The Vikings Cornerbacks:
Byron Murphy Jr.
Andrew Booth Jr.
Akayleb Evans
Mekhi Blackmon
Joejuan Williams
John Reid
Tay Gowan
Kalon Barnes
C.J. Coldon Jr.
Jaylin Williams
NaJee Thompson
Byron Murphy Jr., Joejuan Williams, and John Reid are the veterans of the group and are new to Minnesota. Andrew Booth Jr., Akayleb Evans, Tay Gowan, and Kalon Barnes are in their second year. The rest are rookies. All are 25 years of age or under. This is a very young group. Top free agent addition, Murphy is the clear leader based on experience and play during his four years with the Arizona Cardinals. He was brought in to be the leader off the field and a difference-maker on the field. His ability to play outside and inside will be a key component of new defensive coordinator Brian Flores’ moving, switching defense. The competition to be on the field with Murphy is wide open. 2022 draft picks Booth and Evans are probably the leading contenders. Third-round rookie Mekhi Blackmon and free agent Joejuan Williams are surely in the mix as well. I expect Murphy, Booth, Evans, Blackmon, and Williams to top the cornerback depth chart this season. None were on the field as the Vikings pass defense struggled mightily to close last season.
The Vikings safety room didn’t see a similar overhaul this offseason. As long as Harrison Smith is roaming around the defense, there will be a great deal of familiarity. He’s great. He’s always been great. I don’t want to even think about a Vikings defense without #22 on the field. His talents were wasted last year. The more I think about last year’s defense the more frustrated I get. I have to stop thinking about last year’s defense. Especially when the possibilities for Flores’ defense are so vast and fun. A lot of that fun is due to a versatile safety group. It starts with Harrison Smith. I can not wait to see him in this defense. At 34, he might be primed for one of his best seasons. That’s a very high bar.
The Vikings Safeties:
Harrison Smith
Camryn Bynum
Lewis Cine
Josh Metellus
Jay Ward
Theo Jackson
For most of the past couple decades, I feel like the Vikings were in dire need of at least one starting-quality safety. They got solid play for a couple seasons from “what’s his name,” that turd from Green Bay. On the field, he was often good and sometimes great but he was also an unspeakable turd. It’s better to wipe all memory of him. Then the Vikings spent somewhat heavily on Madieu Williams in free agency and Tyrell Johnson in the draft. That didn’t work. Safety gold was struck in the first round of the 2012 draft with Harrison Smith. Since then, the Vikings have been searching for a decent safety to pair with him. Jamarca Sanford had some moments. So did Andrew Sendejo. Anthony Harris too. For the first time in franchise history, the Vikings safety room goes about five-deep. Harrison Smith is an all-timer. Camryn Bynum is a solid starter with intriguing versatility. He was a very good corner in college at Cal. His best years are in front of him. His potential is such that I was very surprised that the Vikings selected Lewis Cine in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft. Then I started thinking about Cine paired with Smith and an eventual safety tandem of Bynum and Cine. Lewis Cine is probably the most physically gifted player in the Vikings safety room. His speed, explosion and versatility will be so much fun in Flores’ defense. Josh Metellus might not be the most physically gifted athlete in the room but he’s a smart, solid player. He’s terrific on all of the special teams units and reliable on defense. The wild card of the Vikings safety room is fourth-round rookie Jay Ward. At LSU, he split snaps between safety, corner, and nickel. Scouts were divided in projecting him as an eventual starter at all three positions. There have been times over the past couple decades when Theo Jackson would’ve been considered a serious contender to start. He certainly would’ve been a roster lock. With this group, unfortunately, it would take a phenomenal offseason, training camp, and preseason to crack roster. The key word of the Vikings safety room is “versatility.” Ward is the best example of that. Smith, Bynum, Cine, and Ward can effectively play all over the defense. Front to back. Side to side.
I’m excited to see the Brian Flores-guided Vikings defense. I’m especially excited to see this young, overhauled secondary. Other than the great Harrison Smith, the entire group is 25 and younger. It’s going to be a blast to see them play, grow, and hopefully rip up the offenses of the NFC North and the league.
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