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The Top Piece of Trade Bait, QB1 Odds, EDGE Help

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J.J. McCarthy celebrates after a Vikings road win over the Bears at Soldier Field.
Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) celebrates after Minnesota sealed a road win over the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on Sep 8, 2025. The rookie passer helped the Vikings start NFC North play with a statement, enjoying the moment in front of a Chicago crowd that had waited all night to spoil it. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-Imagn Images.

The Minnesota Vikings have just over $13 million in cap space, a new general manager, and a couple of decent trade candidates, with training camp beginning at the end of the month. That makes a festive rumor mill, and we have those rumors for you every weekend.

This week’s batch focuses on J.J. McCarthy (twice) and the Vikings’ main roster need right now — an extra OLB.

McCarthy’s Trade Value Gives Minnesota a Strangest Summer Question

Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy reacts while attending a Timberwolves game at Target Center. Vikings rumors
Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy reacts while attending a Timberwolves-Nuggets game at Target Center. Jan. 25, 2025, in Minneapolis, McCarthy watched NBA action during his first year with the organization, remaining visible around the Twin Cities while recovering from his rookie-season knee injury. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images

Rumor: J.J. McCarthy is the Vikings’ top trade asset this summer.

On a list of prominent NFL names and notable bench players, McCarthy gained Fansided‘s Wynston Wilcox’s attention for the Vikings, and he scribed about a trade possibility: “J.J. McCarthy is going to be the most talked about backup quarterback aside from Ty Simpson at this point.”

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“McCarthy’s days are numbered in Minnesota. The Vikings even thinking about pursuing Anthony Richardson could very well be the end of McCarthy in the Twin Cities. It’s not a matter of if McCarthy will get traded, it’s when. Depending on how he plays this offseason, he’ll either get dealt before Week 1 or closer to the deadline. Should McCarthy be traded? Yes.”

Here’s the uncomfortable truth about McCarthy that no one wants to say aloud: If the Vikings secretly believe he isn’t their long-term solution, then this summer presents the optimal window to trade him.

By next offseason, his value could greatly diminish. Should McCarthy suffer another injury or perform poorly in 2026, quarterback-needy teams won’t offer much for him. He’d be viewed similarly to how Anthony Richardson or Will Levis are perceived now — an intriguing prospect, but at a discounted price.

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This would likely translate to a 5th-Round pick, or something in that range. Yikes.

Minnesota might still have faith in McCarthy; that’s the purpose of this summer’s competition. However, if they’ve already had a change of heart internally, waiting will not increase his trade value. It will only provide another year of potentially brutal evidence.

The Vikings probably won’t trade McCarthy — they need QB depth — but now is the best time to do it.

Rumor: McCarthy has narrowed the odds to win the QB1 battle at training camp.

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Training camp is about 3.5 weeks away, and FanDuel has updated probabilities for the Vikings’ quarterback competition:

Kyler Murray: -770
JJ McCarthy: +520
Carson Wentz: +7000

Murray won the early June “microphone battle,” a moment that garnered more attention than it perhaps deserved. Murray’s poised demeanor contrasted with McCarthy’s candid, overly truthful remarks. Following that, and a few OTA clips, the consensus was that Murray had secured the starting job.

Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy warms up before a road game at MetLife Stadium. Vikings rumors
Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy warms up before kickoff during pregame routines at MetLife Stadium. Dec. 21, 2025, in East Rutherford, McCarthy went through timing drills and footwork as Minnesota finalized preparations ahead of a late-season road matchup. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-Imagn Images

However, the narrative shifted later in June. McCarthy began to close the gap, while Murray threw a few puzzling interceptions during practice in Eagan. Practice interceptions are far from definitive, but they certainly reignited the conversation.

The competition, it seems, is far from officially over. Murray remains the favorite, bolstered by his experience and his veteran status. Yet McCarthy still has a legitimate chance, having held the starting position in 2025 and maintaining a continued presence in the competition.

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July and August will ultimately determine the outcome. For now, Murray holds the lead, but McCarthy remains a contender. It will be the Vikings’ first true quarterback competition since 2014.

Rumor: Minnesota, indeed, will probably sign an outside linebacker in free agency.

The Athletic studied one central question for each NFL team leading into training camp, and for the Vikings, that was OLB.

