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Vikings Rumors Build around a J.J. McCarthy Trade Idea, the 2026 QB1, Blake Brandel

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J.J. McCarthy lines up under center during a preseason game against the Las Vegas Raiders.
Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) lines up under center during third-quarter action, scanning the defense and preparing to initiate the play as the offense works through a drive Aug 10, 2024, at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota, against the Las Vegas Raiders during preseason game action. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports.

The Minnesota Vikings’ rumor mill never takes days or weeks off, and in fact, the noise gets louder as the draft approaches. That just so happens to be 18 days from now.

Minnesota’s latest rumor roundup touches McCarthy, Murray, and a possible Brandel shift on the offensive line.

So, to keep you in the loop, here’s the second batch of Vikings rumors for the first weekend in April.

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Latest Chatter Points to Key Decisions for Minnesota’s Offense

The Purple Rumor Mill for April 5th, 2026.

J.J. McCarthy throws a pass against the Packers at U.S. Bank Stadium. vikings rumors jj mccarthy trade blake brandel center
Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy drops back and delivers an early throw, settling into the offense and setting tempo Jan 4, 2026, at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The first-quarter sequence showed Minnesota aiming for rhythm in a pivotal divisional clash against Green Bay as McCarthy operated within structure. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images

Rumor: J.J. McCarthy could be traded to the Jets in a deal centered around a 2nd-Rounder.

Pro Football Network‘s Josh Weil published a few McCarthy trade ideas, and for the Jets, he explained, “New York trades a 2026 second-round pick (No. 44 overall) to Minnesota for McCarthy and a 2026 third-round pick (No. 97 overall). Will the reunion with Geno Smith result in success for the Jets? Maybe, but with an aging quarterback who has had his share of injuries, bringing in a backup with more upside than Brady Cook can make an injury not devastating for the Jets.”

“They would be able to focus on other positions with their higher draft picks and still bring in a hungry McCarthy, who could very well win the starting job over Smith.”

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McCarthy has raised no fuss about Murray’s arrival, and to be shipped out, McCarthy must likely ask for a ticket.

Weil also dropped a McCarthy trade theory to Cleveland: “Cleveland trades a 2026 third-round pick (No. 70 overall) and a 2026 fifth-round pick (No. 149 overall) to Minnesota for McCarthy. While the Browns picked a pair of quarterbacks in last year’s draft and still have Deshaun Watson under contract, it is clear they are looking for someone to come in and run away with the job.”

“It seems like the Browns didn’t want to invest a first-round pick in the position, but getting a first-round quarterback at pennies on the dollar in terms of draft stock may make them buyers for McCarthy. McCarthy’s QB Impact Score last season was 64.5, resulting in a D grade. While this is a far cry from where his expectations are, he still cleared Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel by a wide margin in that category.”

Generally speaking, the Vikings probably won’t trade McCarthy.

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Rumor: Kyler Murray is the Vikings’ QB1 in 2026; Kevin O’Connell spilled the beans.

O’Connell chatted with KFAN this week and mentioned his offense in 2026: “I call it the Justin Jefferson program. If they’re playing man coverage, they’re absolutely not playing Justin 1 on 1… what that means if you’re going to try and play those coverages, and have a spy for Kyler Murray, or for that matter any of our other QB’s, you’re leaving yourself a 3 man rush.”

“So, you have to ask yourself, what do you have to take away? If the answer is Justin Jefferson or Jordan Addison, there’s going to be some opportunity.”

Kyler Murray warms up with stadium reflection visible in his visor. vikings rumors jj mccarthy trade blake brandel center.
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray takes the field for warmups with SoFi Stadium reflected in his visor, capturing a unique pregame moment Jan 3, 2021, in Inglewood, California. Murray prepared for a matchup against the Los Angeles Rams, showcasing focus and presence before kickoff in a high-profile NFC West contest. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-Imagn Images

O’Connell’s comments left no doubt: he is building the offense around Murray as the starting quarterback and planning for September with Murray in mind. Defensive coordinators must now contend with Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and Murray’s mobility — a combination sure to cause headaches.

