After tragedy and injuries, the Minnesota Vikings have a significant cornerback need. It isn’t so much a depth need. They need another cornerback that could potentially start. Mekhi Blackmon was expected to start, or play a major role, in his second season. He was lost on the first day of training camp with a torn ACL. That left the team with nine cornerbacks on the roster.
Byron Murphy Jr.
Shaquill Griffin
Akayleb Evans
Andrew Booth Jr.
Duke Shelley
A.J. Green III
Jaylin Williams
Dwight McGlothern
Jacobi Francis
On the second day of training camp, Shaquill Griffin left the field limping. Coming the day after the loss of Blackmon, it was a troublesome sight. Fortunately, Griffin will only be sidelined for a handful of practices. Still, it stresses the cornerback group in the short term. Perhaps extra snaps for the others will be a benefit in the long term.
Duke Shelley and Jacobi Francis were signed last week to provide some depth. After a year with the Los Angeles Rams, Shelley returns to Minnesota. He had several bright moments down the stretch of the 2022 season for the Vikings. It was enough bright moments on an otherwise dim defense for him to became something of a folk hero for many Vikings fans. Shelley is more likely to compete for a roster spot than Francis. Neither should challenge for a starting role. The Vikings need a corner to either start or be on the field when three corners are needed, which is basically a starting role.
Here are some of the corners still available:
Stephon Gilmore
Xavien Howard
Adoree’ Jackson
J.C. Jackson
Patrick Peterson
Ahkello Witherspoon
Eli Apple
The availability of Stephon Gilmore is appealing. If only he were about six years younger. If he was six years younger, he wouldn’t be available in late July. He did start 16 and 17 games the past two seasons. So, his increasing age isn’t keeping him off the field. Patrick Peterson is another great corner that’s several years removed from his best years. Of the two, Gilmore is a much better fit for Brian Flores’ man-heavy defenses. Xavien Howard would be a decent addition if it wasn’t for his off-the-field issues. Of the above, I probably favor Gilmore or one of the Jacksons, Adoree’ or J.C. If the Vikings coaches could get J.C. Jackson playing like he did during his first stint with the New England Patriots, he’d easily be the pick. That was only three years ago.
As mentioned yesterday, I prefer a trade for a talented corner that might just need a change of scenery. The Vikings don’t currently have the draft assets in the 2025 NFL Draft to make a big swing at solving their cornerback issues. They do have a young player that might be appealing to another team. Lewis Cine. The Vikings first-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft hasn’t gotten close to the field. His progression was seriously derailed by a brutal broken leg early in his rookie season. While he was sidelined, the Vikings safety position evolved into a team strength. Suddenly, he had Harrison Smith, Camryn Bynum, Josh Metellus, and Theo Jackson all playing well ahead of him. As a rookie last season, Jay Ward emerged as a special teams regular. It was impossible for Cine to get any playing time or traction. Maybe, the Buffalo Bills might be interested in a still very young safety with first-round talent that just needs an opportunity. The Bills selected cornerback Kaiir Elam in the first round of the same draft that the Vikings selected Cine. Elam has had some bright moments but he can’t seem to get on and stay on the field. A swap of former first-round defensive backs? Curiously, Cine was held out of practice on Friday and Saturday. Who knows? Maybe?
The Vikings need a cornerback that can play a significant role this season. Gilmore? A Jackson? Elam?
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