Alec Lewis wrote, “Who will they add for depth at edge rusher? Because quarterback continues to dominate the conversation in Minnesota, other parts of the roster remain overlooked. Edge rusher is one of them.”

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“The Vikings traded Jonathan Greenard to the Philadelphia Eagles. His departure opens the door for 2024 first-rounder Dallas Turner to take the next step. Minnesota also still has the cyborg, Andrew Van Ginkel. Depth behind them warrants a potential addition.”

It’s the first time in years that fans have had to worry about pass-rushing depth.

San Francisco 49ers defensive end Leonard Floyd plays against the Detroit Lions at Levi's Stadium. Vikings rumors
San Francisco 49ers defensive end Leonard Floyd lines up during a game against the Detroit Lions at Levi’s Stadium. Dec. 30, 2024, in Santa Clara, Floyd continued his late-season work as a veteran pass rusher in a primetime NFC matchup. Mandatory Credit: Sergio Estrada-Imagn Images

“If Turner or Van Ginkel miss time with an injury, the Vikings need reliable pass rushers, especially with how much they’re betting on youth on the interior. The team has about $13.1 million in cap space for 2026. Using a chunk of change on edge help is a realistic expectation,” Lewis concluded.

Thankfully, the open market has about 10 decent OLB options, including Jadeveon Clowney and Leonard Floyd.

Don’t be surprised when Minnesota signs a big fish at OLB in summer free-agent speak. It’s the last thing stopping the Vikings from having an honest-to-goodness, playoff-worthy depth chart — one extra EDGE rusher.

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Karolina Muchova: “I’d Like to Know What Happened Too”

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Karolina Muchova is back in the Wimbledon quarter-finals after ending a four-year wait with a hard-fought victory over defending champion Barbora Krejcikova.

The Czech star defeated her compatriot 7-5, 5-7, 6-3 to extend her winning streak to eight matches and record her 33rd victory of the 2026 season.

After the match, Muchova was full of praise for the reigning Wimbledon champion.

  • Coco Gauff Says Age Is Still on Her SideCoco Gauff Says Age Is Still on Her Side

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“You have to give it to her. She’s not a Wimbledon champion by luck. She knows how to play on this surface. She can get you into all the uncomfortable positions.”

She admitted losing her concentration briefly allowed Krejcikova back into the match.

“I think I lost focus for one or two balls and she started hitting freely. She deserved the second set. It was an incredibly tough match.”

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The victory also marked Muchova’s first Wimbledon quarter-final since 2021 after suffering first-round exits in each of the previous four tournaments.

Asked what had changed, the 28-year-old couldn’t help but laugh.

“I’d like to know what happened too.”

She then reflected on the difficult years that followed.

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“Those years I had some tough times during the period of Wimbledon. Just incredibly happy for this whole season. How I’m playing. I’m enjoying tennis a lot. This is just incredible to be here and make the quarter-finals.”

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Terence Crawford’s trainer BoMac predicts Errol Spence vs Tim Tszyu: “What’s he got left?”

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Errol Spence Jr returns to the ring this month, facing Tim Tszyu in Australia following three years of inactivity after his 2023 loss to Terence Crawford. Brian McIntyre, the trainer behind Crawford’s game plan, has weighed in on the upcoming fight.

Spence was beaten thoroughly by Crawford and, as his inactivity went on, was thought to have quietly retired from the sport. When announcing his deal to face Tszyu, he promised fans that he is only returning because he feels he has more left in the tank.

The Australian will boast home advantage and look to get a win on the world stage following two defeats to Sebastian Fundora and a KO loss to Bakhram Murtazliev. With that in mind, the big question fans have pre-fight is which man has more left to give in the sport.

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Speaking to FightHype, ‘BoMac’ summed the fight up similarly, saying that a prime Spence wins, but a prime Tszyu can cause problems.

“That’s gonna be a great fight. If Errol’s gonna be himself, he should win, but we don’t know what he got left. If Tim comes in and is himself, he’ll push Errol to the edge.”

Asked if he believes it’s a 50/50 contest, McIntyre said no.

“No, I don’t think so. I think Errol probably will win.

Spence vs Tszyu will be fought at a 158lbs catchweight. It tops a card on July 25 in Sydney, Australia, which also features Jermall Charlo and Stephen Fulton.