Coaches rarely speak this way about backup quarterbacks. As QB4, Max Brosmer received no extensive analysis on Tuesday, which is understandable. He’s not a starter.

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O’Connell may not have intended to reveal his hand, but his plan is evident. While the Vikings will still hold a quarterback competition in training camp, Murray enters the summer as the clear frontrunner.

Rumor: Blake Brandel is the odds-on favorite to start Week 1 at center.

Until this week, no one really knew the Vikings’ plan at center. O’Connell changed that a little bit.

He said to reporters, “It is great that we feel that good about Blake’s versatility, but ultimately we want to do what’s best for Blake to ascend and reach his highest potential at one position or have the flexibility still to play multiple. What his offseason looks like, what his training camp looks like and what his work flow looks like leading into the season, we want to have him more than likely at that center spot and build on some things that he did last year.”

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“It’s a position that’s got some really unique names in the draft, depending on where you may be looking to take one. There’s some guys with experience, there’s some guys with tremendous upside and then some guys that have that flex above the neck of really the smarts and the command that it takes to play center at the National Football League level. We’ll continue to work through it.”

Vikings offensive tackle Blake Brandel participates in pregame warmups before a game against the Bengals. vikings rumors jj mccarthy trade blake brandel center.
Minnesota Vikings offensive tackle Blake Brandel moves through pregame warmups, preparing for depth duties and special teams work Sep 12, 2021, at Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio. The lineman went through drills alongside teammates ahead of kickoff, focusing on readiness and technique before facing the Bengals. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports

ESPN’s Kevin Seifert added, “O’Connell said the Vikings plan to make center the permanent position for longtime backup Blake Brandel, making him the early front-runner for the job that was vacated by Ryan Kelly’s retirement.”

From an early April standpoint, the starting center job is Brandel’s. A rookie will have to outshine him at training camp.


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Ex-Phillie Mickey Moniak cracks 2 long HRs to lead Rockies

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MLB: Philadelphia Phillies at Colorado RockiesApr 5, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Colorado Rockies right fielder Mickey Moniak (22) hits a solo home run in the first inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images

Former Philadelphia first-round pick Mickey Moniak hit two home runs and TJ Rumfield also went deep as the Colorado Rockies beat the Phillies 4-1 on Sunday in Denver.

Hunter Goodman had two hits and Tomoyuki Sugano pitched six strong innings to earn his first win for Colorado. Victor Vodnik got the last three outs to earn his first save as the Rockies salvaged the finale of the three-game series.

Adolis Garcia homered and singled for the Phillies.

Colorado did not homer in its first two home games and had just five in its first eight games overall. Moniak, who began his major league career with the Phillies in 2020, changed that in the first inning with his two-out solo clout to the second deck in right.

It marked the first time the Rockies led in the series.

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Goodman followed with a single to center and Rumfield lined the first pitch he saw from Taijuan Walker into the stands in right to give the Rockies a 3-0 lead.

Walker (0-2) struggled in his second start of the season, allowing four runs on seven hits in five innings.

Garcia cut into the lead with his second homer of the season, a solo shot into the Colorado bullpen in the second. Brandon Marsh followed with a double, but Sugano got the next two batters to keep it 3-1.

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Philadelphia threatened in the fifth when Justin Crawford singled with two outs and went to third on Trea Turner’s double, but Kyle Schwarber flew out to center field.

Moniak added to the lead in the fifth with his second homer of the day and the season, a 437-foot shot off the facing of the second deck.

Sugano retired the Phillies in order in the sixth to finish his quality outing. Sugano (1-0) allowed just one run on four hits, walked one and struck out five.

Philadelphia got something going in the ninth. Alec Bohm and Garcia singled to put runners on first and second with one out to bring the tying run to the plate, but Vodnik struck out Marsh and Rafael Marchan to end the game.

