakh would be charged as a one-time concession for this season, instead of Rs 8 lakh that was charged during the previous seasons.However, the authority’s executive committee, which met on Thursday, reportedly reversed the decision and fixed the rent at Rs 4.2 lakh per match.In addition to the revised match-day rent, GCDA is said to have demanded that the Blasters clear the full amount and settle an additional Rs 22 lakh as liability fees from the previous season within a week.According to a source within the club, the disputed sum relates to losses and additional expenses arising from a Bharatanatyam event held at the stadium in December last year.“Since the event happened in the middle of the season, they are asking us to pay that amount. Why should we pay the liability for an event that had no connection with us?” the source said.TOI reached out to GCDA officials, but they were not available for comment.The standoff played out publicly earlier in the day when GCDA security personnel asked journalists to vacate the hall designated for the pre-match press conference before locking up the venue. Blasters head coach David Catala and midfielder Rowllin Borges reportedly waited for over 30 minutes before leaving, once it became clear the interaction would not be allowed to proceed.The club subsequently conducted the media briefing online. During the session, Catala was asked pointedly by a reporter: “Which is your home ground?”The Spaniard kept his focus on football. His priority, he said, was preparing the squad and playing in front of their supporters at the stadium. He exuded confidence that the match would go ahead at the venue despite the uncertainty off the pitch.For now, the Blasters’ home opener will go ahead as per schedule, but the dispute on rent remains unresolved, casting a shadow over the rest of their ISL campaign.
Chad Johnson doesn’t seem pleased with how the Baltimore Ravens are treating Lamar Jackson. The team’s new offensive coordinator, Declan Doyle, apparently targeted the two-time NFL MVP while making his stance on players’ participation in voluntary offseason workouts clear.
“We would expect them to be here and certainly it is voluntary,” Doyle said during his introductory press conference. “But also, if you want to say that you’re going to win a championship, you want to say that you have championship standards.”
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Johnson lashed out at Doyle during Thursday’s episode of the “Nightcap” show. He was furious at the Ravens OC for making a show out of it.
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“You don’t do that coming in as a new coach! It’s dumb and it’s stupid! Why would you piss off your QB with a message like that! It’s stupid!” Johnson said. “If you want Lamar to show up, you text him [privately]. How is coming at your franchise QB publicly supposed to help anything?”
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According to ESPN’s Jamison Hensley, Doyle has spoken and met with Jackson a few times. He also had an hour-long video call during his interview for the job in Baltimore. They have exchanged some texts as well. Johnson probably believes the former Chicago Bears offensive coordinator could have asked the four-time Pro Bowler to attend the voluntary OTAs then.
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The Ravens hired Declan Doyle on Feb. 2 after Todd Monken left to become coach of the Cleveland Browns on Jan. 28.
The Baltimore Ravens‘ newly hired head coach, Jesse Minter, brought Declan Doyle aboard to get the best out of the team’s franchise quarterback. The offensive coordinator shared his strategy for working with Lamar Jackson.
“You try to shape the offense around the player,” Doyles said on Saturday on Ari Meirov’s podcast. “We try to really give him a lot initially to see what he can handle, and from there it’s our job to shape it so he has success.
Doyle wants to focus on what the offense and the QB are good at. He plans to adapt to Jackson’s style. He does not want to mess it up by trying something that worked well with a different QB but might not be the right fit for the Ravens’ superstar.
The Adani Group is working on strategies to restart the Formula 1 motor sport at the Buddh International Circuit in Greater Noida, Karan Adani, the MD of Adani Cement said on Saturday.
According to official sources, Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya recently visited the circuit and held talks with officials from Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority.
“I’m very excited… obviously the Buddh circuit comes (as) part of the deal. I’m very personally engaged in terms of bringing Formula 1 back into India. I think India has a lot of potential. There’s a lot of following in Formula 1 from India, ” Adani, who is also the MD of Adani Ports & SEZ, said while speaking at the 70th Foundation Day of All India Management Association (AIMA) in the national capital.
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The Adani Group is in the fray to buy the troubled Jaiprakash Associates Ltd (JAL) — the flagship company of the Jaypee Group.
In November 2025, the infrastructure-to-energy group won majority lenders’ vote for takeover of debt-laden Jaiprakash Associates as its Rs 14,535-crore acquisition proposal included a higher upfront payment than rival bidders.
Adani further said he has been following the sport since 2000 and believes India can set a benchmark for global events like Formula 1.
“Reputation of India and Indians has improved very, very significantly… I do believe that India can really showcase Formula 1… and can be a benchmark for a global event,” he said.
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Adani said the exposure to such sports in India is limited and people have to go to other countries like Abu Dhabi or Singapore to experience the sport.
Re-starting Formula 1 will also provide an opportunity to showcase not just the infrastructure but the hospitality and the heritage of country, he said.
The F1 race was held in 2011, 2012, 2013 at the Buddh Circuit before being halted due to tax dispute with the Uttar Pradesh government, which said the event was entertainment and not a sport.