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Is England vs Mexico on BBC or ITV tonight? TV channel and live stream information

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England will take on World Cup co-hosts Mexico in the last 16 in the early hours on Monday for a spot in the quarter-finals

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NFL analyst identifies Falcons’ most promising building block

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After years of struggling to generate a competent pass rush, the Atlanta Falcons finally found the right formula under defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich in 2025. The Falcons finished second in the NFL with a franchise-record 57 sacks last season.

This was a massive step up for a defense that finished 31st in the league with just 31 sacks in 2024. So, what changed? There were several factors, including the improvement of second-year defensive tackle Brandon Dorlus, but the team’s rookie duo of Jalon Walker and James Pearce Jr. was arguably the biggest difference.

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Pearce led all rookies with 10.5 sacks, while Walker’s 5.5 sacks were the second-most of anyone in the 2025 NFL Draft class. While Pearce generated most of the headlines, Walker is the more complete player. The former Georgia Bulldog has the versatility to play multiple spots along the front seven.

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Bleacher Report listed each team’s “most promising building block” ahead of the 2026 NFL season. Walker was B/R’s choice for the Falcons.

“The Atlanta Falcons have a trio of exciting skill players in Drake London, Kyle Pitts, and Bijan Robinson,” wrote B/R’s Kristopher Knox. “However, two of them have made the Pro Bowl, while London—who made last year’s list—recently received a contract extension. So, we’ll pivot to the defensive side of the ball and second-year linebacker Jalon Walker. The Georgia product impressed as a rookie, tallying 36 tackles, 5.5 sacks, and nine QB hits.”

The Falcons attempted to play the former off-ball linebacker in more of a true edge role last season, but with Kaden Elliss departing in free agency, Walker is expected to pick up the slack on Ulbrich’s defense.

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“While he was largely used as an edge-rusher last season, the Falcons envision him being more of an all-around defender in the mold of former standout Kaden Elliss in Year 2,” added Knox. “Expect Walker to continue growing into a prominent role as one of Atlanta’s top defenders.”

With Pearce expected to be suspended for the start of the season, it will be interesting to see where Walker lines up in Week 1. Ultimately, the former Georgia standout’s versatility will only help Atlanta’s defense in 2026.

This article originally appeared on Falcons Wire: NFL analyst identifies Falcons’ most promising building block

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Folarin Balogun cleared to play vs. Belgium after red card lifted

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USA World Cup star Folarin Balogun will be able to play in Monday’s game against Belgium in the Round of 16 match after all following an uproar over a red card he received against Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Balogun received the red card after he stepped on the foot of Bosnia and Herzegovina defender Tarik Muharemovic. The red card was given after Brazilian referee Raphael Claus stopped the match for a VAR review to determine whether Balogun had committed a severe foul.

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Folarin Balogun of United States of America walks off the field after receiving a red card during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 match between United States of America and Bosnia and Herzegovina on July 1, 2026 at San Francisco Bay Area Stadium in Santa Clara, California (Matthew Huang/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

It was ruled that Balogun did and he was sent off.

The Athletic, which first reported Balogun’s playing status on Sunday, noted that part of FIFA’s disciplinary code stated, “the judicial body may decide to fully or partially suspend the implementation of a disciplinary measure.”

“If the person benefiting from a suspended sanction commits another infringement of a similar nature and gravity during the probationary period, the suspension shall be revoked by the judicial body and the sanction enforced without prejudice to any additional sanction imposed for the new infringement,” the rule added.

FOX Sports confirmed that Balogun would be able to play. The report noted that the play should not have been flagged to Claus.

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Folarin Balogun and Christian Pulisic

United States’ Folarin Balogun (20) and United States’ Christian Pulisic (10) stand by after Balogun received a red card during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between the United States and Bosnia in Santa Clara, Calif., near San Francisco, Wednesday, July 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

FIFA confirmed that the suspension was suspended for a probationary period of one year.

“We accept the decision of the Disciplinary Committee and are pleased that Folarin Balogun is eligible to compete tomorrow,” U.S. Soccer said. “Our full attention is focused on the Round of 16 match against Belgium in Seattle, and we look forward to the continued support of our amazing fans.”