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–Field Level Media

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“The atmosphere can be intimidating” – Kahn warns Bayern ahead of Bernabéu clash with Real Madrid

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Oliver Kahn has sent a warning to Bayern Munich over the difficulty of playing at Santiago Bernabéu ahead of their Champions League quarter-final first-leg clash against Real Madrid on Tuesday.

The former FC Bayern Munich and Germany goalkeeper has experienced a lot over his career, including playing at the iconic stadium in Madrid – so he’s well aware what awaits his former club.

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“Ninety minutes at the Bernabéu are as exhausting as nowhere else,” Kahn told Süddeutsche Zeitung.

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“The crowd in Madrid is far more intense than in Barcelona; it feels like everything is pressing down on you. The atmosphere can be intimidating. And now, with the roof, it’s even stronger.”

According to Kahn, Real Madrid’s challenging season could actually work in their favour, driving them to end on a high.

“Real come from a period where they had to overcome many obstacles – there was criticism, unrest, a coaching change. And then, suddenly, success against Manchester City, and they feel: Now we can turn the season around. That is exactly what makes Real so dangerous,” the 56-year-old argued.

Bayern have historically struggled at Santiago Bernabéu, with their last away win against Real dating back to 2001, when they won 1-0 in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final tie.

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Manchester United have a surprise package to unleash in pre-season – ‘Lovely player’

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Man Utd midfielder Jack Moorhouse was around the first team last season and is set to feature in pre-season.

Manchester United youngster Jack Moorhouse is in contention to feature for the first team in pre-season this summer. Moorhouse was recalled from his Leyton Orient loan in January and has occasionally trained with the senior team since his return.

Moorhouse signed for Orient on a season-long loan in August, but it was announced late on deadline day in the winter window that his time at Brisbane Road had been cut short.

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With Leyton Orient fighting relegation, manager Richie Wellens believed that Moorhouse’s game time could become limited. An agreement was reached with United to send Moorhouse back to his parent club earlier than expected, which has made him available for Under-21 fixtures again.

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Moorhouse showed glimmers of quality in the first half of the season, making 24 appearances. Leyton Orient were happy with him, but they felt a recall was the best choice for his development.

Ruben Amorim named Moorhouse in a handful of first-team squads last season and Michael Carrick named him on the bench in recent Premier League games against Everton and Crystal Palace.

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U21 interim manager Adam Lawrence was recently asked about what will happen next with Moorhouse. “I think for someone like Jack again, it would be his progress between now and the end of the season to then look at what his next step is or the next senior opportunity that he gets,” he said.

Moorhouse is expected to feature on tour this summer with many senior players representing their nations at the World Cup, but he is slightly behind a few of his academy teammates.

“He’s not been as consistent as Shea Lacey [who trains with the first team each day], to be honest,” Lawrence said. “It’s fairly often that the players will go across with the first team anyway. He’s not a staple, like a Jack Fletcher, Shea Lacy, but he’s over there often enough.

“I think between his level of performances in U21s games up until then [the summer], again, there’s always got to be a bit of room to say to the player, go and perform there. Get your loan, get you in the first team.

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“The club’s part is to create the pathway. The player’s job is to force the pathway and make that final part. And that’s where Jack sits at the moment. Again, there’s no bigger fan of Jack than me in terms of his qualities. He’s a lovely player. He receives the ball on the back foot, the way that he can travel and glide with the ball.

“What we’re looking for him to do is now, between now and the end of the season, in those U21s games, like a Madrid, U21s playoffs, can you perform at the elite level and make the difference? Because we feel that he can. And that’s the bit of pressure that we would put on those types of players in those games as well.”

Lawrence continued: “I think in our system, he would be an 8 or a 10, so he’s more comfortable centrally. But as you’ve alluded to, we’ve got a lot of midfield players in the squad at the moment.