Manchester City welcome Newcastle United to the Etihad Stadium tonight aiming to reduce the gap at the top of the Premier League to Arsenal to two points
NEW DELHI: The first match of the Super Eight stage at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 was abandoned on Saturday after continuous rain prevented any play between Pakistan and New Zealand at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.Officials called off the game after conditions failed to improve enough for a start, meaning the Super Eight phase began without a ball being bowled. Both teams shared one point each, which could affect their chances of reaching the semi-finals.
Rain threat adds uncertainty ahead of Pakistan-New Zealand encounter
The playing conditions of this tournament for the International Cricket Council (ICC) require a minimum of five overs per side for a result to be declared. The cut-off time for a shortened contest was set at 10:15pm, but the weather never cleared. With no reserve days in the Super Eights – they are only available for the semifinals and final – the fixture was abandoned and ‘no result’ was marked against it. Pakistan had won the toss and chosen to bat first amid light drizzle, but the rain soon became heavier, forcing the match to be abandoned.Before the washout, Pakistan made one change, bringing in Fakhar Zaman in place of Khawaja Nafay.New Zealand made three changes, with captain Mitchell Santner returning after missing the previous match against Canada due to a stomach issue, while Lockie Ferguson and Ish Sodhi were also included in the playing XI.The abandoned match has tightened the situation for both teams ahead of their remaining two Super Eight fixtures. Another washout or a defeat could seriously affect their chances of reaching the semi-finals. Pakistan, New Zealand, England and Sri Lanka are placed in Group 2 of the Super Eight stage. Pakistan will next play England in their next Super Eight match on February 24, at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Pallekele.New Zealand will remain in Colombo to play the Sri Lanka on February 25.
Oscar De La Hoya, who lost a split decision to Floyd Mayweather in 2007, has given an honest assessment of his former foe’s exhibition match with Mike Tyson.
It was reported earlier this week that, on April 25, the two legends will headline an event in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The former five-division world champion’s last professional outing, which was broadcast on Showtime PPV, saw him handily defeat UFC star Conor McGregor in 2017.
Since then, Mayweather has been involved in several exhibitions, but the 48-year-old has now set his sights on a former world heavyweight champion.
Tyson, meanwhile, is no stranger to an exhibition himself, having previously had a non-competitive bout with pound-for-pound legend Roy Jones Jr in 2020.
‘Iron Mike’ then entered an eight-round bout with internet star Jake Paul in 2024, which saw him suffer a convincing points defeat almost 20 years on from his previous professional outing, a sixth-round stoppage loss to Kevin McBride.
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Partly because of this, many have ridiculed the very idea of Tyson, at 59 years old, entering an exhibition with Mayweather, whose career-highest weight as a professional was 151lbs.
De La Hoya, however, has told ESNEWS that the event could be “fun”, or at least more popular than UFC boss Dana White’s recent Zuffa Boxing shows.
“It’s an exhibition. You have two legends. If they [give] us a little glimpse of the past, I think it’ll be fun.
“It’ll probably draw more people than what Zuffa is drawing now. That’s for sure.”
The Golden Boy Promotions boss has been highly critical of White’s Zuffa Boxing outfit in general, hence why he saw this as an opportunity to further lambast his promotional rival.
Groundsmen cover the field in Colombo (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)
NEW DELHI: Rain became the biggest talking point around the Pakistan vs New Zealand Super 8 match in Colombo on Saturday, and a complete washout means it will shake up the race for the T20 World Cup 2026 semi-finals. With both teams seen as strong contenders, fans are wondering who benefits and who could be in trouble if no ball is bowled.
T20 World Cup: Pakistan coach Mike Hesson on Babar Azam, Salman Ali Agha and Shaheen Shah Afridi
As the match is washed out, Pakistan and New Zealand will get one point each. On paper, that sounds fair, but it actually makes the group more complicated. Both teams would then have only two matches left to secure a top-two finish.For Pakistan, the equation is simple but tough. They still have to play England and Sri Lanka. If they win both games, they will reach five points, which should almost guarantee a semi-final spot. But if they lose even one match, things get risky. One win and one loss would leave them on three points, and then they would need other results to go their way. If they lose both games, Pakistan will be out of the tournament.New Zealand face a similar situation. A washout gives them a point, but they will also need wins in their remaining matches to stay in control. If they slip up, they too could be dragged into a tight points race.So who benefits from a washout? Teams like England and Sri Lanka could quietly benefit because it keeps the group open. If Pakistan and New Zealand drop points due to rain, other teams can catch up with wins and put pressure on the favourites.Who is in danger? Both Pakistan and New Zealand lose a chance to get ahead early. In short tournaments like the Super 8s, every point matters, and rain can change everything.
Ben Lynch has finished in eighth place in the Finals of the Men’s Freestyle Skiing Halfpipe at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics in Livigno on Friday night.
The Irishman posted an impressive score of 75.00 in the final run of the event. Lynch’s result marks one of the strongest Olympic performances by an Irish winter athlete to date.