Balogun scored against Bosnia and Herzegovina. He spoke to reporters Friday about the red card.

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“First and foremost, it was totally unintentional, which I’m sure a lot of people know. But, you know, I think the choice of the referee was, of course, his choice, but I don’t think it was the correct call,” he said. “I think a yellow card would have been fair due to it not being intentional. There’s not many places I can place my foot in such a scenario. But it’s happened, and it’s something that I have to accept and move forward from.

“There’s been lots of different emotions. I’ve been upset, I’ve been happy, it’s been surreal to be honest,” he added. “But for me it was just important to stay calm. I never want to react out of anger and emotion. There’s still lots of people we’re inspiring. Little kids, boys and girls are watching. We have to show them the correct way to handle things even when you think it’s unjust, so I felt I did that. I’m happy with the support, not just I’m receiving but the team. I think we’re all looking forward to seeing what we can do against Belgium.”

U.S. Soccer had no way to appeal the ruing. Article 9.6 of the 2026 World Cup regulations reads, “No protests may be made about the referee’s decisions regarding facts connected with play. Such decisions are final and not subject to appeal, unless otherwise stipulated in the FIFA Disciplinary Code.”

Falorin Balogun celebrates goal

United States’ Folarin Balogun celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between the United States and Bosnia in Santa Clara, Calif., near San Francisco, Wednesday, July 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

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“If a player or team official is sent off as a result of a direct or indirect red card (second caution), they will automatically be suspended from their team’s subsequent match,” Article 10.5 adds.

Fox News’ Jonathan Hunt contributed to this report.

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Brandon Aiyuk changes tune on Jayden Daniels after dragging Commanders QB’s mom into online beef

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Brandon Aiyuk just can’t stop grabbing headlines. The wide receiver has been looking to get out of San Francisco and join the Washington Commanders. However, he spoiled his case after dragging quarterback Jayden Daniels’ mother into his beef following Daniels’ nonchalant reaction to a fan shouting “f*** Brandon Aiyuk” at the FIFA World Cup 2026.

Aiyuk tried to do the damage repair with his latest Instagram story on Sunday. He posted a clip of himself wearing a Commanders hat and holding a pair of white cleats. He also tagged Daniels in the story.

“Let’s Run it 5! Let’s see ! Need you available all szn and I’ll do the same!” Aiyuk wrote.

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Brandon Aiyuk via Instagram (@brandonaiyuk)Brandon Aiyuk via Instagram (@brandonaiyuk)
Brandon Aiyuk via Instagram (@brandonaiyuk)

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A fan at the 2026 FIFA World Cup repeatedly shouted “f*** Brandon Aiyuk” at Daniels. The Commanders QB laughed at it and didn’t care to interact with the fan. Despite it being a standard way to deal with the situation, Aiyuk was not pleased with the signal-caller. He posted a picture of himself frowning.

“Tf always so funny? Turn your savage up.” Aiyuk wrote.

The wide receiver posted another message a little later.

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“(Daniels) is going to text me talking about, ‘You’re on my team now, you follow my rules.’ Boy, I’m a grown man. You’re going to have stop running behind your mama and I might believe what you’re talking about, but until then, no.”

The two of them have unfollowed each other on Instagram. NFL insiders believe that front offices are growing increasingly concerned about Aiyuk’s online behavior.

Also Read: “He might never play another NFL down”: Insider makes feelings known on Brandon Aiyuk calling out Jayden Daniels amid beef with 49ers

Also Read: Brandon Aiyuk takes dig at Jayden Daniels’ mom Regina while attacking Commanders QB in beef with 49ers

Warren Sharp blasts Brandon Aiyuk over beef with Jayden Daniels

NFL analyst Warren Sharp criticized Brandon Aiyuk after the wide receiver posted a video to his Instagram Story, appearing to take a dig at Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels.

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In the clip, Aiyuk claimed Daniels told him he planned to join the Commanders and joked that the quarterback would have to follow his “B’s rules.” He also added that Daniels should act like a “grown a** man” before mentioning the quarterback’s mother, Regina.

Sharp hit back at Aiyuk for his behavior on X.

“Telling a franchise QB ‘you’re on my team now you’re gonna follow my rules’?? complete psychopath,” Sharp tweeted.

The situation has further fueled speculation of tension between the two.