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“And what Jack is, he can be quite versatile and he can play off the sides in terms of he can start in a wide position and drift into the middle as opposed to start in the middle.

“We’ve been quite flexible around how we try to use him. But longer term, obviously, it’s just my thoughts. I would say like an 8 or a 10 would be his longer-term position.”

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Cooper Flagg scores 45 points as Dallas Mavericks beat Los Angeles Lakers

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Teenage rookie Cooper Flagg continued his superb run of form by scoring 45 points as the Dallas Mavericks beat the Los Angeles Lakers 134-128 on Sunday.

The 19-year-old had made history on Saturday when he became the first teenager to score 50 points in an NBA game – finishing with 51 points, including 24 in the fourth quarter, in a defeat by the Orlando Magic.

He followed up with a 45-point haul in the win over the injury-hit Lakers, adding nine assists and eight rebounds.

Flagg is the first rookie with back-to-back 40-point games since Allen Iverson in 1997, and is among the favourites to be named this season’s rookie of the year.

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The Mavericks started quickly against the Lakers, who were missing both the NBA’s leading scorer Luka Doncic and rising star Austin Reaves, and were 41-30 up at the end of the first quarter.

LeBron James, 41, led the Lakers with 30 points, 15 assists and nine rebounds, while Luke Kennard had 15 points, 16 rebounds and 11 assists.

PJ Washington scored 15 points for the Mavericks, Naji Marshall and Brandon Williams added 13 points, and Klay Thompson scored three three-pointers in his 11-point haul.

Lakers coach JJ Redick it was a “just a poor defensive night” for his side, adding: “We didn’t start the game the right way and just played catch-up the rest of the game.”

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The Lakers are third in the Western Conference, with the 12th-placed Mavericks already out of play-off contention.

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Are we cursed?”;”Season is up in flames already

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The Toronto Blue Jays have been troubled by injuries to several key players at the start of the 2026 season. The list of injuries grew on Sunday night after outfielder Addison Barger’s exit from the series finale against the Chicago White Sox.

During the third inning of the game, Barger landed awkwardly as he ran through the first base for a close play. Barger stayed in the game for another at-bat in the sixth inning but was replaced in right field by Jesús Sánchez after the inning.

Fans reacted to the Blue Jays facing another injury concern.

“Jeez this season is up in flames already.”

Jeez this season is up in flames already

“Are we cursed?”

“Uncomfortable because he’s playing on a terrible team with a ridiculous payroll.”

Uncomfortable because he’s playing on a terrible team with a ridiculous payroll.

“Right now the way they’re playing they should remove everyone from the field. 🤨”

Right now the way they’re playing they should remove everyone from the field. 🤨

“I think the whole team has discomfort.”

@BlueJays I think the whole team has discomfort!

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Barger left the game due to discomfort in both ankles. He went 0-for-3 at the plate before his exit and the Blue Jays suffered a 3-0 defeat leading to a sweep by Chicago.

Blue Jays manager John Schneider updated on the outfielder’s injury after the series finale.

“He stepped a bit weird with both of them, one on the bag and one before,” Schneider said. “We taped him up and he tried to go. We’ll see how he is tomorrow. He’s about as tough as they come. Hopefully, he’s all right and it’s just a day or two, or maybe not even a day.”

Bargers is just 1-for-19 (.053) this season despite a strong showing in Spring Training last month. He hit 21 homers with a .756 OPS in 135 games last season.

Blue Jays manager fired warning shot ahead of Dodgers showdown

The Blue Jays have lost four consecutive games and are 4-5 for the season. They face the Los Angeles Dodgers next in a rematch of last year’s World Series. Blue Jays manager John Schneider warned his players ahead of the series opener against the defending champions.

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“We’ve got to get back to playing our baseball,” Schneider said. “It doesn’t matter who you’re playing, where you’re playing or what time you’re playing them, if you don’t play your baseball, good things don’t happen.”

The Dodgers have made a strong start to the season and are headed into the series after sweeping the Washington Nationals.