Alex Ferreira of the United States won gold in the men’s freestyle skiing halfpipe competition with a score of 93.75. The US Olympian completed his Olympic medal set having previously won silver (2018) and bronze (2022). Silver went to Henry Sildaru from Estonia with a best score of 93.00, while Brendan Mackay of Canada claimed bronze with a 91.00 third run.
Lynch “couldn’t be more happy”
Reflecting on the significance of tonight’s result, Ben Lynch said:
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“It feels really cool, especially because eight is my lucky number. My birthday is September 8th. I got eight stitches above my eyebrow here, so eight has always been my lucky number and the fact that I just got eight, the stars align.
“It definitely still feels surreal, but it’s sinking in a little bit. Yeah, it’s pretty cool because my last best result was 16, so I have that at the Olympics and couldn’t be more happy to be here.”
Pivotal third run
Lynch’s third run was his pivotal one, putting him right up the score board, as he explained:
“The third run, I was really nervous at the top. I felt very prepared, but obviously the nerves were on. My family’s here, everyone was watching, and I hadn’t landed my first two runs. But yeah, just tried really hard to focus on the run, not worry about the result, and I ended up landing it pretty much as good as I possibly could have, and I’m really, really excited.
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“I think before this, I’d only gotten around the sixties in World Cups. It’s hard to get high scores in world level, world Cup level, but yeah, that’s the best score I’ve ever gotten. I also got down qualifier 75, so just so stoked.”
Sep 8, 2019; Glendale, AZ, USA; Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) against the Detroit Lions at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
PurplePTSD works in partnership with Vikings Territory, similarly doing their utmost to offer top-notch coverage of the Minnesota Vikings. As a result, we’re promoting five of their top articles of the past month in “The P/PTSD Perspective.” Take a peek at some of their best stuff.
Aug 14, 2022; Paradise, Nevada, USA; A general view of the line of scrimmage as Minnesota Vikings long snapper Andrew DePaola (42) snaps the ball against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images.
2) Kyler Murray’s Trade Price Comes to Light: Sending out an ambitious draft pick(s) makes very little sense. Much more appealing would be a late-round selection. Even better would be scooping up Mr. Murray from free agency, keeping all of Minnesota’s picks in Minnesota.
3) The Seahawks and Sam Darnold are Cruising Toward a Crossroads: Seattle is staring down what some would call a champagne problem. Indeed, every team would love having a passer in the middle of his prime who demands more money since he just led his team to the Super Bowl.
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Jan 25, 2026; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold (14) looks on before the 2026 NFC Championship Game against the Los Angeles Rams at Lumen Field. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Ng-Imagn Images
4) 3-Time Ex-Viking Decides to Keep Riding with the Super Bowl Champs: RB Cam Akers is the gift who keeps on giving in the Twin Cities. By rolling with the Seahawks, Akers opens the door to get grafted onto Minnesota’s roster at some point in the 2026 season. Forget striking twice, can lightning strike four times?
5) Clue Drops on Vikings Target as FA Inches Closer: Minnesota would benefit from adding young, high-end talent at running back. The issue is that Kenneth Walker III isn’t going to lack for options. Quite possibly, Minnesota will roll with Aaron Jones, Jordan Mason, and then a young lad from the draft.
Jan 4, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) hands the ball off to Minnesota Vikings running back Jordan Mason (27) against the Green Bay Packers during the first quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images
Roy Jones Jr has delivered his final verdict on Mario Barrios vs Ryan Garcia, envisioning a battle between Garcia’s left hook and Barrios’ relentless pressure.
The two American welterweights will square off in the small hours of tomorrow morning, headlining a Ring Magazine show at Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena.
Despite being the defending WBC world champion, many believe that Barrios, following back-to-back draws with Abel Ramos and Manny Pacquiao, is far from an elite operator at 147lbs.
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Particularly against a 46-year-old Pacquiao last July, the 30-year-old seemed to lack a degree of technical prowess that is needed at the highest level.
What he did demonstrate to a considerably high standard, however, is his ability to fight at a terrific pace for 12 rounds.
In stark contrast to this, Garcia produced a largely lacklustre performance in his last outing against Rolando Romero, losing a unanimous decision after climbing off the canvas in round two.
Prior to his second professional defeat in May, ‘King Ry’ turned in a far more vigorous display against Devin Haney, only for his majority decision victory to be overturned to a no-contest.
Speaking with ESPN, pound-for-pound legend Jones has highlighted the 27-year-old’s left hook as a potential factor, while also admitting that he favours Barrios to get the job done.
“I probably lean toward Barrios, but it’s a tough call.
“If Barrios can take Garcia’s hook, he’s got a good chance to win the fight. And if Garcia can hurt him, then Garcia has a better chance to win the fight.
“But I like Barrios as of late. He just got a lot of rounds in against Pacquiao in a fight I actually thought could have gone either way, but he got the better of it.
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“I hope that’ll give him the confidence he needs.”
As a key to victory for Barrios, Jones adds that the Texan must keep his foot on the gas and never allow Garcia a moment to get comfortable.
